A note from our family about our beginnings, our trademark applications, and why buying directly matters.
When we launched You’re Starting to Illinois Me™ on September 23, 2026, we were putting something personal into the world: a Wisconsin family’s take on Midwest rivalry, gameday banter, and the kind of phrase that makes people laugh because they get it.
We put care into how that phrase came to life, from the typography and spacing to the arrangement of our designs. Seeing people connect with it has meant a lot to our family.
As the brand gained attention, we also began seeing listings on other websites that appeared to copy our designs. That’s a frustrating part of building a small business, but it’s also a reason to tell our story clearly.
Putting Our Timeline on the Record
Our first federal trademark application for You’re Starting to Illinois Me dates to September 11, 2026, before our store launched. Our interstate sales began on September 23, 2026.
Our USPTO application serial numbers are 50103608 and 50180154. These are pending applications, not issued federal trademark registrations.
We’re sharing those details because we want our customers to know the history behind the brand and the steps we’ve taken to protect what we’re building.
Protecting Our Work, Keeping Our Focus
We take listings that appear to copy our work seriously. When we identify them, our approach is to document what we find and pursue the appropriate reporting channels.
But we don’t want copycat listings to become the story of this business. We’d rather be creating new designs, sharing a little Midwest rivalry, and taking care of the people who choose to support us.
That’s where our focus belongs.
Buying Directly. Spreading the Word.
If you want to support our family business, please tell your friends about us and the story behind You’re Starting to Illinois Me™. Help them find the people who created the brand and put these designs into the world.
We do not sell on Amazon, Etsy, or eBay. Listings on those marketplaces are not from our business.
When you shop here, you’re buying directly from our family. When you share our story, you help others find their way to us, too.
Whether you’ve placed an order, shared a post, or told a friend, thank you. You’re helping us keep creating and building something we’re proud of.
A little rivalry. A lot of Wisconsin pride. And a family business worth telling your friends about.