Get Crafty – Q&A with Lee Drane of CAJE Dee-Zigns
CAJE Dee-Zigns—a one-of-a-kind shop where personalization, purpose, and passion come together. Founded by Navy veteran and tech innovator Lee Drane, CAJE Dee-Zigns isn’t just a place to browse custom gifts; it’s a hands-on creative space designed to empower others through art, technology, and connection. The Go Downtown Kenosha Magazine sat down with Lee to talk about the mission behind the shop, how personalization can be more than a product, and why he believes Kenosha is the perfect place to build something meaningful.
What would we find if we walked into your shop?
Lee Drane: Watching people’s reactions when they walk in the door is awesome. We’ve intentionally designed the shop to feel both welcoming and a bit mysterious. As a creative space, our goal is to spark inspiration by getting customers to think about the things they love—because most items in the shop are really just canvases waiting to be personalized. Personalization turns everyday things into unique pieces of art that reflect your interests. With a mix of collectibles, quotes, characters, music, and art-related items, we aim to ignite creativity.
In the back, we have 15 laser machines. That area is only accessible to customers who pass a safety exam and book time on the equipment.
Is everything customizable? Is it all DIY, or can customers place orders?
Lee Drane: Yes—everything is essentially a canvas, even parts of the shop itself, like the personalized tiles we’ve added to the walls in our new ADA-compliant bathroom. The possibilities are endless, which is why we don’t try to do it all ourselves. Instead, we focus on teaching others how to use the tools and technology now widely available.
We do take custom orders, but our overall model is built around empowering others to use personalization for therapeutic or commercial purposes.
Custom products can get pricey, but it seems like you strive to keep things affordable. How do you manage that?
Lee Drane: It’s true—there are a lot of upfront costs. But managing those costs is crucial to making our model sustainable. I’m committed to partnering with organizations that share our mission, especially those supporting veterans and autistic communities. For example, xTool is sponsoring several workshops for those groups.
Since our main goal is to create as many opportunities as possible, keeping prices accessible fuels our mission. Instead of making and selling 100 acrylic sea turtles for $65 each, we’d rather host a workshop with 10 attendees at $50 each, and help them learn to make the same 100 turtles themselves for less than half the cost. They can sell them, give them as gifts, or use them however they want. The potential to save and even earn money here is real, depending on what you’re looking to do.
Why did you choose downtown Kenosha for your location?
Lee Drane: We’ve lived in Kenosha County for 20 years. At first, we were looking at smaller spaces. But when xTool offered to sponsor workshops for veterans and the autistic community, we saw that as a sign to go bigger.
Seeing all the investment and energy going into revitalizing downtown Kenosha drew us in. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the community has been incredibly supportive and welcoming. Honestly, I can’t think of a better place to build what we’re building.
What kind of work or business were you in before starting CAJE Dee-Zigns?
Lee Drane: I started my career as a Logistics Specialist in the U.S. Navy, where I served for 8 years. After doing some contract work, I joined Avanade Inc.—a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture—where I built and led their Contracts Management function for over 18 years. That’s where I really got into technology and eventually started exploring generative AI.
We understand this isn’t just a business—it’s a mission. Can you tell us more?
Lee Drane: I’m a disabled veteran, and two of our four children are on the autism spectrum. So it’s deeply important to me to support those communities. This business wasn’t something that happened overnight—we’re building something a little unconventional.
While it’s ambitious, I believe the blend of options we offer can help a broad range of people. It took time to figure out our model, but with the support of family, friends, and a few key business contacts, I think we’re creating something really special and fun. Personalization is a growing market—people are always looking for new ways to express themselves. Our mission is to put those possibilities directly into the hands of people who might not otherwise have access.
You seem to have a great team. What makes them special?
Lee Drane: There’s honestly no way to give them enough credit. They’re special because they believe in the mission—not just the “what,” but the “why” and “how.”
My family means everything to me, and they are the DNA of CAJE: Christian, Austin, Jazmin, and Ethan. Dee-Zigns comes from Diana. We’ve incorporated their names and favorite colors into the shop and our products. Many items are tied to memories I have of them.
Chet has also become like family. He brings a ton of experience and passion to the table. He ran Good Vibe Lasers out of the back of Vintage Underground for three years. A lot of people might have seen us as competition, but Chet embraced the vision and jumped in with both feet. He’s been a huge part of our momentum, and I honestly don’t know where we’d be without him.
Your mascot, the red panda, is adorable! Why did you choose that?
Lee Drane: Thank you! The CAJE Panda is awesome, and it connects to our business in a few ways. First and foremost, red pandas make me smile—and at CAJE, we want to find what makes you smile and bring that into the products we create.
Using generative AI, we’ve been able to combine the CAJE Panda with some of my favorite things—like The Ramones, soccer, and even holiday characters like leprechauns and the Easter Bunny. That sparks fun conversations in the shop, which in turn leads to meaningful connections. It all starts with a smile.
Do you have a favorite product currently in the shop?
Lee Drane: There are so many amazing pieces already, thanks to Diana and Chet—and we’ve only tapped into about 5% of the files we have!
Personally, I’m partial to the things that aren’t for sale. I love the custom red pandas and the items featuring our CAJE Ramone mascot. I can’t wait until we launch CAJE Ramone T-shirts!
Whether you’re stopping in to make your own custom creation or just curious about what a red panda has to do with laser engraving, CAJE Dee-Zigns is full of surprises. But at the core of it all is something simple: a space built to inspire. Lee Drane and his team aren’t just crafting cool products—they’re building community, sparking joy, and showing others how to do the same.
Stop by CAJE Dee-Zigns at 5716 Sixth Avenue and see what makes this shop more than a store—it’s a movement.
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This article first appeared in the 2025 Go Downtown Kenosha Magazine Vol. 18 Issue #2
Interview by Kim Carmichael of Happenings Magazine • Edited by Jason Hedman of Happenings Magazine
Photos by Rob Kight & Kim Carmichael
Online Content Facilitator, Intro & outro written by Donny Stancato the Partnership Development Manager at Visit Kenosha