We recently connected with Kelsey Wiseman and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kelsey with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I come from a family of hard workers. My great-grandparents on my mother’s side were entrepreneurs. My great-grandpa sold goods on a peddling truck in the mountains of East Tennessee before opening a general goods store/gas station called I.G.R. Market with two friends. My great-grandmother was a seamstress in a local factory before starting her own business where she offered her seamstress services and made and sold clothes under the name “Agnes Fashions”. My grandparents on both sides were diligent in their work and faithful to their jobs. I believe that coming from a family that did their best at everything they put their hand to fostered in me a love for hard work and entrepreneurship. I went to college to pursue the education field and taught in the classroom before realizing my true calling as an entrepreneur. I started my jewelry and accessory business as a side hustle in January 2020. By May of 2021, I was able to quit my teaching job and pursue my business full time. While there have been both good and bad challenges since starting a business, I have not looked back. I have a picture of my great-grandmother, Agnes, along with some of the tags she used to sew into her custom clothing displayed in my studio. They serve as a reminder of the line of diligent workers and entrepreneurs I came from that inspire me to do my best and work diligently for God. Ultimately, He is the one who gave me the talents and skills I have as an entrepreneur and placed me in such a hard working family to foster and grow those skills.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Originally I went to college to study elementary education, but I always had a love for the arts. I knew that I was creative and my mother always fostered that side of me and encouraged me when I would tap into my creative side. It was not until three years into teaching in a classroom that I felt the call to step away from education and start my own creative business. I explored many side hustles before finding polymer clay as a medium. I tried photography, multiple network marketing businesses, painting canvases, button earrings and more. Eventually all of them lost their luster and I moved on to the next thing. However, when I discovered polymer clay as a medium for creating unique, lightweight jewelry, something clicked. I had always loved jewelry, but hated that big statement earrings were so heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Polymer clay was so lightweight that beautiful statement pieces could be created which were lightweight enough to be worn all day. That realization allowed me the ability to share my creations with the world. Thus, The Crafted Makerie was born!
As this business has grown, it has allowed me to meet some of the most amazing people. I have met customers, who share my love for fun jewelry and accessories, who have become friends. I have met so many small business owners who share the same passion for entrepreneurship. Four years ago when I started The Crafted Makerie, I could have never imagined the growth I would experience-both as a business owner and in my personal life. While my focus remains to build a business that is healthy and continues to grow, I also want to foster this community of relationships that have developed as a result. This is shown by partnering with community outreaches, local nonprofits, or meaningful causes. At the end of the day, it is more than just jewelry and accessories, it is what I can do with the opportunities this business affords me to make a difference in the lives of others and my community.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I look back over the past four years of growing my business, three things come to mind. The first is flexibility. I think as a small business owner you have to be flexible in your schedule, your relationships, and your goals. I try to remind myself that it is so much easier to bend than break. Remaining flexible allows your schedule and goals to change as you move forward in your business. Our original goals do not always remain the same, so we have to allow ourselves the ability to change and be flexible. You also need to make sure you surround yourself with people who are willing to understand that your life will look differently because you are a small business owner. This is especially true with your spouse. If you are starting a small business, it requires some sacrifice on both your parts in the form of time and money. I encourage anyone trying to start a small business to be flexible with their spouse or partner and to be clear when discussing their needs and expectations of each other.
The second quality that comes to mind is teachable. As a small business owner who started out with a background in education and no business degree, I quickly had to learn to be teachable. Life as an entrepreneur will quickly remind you that you do not know everything. Surround yourself with people who can offer you wise advice but also be willing to invest in your business by paying for someone’s time and knowledge. I highly recommend finding a business coach. They can help set you up for success by teaching business basics such as setting up an LLC, obtaining an EIN or managing your business finances. You can also dive deeper with different types of business coaching as your business grows to help you streamline your processes and scale up.
Lastly and I believe maybe the most important area of knowledge a business owner should have is how to create quality work in their medium of choice. One of my favorite quotes comes from John Lasseter of Pixar. He said in an interview with Fast Company: “Quality is the best business plan, period.” I believe that many people can learn the minimum skills it takes to work with any medium. For example, polymer clay and acrylic jewelry has exploded in popularity in recent years. Many people are operating with basic skills and knowledge of the medium and are satisfied with that level of operation. Few people will take the time it takes to master their medium in order to provide the highest quality of work that is possible. Quality wins out over “good enough” every time. If you learn how to create the highest quality art, product, or service that you possibly can in your business, you will set yourself up for longevity in your field.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I owe so much to my business coach, Chloé Minyon from @englishteapaperie. A couple of years ago I was walking through a season of burnout in my business and I met Chloé at a local business retreat. She has been a God-send! She helped me walk through burnout, rediscover my desire to create, and most recently helped me streamline my business processes to work with my creative flow instead of against it. I am forever grateful that God allowed our paths to cross.
Contact Info:
- Website: thecraftedmakerie.com
- Instagram: @thecraftedmakerie
- Facebook: @thecraftedmakerie
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kelsey-wiseman-tcm
Image Credits
Brittany Stewart Photography
