Ryan Kusto and Jolieann Y. Kusto have been in business since 2018, bringing personalized apparel designs to life for customers’ birthdays, funerals, or other events. Over the years, the operation has grown and the Kustos recently moved into a brick-and-mortar store in Mangilao where people can place orders and shop the company’s new designs.

Kustomize is largely a custom print shop, but the Kustos have also started selling their own designs and other fashion items now that they have a retail space.

They moved into the store last month, which is conveniently located in Mangilao.

“It was a challenge trying to find a spot that met the requirements we were looking for as far as location, price and availability. But we were lucky to stumble across this small spot. It was perfectly located near a group of other businesses and churches and also very close to where we stay so we went for it,” Ryan Kusto told The Husk.

Many businesses have moved to Mangilao in the last decade or so and more businesses are looking to open locations in the central village, so Kustomize is in good company.

Ryan Kusto, 27, is from an outer island of Chuuk and his wife Jolieann Y. Kusto, 25, is from an outer island in Yap.

The pair said they felt ready to open a physical location, and they’ve spent years building their business and brand online.

“We first started just advertising through Facebook and Instagram and then finally decided to get a place to print,” Ryan Kusto said.

At the Mangilao store, the Kustos sell clothes and flags that feature their unique designs, handmade Micronesian skirts, mwarmwars and accessories. It’s also where they print their orders.

“I decided it was time to upgrade our services and provide a more professional transaction between us and our customers,” Ryan Kusto said.

The shop is located behind the KFC in Mangilao, right beside Dial Rent to Own.

As word spread of the Kustos’ business, a physical location seemed like the next logical step.

“For the most part, we were doing meetups/deliveries all over the island, and it was tough to try to manage it all, especially when we would get really busy. So we decided it was time to make things a little easier for both ourselves and our customers,” Ryan Kusto said.

When The Husk visited the store, Ryan Kusto said the business had just completed a surge of holiday orders. They hoped that with those orders behind them, they would have more time to restock the store. However, within minutes of opening shop for the day, customers had stopped in to add on to an order and peruse the shop.

It’s a good problem to have, Ryan Kusto said.

The Kustos hope their new store will become a regular spot for people looking to elevate and commemorate their events with personalized attire.

They want “to be the spot they come to as far as printing apparel and getting any type of merchandise done,” Ryan Kusto said. “And hopefully open up opportunities for different types of businesses.”

Now that they’re also selling their own designs, the FSM Drip Tee has emerged as one of the shop’s best-sellers. It’s also available for purchase on the Kustomize website. The FSM Drip Tee comes in black and white and features the words “Federated States of Micronesia” in a splashy, graffiti-style font on the front in the same cerulean blue as the FSM flag.

Kustomize also offers personalized tank tops, long-sleeved shirts, pullover hoodies, zippered hoodies, polo shirts, baby tees and hats.

Soon the shop will offer sublimation printing, expanding its product base to include custom phone cases, dog tags and souvenirs.

To aspiring Micronesian business owners, Ryan Kusto offers this advice:

“Main advice is to just start,” he said. “Anything you really believe in or want to do, just get started and everything else will work itself out. And also be willing to make mistakes. That's where all the lessons come from.”

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“Where Your Vision Becomes Reality”″

January 25, 2024

Customers who are not on Guam can send the company a message on social media to order personalized apparel for an upcoming occasion.

Customers on Guam are encouraged to visit the store and check out their products. Should you have a design in mind, work with Kustomize to make it a reality. Kustomize can also be contacted at 671-797-2424 or through email at Kustomize691@gmail.com. For more information, visit their website: https://kustomize691.company.site/.