The Perfect Whiskey Glass
Allyson Mackay Dombey from New Orleans, Louisiana
What do you like most about New Orleans?
New Orleans feels like its own island — unique in its culture, climate, and rhythm. We're subtropical, with greenery everywhere, hot and humid air, and a year-round sense of celebration.
We have Mardi Gras, music drifting from street corners, incredible food, and moments where you truly don't know what year you're in.
Our studio is in a great location that keeps us connected to both the city's energy and its creative community.
What's your backstory?
It began in 2014 when my husband, Ben Dombey, set out to make the best whiskey glass — and I believe he succeeded.
The company quickly gained a following, and between 2014 and 2019, the business grew steadily as customers fell in love with the glass..
Over time, people who weren't whiskey drinkers began asking for other types of glasses, and those requests sparked a new wave of designs.
The roots of our personalization go back even further. In 2009, after the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl, Ben used a small fleur-de-lis wax seal stamp — the kind made for sealing envelopes — to press the design into pendants.
They were a hit, selling thousands, and that early success eventually inspired him to experiment with stamping designs into glassware.
By the time I joined the business full-time in 2021, hand-stamped glasses were already well-established as our top sellers.
My own background with wax seal stamping made it easy to step into the role of designing new stamps — and occasionally stamping glasses myself — to keep the line fresh and personal
We've introduced new shapes, sizes, and styles inspired by — and often named after — the people who requested them.
Many of our pieces are purchased as gifts — from corporate clients commissioning custom designs to individuals giving glassblowing experiences to loved ones.
We recently launched our retail-ready Custom Impressions line — machine-blown glass that we hand-stamp with our custom designs.
At $40, it offers an accessible entry point for personalized glassware, making it easy for someone to order a set of 10 with a family name or company logo, while our signature hand-blown pieces remain available for those seeking heirloom-quality works of art at $150+.
What’s your income streams?
Online store
In-person retail at our New Orleans studio (we do not keep store hours)
Wholesale partnerships with specialty shops and museums, including the Corning Museum of Glass Museum Store, Van Dam Custom Boats, Double Shot Coffee Co. (Tulsa, OK), and El Guapo
Hands-on glassblowing experiences
Custom corporate gifts
How have you grown the business?
We've grown based on customer feedback. One request for stackable glasses became a popular product line. Our partnership with the Corning Museum of Glass opened doors to other wholesale relationships, and launching Custom Impressions has helped us reach customers who want our designs at a more accessible price point.
Ben started with one whiskey glass design, and over time we've built strong relationships by leaning into storytelling and authentic customer connections.
We have had customers buying glasses from us for themselves and loved ones for over 10 years. Our glasses are the go-to wedding gift for many of our customers and we are thrilled to be part of celebrating life's special moments.
What’s your favorite product?
My favorite is the Rocks Glass — I love how much it holds and how sturdy it feels in my hands. It's timeless, versatile, and carries the essence of what makes our work special.
If you could go back, would you do anything differently?
I would start talking about our company earlier — making t-shirts, putting our name on everything, and becoming my own best spokesperson from day one. I've grown into that role and feel comfortable in it now, but I could have embraced it sooner.
What’s your goals?
As CEO and Creative Director, my focus has been on expanding our offerings and refining our processes. I design all of our custom stamps, from our glasses to specialty commissions, translating ideas into visual concepts.
We want to be recognized leaders in process innovation and custom glassware. We're exploring microwave kilns, integrating both flame working and soft glass in our studio, and becoming the go-to studio for bringing customers' ideas — even AI-generated mockups — to life.
We'd also love to install air conditioning in our studio (the solar panels we got to offset the utilities are great but they just made it hotter!).
We're working toward getting back to our 2021 high of $211K in annual revenue. Last year, we generated $125,000, and we're currently at $ 81,000 in accrued revenue for this year, representing a 5.6% increase from the same point last year.
We had to raise prices, which resulted in the loss of some customers. However, we remain optimistic that our new Custom Impressions line will enable us to offer something for everyone at various price points.
At the same time, we work to pay off business debt and provide fair compensation to ourselves.
What tools do you use?
Squarespace for e-commerce
Instagram & Meta Business for social media
Monday.com for order management
Clarify AI for CRM and sales
Xero for finance (They also bought glasses from us, thank you Xero)
UPS for shipping
Zapier for automations
Google Workspace for communication and file storage
Paper-based systems like Kanban boards and sticky notes to keep our hands-on workflow organized
Do you have a favorite motivational quote?
My favorite quote: "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly."
Ben's favorite quote: "How you do anything is how you do everything."
Podcast: "Brain Food" from Shane Parrish's Farnam Street.
I love my tarot and oracle cards. I have six decks for different things in life.
My favorite app is Insight Timer, which helps me meditate and stay present.
Pets?
Yes — two dogs. Pickles, a 9-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Gypsy, an 8-year-old Australian Shepherd. They're best friends, and Gypsy loves to herd Pickles around the house.
Where can we find you online?
Website: https://www.glassblowerben.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassblowerben & https://www.instagram.com/studioglassblowerben
Ben's sculpture and artwork: https://www.flickr.com/photos/glassblowerben/albums/