Meet Kelsey Krasnov

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelsey Krasnov a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsey , so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?

I don’t think the ability to take risks is something you’re born with I think it’s something you build on. For me, that ability came from getting tired of waiting for permission and the perfect work conditions. I have spent my time doing the 9-5 grind being the ‘good worker,’ in essence helping other people build their businesses by being a part of the machine. Post my son’s life saving organ transplant I realized I wanted to build something of my own, that gave our family flexibility, stability, something that reflected my style and my values, not someone else’s.

Opening House of Pokes was in a lot of way a spontaneous leap, however it has become a series of risks that I have continued to have to get comfortable with. Risking my savings or lack there of, risking time being a mom, risking people not understanding the vision and concept and doing it anyway. Every time I have taken a chance and things didn’t fall apart, my confidence has grown stronger.

What really drove me was the desire to create a safe space for women and kids in an industry that hasn’t always felt welcoming to us. That mission is bigger than the fear. I’m not risk-averse because I’m fearless, I’m “risk-ready”because I’ve learned that even if something scares me, I’m capable of figuring it out. And every time I take a risk, I grow, and the shop grows with me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

House of Pokes is more than a piercing studio it’s a safe space. I created a woman-owned, women-led shop with a touch of nostalgia, disco energy, major pink vibes, and the kind of confidence boosting atmosphere where people of all ages (especially women and kids) feel celebrated, not judged. Piercings are personal, and I want every person who walks through our doors to feel comfortable, respected, and excited whether it’s their first piercing or their twentieth.

What excites me the most about what we do is seeing someone walk in a little nervous and walk out glowing. Piercings can be a form of healing, expression, rebellion, or reclaiming confidence and we get to be part of that moment which I will never take lightly.

Quality and safety are a huge part of our culture. We use high end jewelry, prioritize education and aftercare, and have created an environment where parents feel comfortable bringing their kids and women feel safe coming alone. Its luxury meets comfort, wrapped in glittery energy and girlhood nostalgia.

We’re constantly leveling up new jewelry drops, fun pop up events, seasonal promos, and expansion. We just designed a new retail area in our space that gives other women owned businesses, some local, the platform to grow and get exposure! House of Pokes isn’t slowing down, we’re growing, evolving, and building a community around self expression and empowerment.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three most important qualities in my journey have been adaptability, confidence (even when it’s faked at first), and the ability to connect with people.

Adaptability has been my biggest survival skill. I didn’t start out with a business degree I came from a photography background with some art marketing knowledge and obviously body piercing knowledge and experience. So from day one, I had to learn as I went. Nothing in entrepreneurship happens in a straight line, and being willing to pivot, experiment, and adjust has been key to growth.

Confidence or more honestly put, “fake it till you make it” has played a massive role. I’ll be the first to say I don’t have everything figured out. A big part of my journey has been doing things scared, learning on the spot, and trusting that I’ll figure it out along the way. I used to think successful people always knew exactly what they were doing. Now I know most of us are just committed enough to show up before we feel ready.

Connection is the heart of my work. My art background taught me creativity and attention to detail, but running a piercing studio has shown me how powerful it is to genuinely care about the people in front of you. This isn’t just about jewelry or aesthetics it’s about helping people express themselves, celebrate themselves, and feel safe in their own skin. Building trust and creating a space where people feel seen has been just as important as any technical skill.

Advice for anyone early in their journey:
-Don’t wait until you “know enough.” Start now the real learning happens in motion while you are doing it. Quit your 9-5!
-Allow your path to shift and evolve. Change isn’t failure it’s growth.
-Lean into your background, even if it’s unconventional. Every skill you’ve ever picked up becomes useful.

I’m still learning every day, and I think that’s part of the magic. You don’t have to know everything you just have to be brave enough to begin.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, I’m always excited to collaborate with folks whose values align with ours. House of Pokes is all about empowerment, safety, creativity, big girl boss energy, and self-expression, so I gravitate toward partnerships that amplify that energy.

I’d love to collaborate with:
• Women-owned businesses and creatives
• Fashion, beauty, and piercing brands
• Photographers, content creators who love aesthetic visuals and early-2000s vibes
• Local businesses who want to cross-promote and build community together by hosting a pop up in our space, having your product in our retail area, or hosting us in your space
• Event hosts / vendors who want a fun, glam, girl-centric vendor in your space

Whether it’s content creation, pop-ups, styled shoots, or community events I’m open to ideas that help more people feel confident and inspired.

If you’re reading this and want to collaborate, I’d love to connect.
You can reach out through:
Instagram DMs — @house.of.pokes
Email — [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vagaro.com/houseofpokes
• Instagram: house.of.pokes
• Facebook: House of Pokes

Image Credits

Katie Lee Photography