Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Eichel.
Hi Stacy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Queens, NY with no clear idea of what I wanted to “be” when I grew up — but every job I took opened a new door. Each role sparked curiosity about something else, and that curiosity kept leading me to the next great opportunity.
I eventually landed as the Executive Assistant to the General Manager of New York’s Classic Rock station, and I absolutely loved it. When my boss’s position was eliminated, I was convinced I’d be next. Instead, the market manager asked me what my dream job was. I figured, “What’s the worst he can do—lay me off?” So, I told him the truth: I wanted to work in marketing. And because I had a knack for graphics, they decided to give me a shot.
That chance turned into seven incredible years as the in-house graphic designer and marketing associate for Clear Channel Radio (now iHeartMedia) in NYC. I created design and branding for six of the biggest stations in the market — Z100, KTU, Lite FM, Power 105, Q104, and WALK. It was fast, demanding, creative work, and I loved every minute.
Eventually, more organizational changes came and my role was eliminated. But the team kept calling me back as a freelancer whenever they needed artwork for swag for promotional campaigns. And one day it hit me:
Why am I only designing the artwork when I could be supplying the products too?
That spark became More Than Stick Figures Inc., my boutique promotional branding agency.
Since 2008, I’ve been helping clients of all sizes — local, national, and international — bring their branding to life through creative, high-quality promotional merchandise and graphic design. It’s been an unexpected journey, but every step led me exactly where I was meant to be.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing worthwhile comes without a little struggle, and my business is no exception.
Competing with the big guys is tough. As a one-woman shop, I don’t have a massive marketing budget or catchy TV jingles to get my name out there. What I do have is consistency, responsiveness, and relationships. My clients come back time and time again because they know exactly who will answer the phone, who’s handling their project, and who’s going to make sure things get done—no matter the hour.
But being in a project-based business means riding the waves of the economy. When companies tighten their budgets, custom-branded swag is usually one of the first things to go. And when swag gets cut, the ripple hits small businesses like More Than Stick Figures hard.
Another challenge? Letting go of control. I rely on factories around the world to produce our products and on shipping partners to get everything where it needs to go. For a self-proclaimed control freak, that’s the hardest part. Once I receive an order, I don’t stop thinking about it until it’s in the customer’s hands and everything turned out exactly as promised.
The struggles are real—but so is the pride I have in what I do. And at the end of the day, every challenge has shaped More Than Stick Figures into the resilient, personal, relationship-driven business it is today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I mentioned earlier, More Than Stick Figures was born from a shift, a pivot, and a little leap of faith. We’re a boutique promotional items agency specializing in products that truly stand out.
We’ve built our reputation on being the team that gets it done when others can’t. Clients trust us because we’re responsive, reliable, and committed to long-term relationships. We’re a soup-to-nuts marketing partner, and if something isn’t done in-house, we have incredible vendors and collaborators who help us bring the vision to life.
There’s nothing better than seeing an item we created out in the world—at an event, in a campaign, or being enjoyed by the people it was meant for. That’s when we feel most proud. Our job is to make our clients look good, and we’re happy being the behind-the-scenes partner that helps make that happen.
A few years ago, we were asked to create merch for the podcast Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach Braff and Donald Faison from Scrubs. We produced fun onesies, towels, badge pulls, PopSockets, keychains, ornaments, and socks. The response was amazing—Zach posted photos of himself wearing the onesie, Drew Barrymore wore the onesie on her show and Conan O’Brien’s team even showcased the samples we sent over. My husband proudly told anyone who would listen that his wife “made those.”
But whether an item ends up on national TV or simply helps someone complete a form at a local event, our mission stays the same: help our clients get their brand into the world in a meaningful, positive way.
Did you know that almost anything can be branded? I’ve done monogrammed sugar cubes for weddings, custom vinyl 45 records as invitations for a 45th anniversary, and even branded shoes and bikinis. If you can dream it, there’s a good chance we can make it happen. The brainstorming is the fun part—everything after that is what I take care of.
More Than Stick Figures is always excited to work with new clients, and beyond promotional products, we also offer marketing and branding support. So whether you need swag, strategy, or something totally out of the box, we can truly be your one-stop shop for all things marketing.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Always keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.
When I started college, I had no clear career path or defined direction. Meanwhile, my child—a theatre major—was born knowing exactly what they were meant to do. I may not have had that level of certainty, but I did have curiosity. And over time, that curiosity became my compass.
Follow your curiosity. Try things. Ask questions. Talk to people who are doing what you want to learn. Tell them what you’re interested in, what you want to understand, and ask them what the next step might be. Truly—what’s the worst that can happen?
Say yes to the open doors. You can always change direction later, but you never know what opportunities you’ll uncover along the way.
I never imagined I’d become a business owner. I never wanted to be “the boss of anyone.” Yet here I am, running my own company for almost 18 years. It didn’t happen overnight—it was an evolution, shaped by curiosity, timing, and a willingness to take the next step even when I didn’t have the full map.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.morethanstickfigures.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtsfnyc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morethanstickfigures
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyb/
