Bluffton's newest business owner started out as a music major at Bluffton College. Rachel Webster, who will open Ideal Images, 114 E. College Ave., (formerly Morey's Coffee Shop) on Jan. 24, switched career choices and eventually found her calling in sales and marketing. The rest of the tune is history.

Ideal Images offers personalized apparel for sports teams and spirit wear, corporations, businesses, team uniforms as well as custom apparel. The selection is seemingly endless. It includes ball caps, tee shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, customized towels, blankets and even socks.

"We have sample books of logos," said Webster, for persons wanting to see several choices. In addition, once the business website is up at the end of the week customers can even create and design specialty items on the computer.

"Let's say you want to design a special shirt of someone's birthday," Webster said. "You can customize your order and design it on the computer."

The idea for the business came about "because we go to lots sporting activities with our kids," she said. "I always wanted to become a small business owner. I enjoy graphic arts and know that customer service is very important."

She adds: "I started looking around about a year and a half ago. I thought through the process, developed a business plan and here I am."

All customer orders for Ideal Images will be created in the East College Avenue store. Two methods are used to create products: using an embroidery machine or going direct to the garment through digital imagining.

Webster says that customers may bring in a copy of a logo wanted on merchandise. She'll take the project from there. She also has the ability to create an image for merchandise.

In addition to creating orders for customers, Ideal Images offers a wide selection of retail merchandise. Area school sports ware includes Bluffton, Pandora-Gilboa, Cory-Rawson, Ada, Columbus Grove and Allen East.

A grand opening will take place Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4. Friday's grand opening hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday's hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting for the business during the open house weekend.

Regular store hours follow:
Mondays-Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursdays and Fridays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The business phone numbers are: 567-226-1096 and 855-328-6294. The website is: www.idealimages4u.com.

Webster and her husband, Aaron, are parents of two children, Kennedie Kistler and Levi Kistler, both students at Bluffton High School.