For nearly 25 years Kurt Ming put on a sober suit and tie to go to work as a stock broker where he dealt with millions of dollars of customers' savings.

But two years ago he did something that would change his life... he went into partnership with a couple of friends and set up an engraving business which he planned to work on in his spare time.

With Tim Olden and Juan Mello he set up Bermuda Laser Engraving, and after a long day at Bank of Bermuda, Mr. Ming would head down to the business and work on his engravings, perfecting his techniques on the computer at work and working on tiny and large pieces. “I knew nothing about engraving, but I had the computer skills,” he said. “So my mates wanted someone who would be able to work with it.”

He was happy with this part-time set up which he felt gave him a creative outlet, while holding on to his well-paid job. But a year ago he was given a rude awakening when he was made redundant along with several other brokers as the bank cut back jobs due to falling markets around the world.

His well-paid and high-flying job had disappeared overnight, and he was left in limbo, not sure where to turn. So he turned to his business venture and started working more and more hours there - until it became a full-time job.

“I have not looked back,” he said. “Sure the money is not the same but I am working for myself and I have a lot more flexibility.”

The business started its life in the Brunswick Mall, but two months ago moved into Stephen Raynor's old studio on Reid Street, near the Court Street junction.

“There had been a flood and everything was a mess,” said Mr. Ming.

But slowly the Bless team has replaced the ceiling and the floors and installed the giant laser machine as well as shelves to display all their goods. “I love my job,” he said. “It is very creative and I am learning new things all the time. Every day I work on the designs on the computer and every day I learn something new.”

Most of the work Mr. Ming does is on a computer, and then the image is sent to a huge laser machine which engraves on to hard surfaces such as granite, marble, glass and wood.

The largest size of object that can be engraved is 44 inches square, but he said he has never been asked to work on such a large piece.

The company, which is known as BLESS, does a lot of domestic-sized work as well as engraving plaques for businesses, house signs for homes, long service awards and headstones.

“The thing I love working in the most is corian and wood,” he said. Corian is a white substance which he said lends itself particularly well to picture engraving for hanging in the house. Mr. Ming has a picture of himself and his wife hanging on the wall in the shop. “What is so special about what we do is the customisation,” said Mr. Ming. “You can bring in a picture that you took which means a lot to you, and have it engraved onto almost any hard surface.”

Granite plaques start at about $95 and can go up to as much as $1,000 depending on the size.

Mr. Ming said things have really been picking up in the business since they moved to the new store, with customers passing on verbal recommendations to friends.

“I still think of it as a new business, and things have been going very well. We would like to expand eventually, but we are just happy to be busy at the moment.

“The nicest problem I could have is having too much work to keep up with. Sometimes it gets that way right now, and I don't mind, I just work on or work at the weekends - it is the joy of working for yourself.”

Now Mr. Ming's suits and ties gather dust at the back of his wardrobe - and are unlikely to get an airing in the near future. “I still use the skills I learnt all those years of being an investment broker - I still invest my own money. But there is nothing like working for yourself.”