A new business in Mexico offers a place to make art while celebrating a birthday, baby shower, or any other occasion.

The Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce helped Dan and Robin Barker cut the ribbon on their new business, Imagine That Designs, on East Jackson Street, right off the Mexico Square last week. The couple have been running a crafting business out of their home since 2019 but now have a place to not only make things but share them with the community as well.

The shop features a “Make and Take” or “Sip and Paint” area that people can rent out and paint wood-crafted signs made in the shop. Dan said the sessions last about two to three hours and folks can bring whatever they want to eat or drink.

“If you don’t see a design you like you can let us know and tell us what you want and we can create one specifically for what you need,” Robin told a group of folks from the Chamber who had joined the festivities about the in-house events.

To figure out how the Barkers arrived here you have to go back to 2019 when the pandemic first hit America. The Barkers had a shop on Mexico’s Square but their lease was expiring about the same time.

“We moved home and proceeded to do similar things at home in the garage,” Dan said.

The couple made several items including games, puzzles, and bird feeders to name a few.

“We shipped to 17 different countries during COVID-19,” Dan said. “We were really busy.”

Imagine That isn’t the only gig the Barkers have. Dan is an IT and web development person and operates his own business in that realm. Robin operates Barker’s Home Care which is a business that helps folks with end-of-life matters. 

“We’re actually running three businesses,” Dan said. “This is taking a lion’s share of our time right now. We’ve got other good folks that help us with those.”

Getting the building ready for opening was also a challenge. Those who visit the business can watch a video that chronicles the project over this past summer.

“We faced several challenges with this building,” Dan said.

“It kicked our butts,” Robin added.

“It really did,” Dan said.

A lot of the wood crafting involves laser engraving and that has led to a lot of local business-to-business work for the Barkers. They recently completed a project for an upscale whiskey bar getting set to open in Mexico and the Chamber features coasters and holiday ornaments.

The company is also in talks with a guitar company to do some custom work. Imagine that has already created a guitar pick ornament for the company. Dan said they are always looking for new ideas and things to make.

“I grew up on a farm and diversification is the key,” Dan said. “You’ve got to have a little bit of everything to make sure things keep going.”

The materials that Dan and Robin use to make their wood crafts have a story of their own. Most of the wood is either rosewood or mahogany from Belize that has been pulled out of rivers. Dan said some of the logs are more than 200 years old. It’s the same wood used to make keychains and holiday ornaments specific to Mexico. The Barkers don’t have a lot of examples of their work to show other than pictures because most of it goes out the door as soon as it's finished.

“Eighty percent of our business is custom so as soon as it’s done it leaves,” Dan said.

The company is also making money on the internet with its YouTube channel “Makers Hangout.”

“It’s been running for a couple of years now,” Dan said. “We document our journey in the shop but I also visit other makers. We’ve gotten it large enough now Google sends us a check every month.”

Although much of the business involves shipping things to other places, and growing the YouTube channel, the Barkers want to grow the in-house events part of the business.

“When they come in we’re really trying to sell the experience,” Dan said. “We’ll sell the kits but it’s not the same as getting folks together.”