Today we’d like to introduce you to Kierra Anderson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always had a love for crafting and graphic design. Back in high school (2006-2010), I enjoyed working on craft projects with organizations that I was a part of. I was introduced to graphic design in 2007 in a couple of elective courses that I took in high school. After successfully succeeding in those classes, my heart was set on going to school full time for graphic design. I chose a different path and went off to school at Prairie View A&M University and majored in Management Information Systems. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my major, besides solve business problems with technology.
After working a few jobs here and there, I was offered a position at Microsoft as a Lab Engineer. I support and maintain Microsoft Support’s private clouds, which are used for development, technical support for reproduction scenarios, training, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. Sounds pretty cool, but the stress level can be high at times. I started back crafting as a hobby in 2017 to keep my sanity from stress on the job. I purchased my first Cricut Machine and started working on different small projects on my off-time for a few family and friends. Some of those projects included custom t-shirts, planners, photo booth frames, and cups! After posting my work on different social media platforms, more people became interested in my work — mainly my cups! As much as I wanted to keep my hobby as a hobby only, my customers wanted more, so I turned my hobby into a business. I opened an Etsy shop online called Major Kee’s Boutique to sell my craft work. I spend roughly 20 hours per week crafting on numerous projects while giving customers a 2-3 week turnaround time. With the growth of my business over the past few months, I have hired a couple of family members to assist with cup orders.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, especially with having a full-time job. Balance has been my main problem. I had to learn how to keep both jobs separate and give myself a timeframe to work on projects for Major Kee’s Boutique. A lot comes with running a crafting business because there is so much that goes into it. Every part of running a craft business is a job of its own, such as ordering/shopping for supplies and keeping inventory up to date, managing social media pages, responding to customer’s emails and messages in a timely manner, being a photographer for every item that is made, managing account information for tax purposes, and perfecting each craft to ensure customer satisfaction. I do not give myself set hours, but I try not to go over 20 hours per week to get everything done. I work one to two hours each night during the week, late nights on Fridays, anytime that I have available on Saturdays, and Sunday afternoons. This has been what has worked best for me, however, I still find myself working overtime for my craft business when things get challenging and orders need to be reworked. My main advice is to be prepared for failures, be organized so that you can do things right the first time, and have time management.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Major Kee’s Boutique – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am the owner of a craft shop called Major Kee’s Boutique. I currently sell my craft on Etsy, which is an e-commerce website that is focused on handmade items. I am most known for selling customized stainless steel cups dipped in glitter and coated with epoxy. So far, I have sold t-shirts, planners, and photo frames. I am most proud of my cups because they were the most challenging to perfect. My cups set me apart from other craft businesses in my area. A lot of craft companies have a variety of items that are customizable, however, they do not focus on customizable glittered cups because making them is so time to consuming. Customizable glittered-dipped cups is my niche and has been what has made me most successful.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Discipline has been the main factor in the success of my business. I have been a part of many organizations where we worked on projects for other people and it needed to be done in a timely manner. I’ve seen bad customer service and had some bad customer experiences myself. One thing I’ve learned from those experiences is that when someone is paying for your work or service, it needs to be beyond perfect and completed on time. It takes discipline to run a successful business. With being your own boss, it is easy to push things off, because you feel like you can get things done on your own time. It takes discipline to stick to your business hours that you set for yourself and not get distracted by other things that may come up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.majorkeesboutique.etsy.com
- Email: majorkeesboutique@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majorkeesboutique
- Facebook: fb.me/majorkeesboutique
Image Credit:
Kierra Anderson
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