Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to KIMBERLY WEAVER. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
KIMBERLY, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I remember being at a family reunion, and a relative took the floor to speak, donning us “The Working Weavers” and I have never felt something so true. I come from a long line of folks that just have it in the genes. Generations back, it was farm work the moment you were able to walk. It was an understanding that if there was something you need (and want), no one else was going to hand it out to you. That mentality and work ethic has just stuck along the years. I was a surprise for my parents, who were young adults just trying to already make it on their own at a young age and from the moment I can remember, they both were driven to make a beautiful life happen for us all. I take a lot of pride in the Weaver name, because those who carried it were such a huge influence on my work ethic and the mentality that all things are possible with heart and sweat on your brow.
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?
I spent over 20 years in the retail & customer service world, climbing my way up the corporate ladder. After much success, I decided it was time for a life outside of the 60+ hour work weeks. I went into the administrative field, which gave me my evenings and weekends back. With the newly found time, I decided to get back to an old hobby that I was forever fond of thanks to my grandmothers: crafting. I also realized it could be a way to make additional income since I had taken a substantial pay cut to change careers, a decision I will never regret. The idea of Belewsy became January 2021 and since, I have grown it to where I was able to step away from my W2 September 2023 and work on and in the business full time. I LOVE having an outlet to create and having likeminded folks love the work, too. It’s fun knowing there are so many others out there with a similar sense of humor! The business has changed quite a bit over the years. I starting out selling onesies and can coolers to now specializing in quirky home decor with a strong focus on flour sack towels, faux embroidery and wood signs. Originally, my main printing method for my fabric pieces was vinyl. Last November, I invested in printing equipment that prints with a permanent, non-toxic ink, making the print able to outlast the fabric itself. It’s a beautiful step-up in quality that I am extremely proud of. My main focus is still to continually provide the best products, with the best service, at the best pricing possible. 2024 will be to focus on growing the design options on my current best selling products!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
It’s a great thing to have the hustle and drive to make entrepreneurship happen, but one thing I learned last year, when my business was booming more than it ever had, was the importance to take time for yourself. You have to set boundries between your work and your personal time. I repeat. You have to make time for you. It was the main reason I pushed so hard to be my own boss; to work on my schedule and not feel like a slave to the clock. Don’t get me wrong, you gotta dig to get there and stay there, but don’t dig so hard that you extinguish the flame and spark that drives you. Another important takeaway is to never stop searching for knowledge in how to better what you do. Business industries are forever changing (looking at you AI). You have to continually grow your knowledge base on every aspect of your business to keep it a well-oiled, profitable machine. On that note, I HIGHLY recommend reading Profit First. It taught me to pay myself first, which I was not doing originally. That and overworking yourself can lead to phone calls on how to sell this life-sucking thing you once so beautiful loved and cared for. So… never stop learning and take time for you!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking at collaborating with boutiques and shops and offering wholesale pricing in 2024. The best way to reach me for wholesaling inquiries is at Belewsy@gmail,com
Contact Info:
- Website: belewsy.etsy.com
- Instagram: intagram.com/belewsy
- Facebook: facebook.com/belewsy
