The idea of making super-short-run personalized labels and tags for brides, party planners, home cooks, and basement winemakers was first imagined in January of 2000 by Jeanne Williamson. Five months later, the My Own Labels website went live to test the products and the process. It began as a new venture for the team of Jeanne and her husband David, who launched it as a spin-off of the graphic design firm they had been successfully operating for almost two decades. David and Jeanne spent many all-nighters in their spare-bedroom-turned-office to launch the venture, and today, as directors of management and creativity, they continue to be an integral part of the operation.

New ventures for the My Own Labels team include the wholesale lines of labels and tags, Swank Press and Paperwed. These brands were built especially for resale by online merchants, in response to many requests to sell our products. With Swank Press and Paperwed, customers are able to order — and view their proofs instantly — on merchant's websites.

Today, My Own Labels has grown to a staff of 20 who work in a light-filled, 5,000 square foot building near the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. It is a privately held company which has never had investors, and today has no debt.