Jennifer Earnest, a native of Arkansas, founded the business in 2016. Her niece Emily Farrer and Rae Roberts customize the items seen on display.

“We are really like a team,” said Farrer, personal designing consultant. “We could not do half of what we do without each other.”

Nins Custom Creations specializes in glass etching, customized tumblers, custom shirts, creative wood panels, personalized cutting boards and paper flowers.

In 2019, Earnest opened her first brick and mortar location downtown. Then after Christmas in 2020, she moved just down the street to its current location.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
A collection of customized wooden rounds are displayed at Nins Custom Creations.

“It’s a bigger location,” Farrer said. “It was really kind of cramped where we were before. We have a whole entire room dedicated to our glow forge, a room dedicated to our tumblers, a room for our merchandise and a couple of empty rooms. It may only be a block down, but it’s just better altogether.”

The business was founded on its tumblers, which range in size and design. And the tumblers remain one of the top selling items.

“With our tumblers, we can put pictures on them, we can tie-dye them, hydro dip them,” Farrer said. “Literally the possibilities are endless. I don’t know what it is about them. I can have a tumbler done in two days. Epoxy takes 24 hours to cure. I can get one done in one coat.”

Koozies, coasters, shirts, face masks and wooden rounds are other items that are customizable.

The wooden roaunds can be 18 or 22 inches and come in any color.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Customized tumblers are displayed at Nins Custom Creations. The tumblers can come in various sizes and styles.

The store also sells home decor items from Mud Pie, clothing from Miss Me and Topanga soaps, lotions and laundry detergent.

“It (laundry detergent) smells really good, too,” Farrer said. “There’s nothing else like it.”

Farrer said even through the pandemic, the demand for personalized items has remained strong.

Nins Custom Creations is on Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok. Its website is ninscustomcreations.com.

Farrer said a majority of the store’s sales are online. The vast majority of items are sold in either Iowa or Arkansas.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Miss Me brand clothing is sold at Nins Custom Creations.

Farrer grew up in Rison, Arkansas, a city of about 1,300 people.

She considers coming to Fort Dodge one of her best life decisions.

“There’s so many other opportunities,” Farrer said. “It was one of the best things she or I could have done. I don’t like the winters, though.”

Earnest inspired Farrer to create.

“I wanted to do it,” Farrer said. “I tried it (making tumblers) and in the first couple days I was hooked. I don’t know why I ever worked anywhere else to be honest. I am glad I am here.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Mud Pie dishes and home decor is displayed at Nins Custom Creations.