THE PEOPLE BEHIND ETCHED ESSENCE

Meet James and Marie.

A family-run engraving business in Barrow-in-Furness, creating meaningful pieces and thoughtful digital experiences together.

Our Story

Etched Essence started exactly how many great ideas do — sat on the sofa one evening, watching TV and talking about what we would do if we ever started a business together. At the time, it was simply a conversation. We both enjoyed being creative, we both loved the idea of making personalised products that people would genuinely treasure, and we wanted to create something that was ours. What started as a casual idea quickly turned into research, planning and eventually the purchase of our first engraving machine. While both of us continue to work in our professional careers alongside Etched Essence, the business has grown from an evening and weekend project into something we are incredibly proud of. Today, Etched Essence is a family-run engraving business based in Barrow-in-Furness, creating personalised gifts, wedding items, corporate pieces, awards, keepsakes and live engraving experiences. One of the things we are most proud of is that when you contact Etched Essence, you are speaking directly to the people who own and run the business. Every enquiry, design, engraving and quality check is handled by us personally.

Marie — Director & Designer

Director, designer, ideas person — and the brains behind everything. Marie is the creative force behind Etched Essence. She is usually the one coming up with new product ideas, spotting what customers will love and making sure each item has a purpose, a style and a personal touch. Many of our product ideas start with Marie. She has a fantastic eye for detail and is often the one making sure a design feels balanced, attractive and suitable for the occasion. Marie is also the realistic member of the team. While James is usually thinking about what might be technically possible, Marie is thinking about whether it is practical, whether customers will want it and whether it can be produced to the standard we expect. Before Etched Essence, Marie built up several years of experience working within education, supporting students with additional needs across a range of schools. That background has given her patience, creativity, understanding and attention to detail — qualities that now play a huge part in the way we work with customers. She is passionate about making sure every customer receives something personal, thoughtful and beautifully finished.

James -- Director, mathematician, programmer — and the one who makes the designs engrave properly.

If Marie comes up with the ideas, James is usually the person figuring out how to make them happen. James works on the technical side of the business, turning ideas into digital designs that can be engraved. This includes creating artwork, adjusting layouts, preparing files, testing materials and setting designs so they work correctly with the laser. With a background as a mathematics teacher and phase lead in secondary schools across the local area, James brings precision, problem-solving and a slightly obsessive attention to measurements, spacing and alignment. Laser engraving requires accuracy. Every line, curve, letter and setting matters. James enjoys the challenge of taking a customer’s idea and turning it into a finished product that looks exactly how it should. While Marie keeps the business grounded, James is often the one asking, “What if we tried this?” Sometimes those ideas work brilliantly. Sometimes they become expensive lessons. Fortunately, Marie is normally there to stop the really ambitious ones.

Made Locally, Made Personally

One thing many people are surprised to learn is that Etched Essence is not currently our full-time job. Alongside running the business, both of us continue to work in our professional careers. Marie continues to work within education, supporting young people and helping them achieve their potential, while James works as a mathematics teacher and phase lead in the local area. Running Etched Essence alongside our careers means plenty of early mornings, late evenings and weekends spent designing, engraving, packing orders and responding to customer enquiries. It can be busy at times, but we genuinely love what we do and take enormous pride in building something together as a family. In many ways, our professional backgrounds have helped shape the business. Working in education has taught us the importance of communication, organisation, patience and attention to detail. These values carry through into every order we complete. Etched Essence represents more than just a business to us. It is something we have built together from the ground up while balancing careers, family life and all the challenges that come with both. Balancing careers, family life and all the challenges that come with both.

A True Family Business

Although Marie and James run the day-to-day operations, Etched Essence is very much a family business. Life outside the workshop is busy, loud and usually slightly chaotic. We share our home with Bella, our Cockapoo, who is convinced she should be involved in absolutely everything we do and regularly supervises from a safe distance. Then there is Iven, our energetic five-year-old son. If you have ever wondered who tests whether a new product idea appeals to children, that is usually him. He has developed a habit of wanting one of everything we engrave, which has earned him the unofficial title of Product Tester. Completing the family are Marie’s two daughters, Iysha and Cerys, who have both watched the business grow from an idea on the sofa into the company it is today. Like many family businesses, conversations about Etched Essence do not stop when the working day ends. Product ideas, new materials, future plans and customer orders often find their way into family meals, evenings and weekends.

Life Outside Etched Essence

When we are not engraving, designing, packing orders or working in our day jobs, we love getting away in our motorhome, Neville. Travelling in Neville has become one of our favourite ways to spend time together as a family. It gives us the chance to switch off, explore new places and enjoy some of the most beautiful parts of the UK. Over recent years, we have completed the famous NC500 route around the Scottish Highlands, travelled along the South East Coast and explored the Welsh Coast. Some of our best ideas for products have actually come while sitting outside Neville with a cup of tea, looking out over a beach, a mountain range or a campsite somewhere far from home. Travelling reminds us why personalised products matter so much. The memories we create on those journeys are often linked to places, people and special moments — and that is exactly what we try to capture through the items we create for our customers.

Why We Do It

For us, engraving is about more than simply adding words or images to an item. It is about helping people mark moments, celebrate achievements and create gifts that feel personal. We understand that many of the items we create are connected to important memories — weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, memorials, graduations, sporting achievements, business milestones and family celebrations. That is why we treat every order with care. Whether it is a single personalised keyring or a large order for an event, there is always a person and a story behind it. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported Etched Essence so far. Every order, review, recommendation and social media share helps our small family business continue to grow.