About us
At Do It Up Custom (DIU), we believe every gift is a moment to express love, kindness, and gratitude, whether it's for yourself or someone else. Our mission is to create high-quality, heartfelt products that celebrate and connect communities. With a commitment to exceptional service and prompt delivery, we strive to make each item a meaningful keepsake that brings joy and nostalgia. We don’t just want you to personalize or customize a product; we want you to DO IT UP, embracing the true spirit of home and community in every creation.
How DIU custom began
Hey there! I'm Jeffrey Padua, the proud owner of DIU Custom, and boy, do I have a tale to tell! Picture this: I'm originally from Waterbury, CT, and a few years ago, I swapped snow for sunshine, moving to Saint Cloud, Florida. Why, you ask? Well, after a couple of back surgeries and one epic ice-tumble that made me rethink my relationship with winter, I figured it was high time to embrace warmth year-round...
So, off to Florida I went with my fiancée, dreaming of endless summer. But guess what? Sunshine's great, but homesickness is real. That first Christmas away, I was craving a piece of home. I wanted to send something special to my family to show them how much I missed them. That’s when inspiration struck – I’d turn our hometown icons into Christmas ornaments!
I started with three iconic Waterbury landmarks and crafted a little keepsake. When I posted a picture on a local Facebook page, it exploded! People went nuts over it, and soon my inbox was flooded with requests. That December, I transformed into Santa's busiest elf, staying up until 3 AM to make sure everyone got their ornaments before Christmas. It was wild, but seeing the joy they brought made every late night worth it.
The local paper, the Waterbury Republican American, caught wind of my little ornament project and did a story on it. Suddenly, folks from all over Connecticut and other states were asking for ornaments representing their towns. The next year, I promised to expand my collection. I turned to the people for ideas, joining town Facebook pages and asking locals what symbols felt like home to them. The response was overwhelming and heartwarming.
Each design was voted on by the community, making everyone feel part of the process. It wasn't just about ornaments anymore; it was about bringing people together. Channel 3 Eyewitness News picked up the story, and the buzz just grew and grew. Each Christmas season now feels like a magical reunion, with new towns and new stories adding to the joy.
And it gets better – local businesses started reaching out to carry the ornaments, which means people can now find them in their hometown shops, supporting local businesses in the process. Schools and Scout groups even use them for fundraisers!
While ornaments are where we began and remain the heart of what we do, we've also ventured into other areas as requests have come in. That's why you'll find some other unique products on our site too. It's all about keeping that connection to home and community alive in every way possible.
It's been a whirlwind, but every bit of it fills my heart with joy. I’m committed to keeping this tradition alive, ensuring each ornament remains a genuine reflection of its community. So, if you're looking for a piece of home or a heartfelt gift, look no further. Welcome to the DIU Custom family – let's make some magic together!