Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Fenrick.
Kristen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Klearly Kristen, Inc. officially began in 2015 as a way to help other women achieve financial independence. My life hasn’t always been easy. I wanted a way through entrepreneurship to be able to give back. I’ve had my ups and downs and its the mentors that have come along the way to help me that have kept me moving forward.
The idea for my company was birthed in late 2014. I was on my way back from a company sales conference and I saw this beautiful pink cosmetics vending machine. I thought wow, how cool! Immediately, the entrepreneur inside of me thought, I should do this! I should create my own jewelry vending machines. It made such logical sense to me. Women love jewelry. It’s easy, quick and efficient. It fits into the specialty gift category. Yep, I’m going to make it happen! What I didn’t know was the reality of making this happen with limited income and limited funding possibilities would make this a hard journey.
After deciding that I was going to indeed pursue my dream, in late December, I marched into the office of my friend and business attorney, Mr. Walt Bryde, and I told him my idea. I had $500 and another $300 in savings at the time. He told me my idea was fantastic and he was extremely proud of me. It’s so important to have people who believe in you. Walt also taught me my biggest lesson in business. He told me to begin with the end in mind. I teach this same principle to business owners that I work with today. He told me to imagine where I wanted my business to be in five years, ten years, and 25 years into the future. Yes, he could take my $500 and set me up as an independent contractor and get me a Tax ID but he said, no, I see that you want more for yourself, your business, your family and the world so we are going to set you up as a corporation and I’m going to do whatever I can do to help you get started and he did. We began and he let me pay overtime for the things that I needed.
As I earned money on my day job, I used it to invest in my dream. Soon I had developed an artistic rendition of what I wanted my automated store to look like. My brother helped me to develop my first logo and I hired a local graphic artist to help me create a packaging design. When we first started working, we worked out of my house in the upstairs bathroom. I somehow had fit a table in there and it was the only place in my house that I could have complete peace. I was still traveling and on the road for my day job, so I would see these machines popping up everywhere, so I knew that I had to figure it out.
After six months of planning and lots of investigation, I had managed to land the contact information for the individuals who owned and managed the machines. I had also begun looking into what it would take to be able to begin doing business with airports. I decided to attend a conference for business owners interested in contracting with airports and amazingly, I met a group of investors from NY who liked my energy and wanted to meet with me. I was so excited! We set up the meeting for eight weeks later and I went back home ready to get started. Little did I know what I really needed was a business coach.
I spent the next eight weeks putting together a rudimentary business plan (I had no formal training in this) and talking with the automated retail provider, vendors and packaging designers to get cost estimates. I hadn’t thought through the supply chain or logistics. There was so much to do and I was burning money and time trying to figure it out. Needless to say, my investor meeting didn’t go as expected. They told me that they loved my idea but it was too early. They offered me my next biggest piece of advice. They told me to go out and build up my brand. They said if you figure out how to do that, the rest will come. I went home brokenhearted but I knew what they said was true, so I dusted myself off, got back on the computer began to research how to build a fashion brand.
By this time it was early 2016. So much had happened personally and professionally however, I knew I had to follow the advice I was given, so I began working tirelessly behind the scenes in the fashion and beauty industries learning everything I could so I could apply it to my business. It took me three years, 12 seasons, countless fashion shows and meetings with designers from every category, to learn how to get my line in front of the right people. I’m very proud to announce that this spring right before Covid19, my line was featured at both New York and Paris Fashion weeks and I can formally announce that today I do indeed own a fashion brand. In addition to the brand launching into automated retail, I am beginning my own show on the new Promote Her network titled EnStyle by Klearly Kristen. The show is designed to spotlight fashion and beauty entrepreneurs to give them a platform to showcase their work. I’m so excited about helping other entrepreneurs to find their success and if I can help someone figure out the missing link, then I’ve done my job,
This has been a journey that, in my eyes, is just beginning. I’m happy to announce that before the end of this year, my company will be officially launching our first wave of Klearly Kristen Fashion Jewelry vending machines! It’s a dream come true. Every time I close my eyes at night, I dream of the future. My business has so many layers to it and it’s been such a joy to unpeel each layer as it happens. It’s truly just beginning.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Funding has always been a challenge. Access to traditional resources like bank loans and a friend and family round wasn’t available to me when I started. I had to bootstrap from the beginning, which meant my personal life and things that I wanted and needed were many times put on hold. Looking back on it now, I’m in awe of how I survived. God was most certainly watching over me physically, keeping me alive in the natural, so my dream wouldn’t die.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Klearly Kristen, Inc. is a fashion jewelry and accessories brand based in Houston, TX. Women love our jewelry. Our fashion jewelry and accessories are designed for everyday women. We incorporate the use of color in our fun designs. Our pieces are moderately priced and affordable for daily wear. In the Fall of 2020, we are releasing our first wave of automated retail machines in airports and other establishments throughout the US. This first release will allow us the opportunity to test the market and gain a better understanding of the opportunity available.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as your ability to stick with a goal. It is very important to try your best to push past any obstacles and never give up. Most people give up when they are almost to the finish line. Keep pushing on!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.klearlykristen.com
- Phone: 832-978-8283
- Email: info@klearlykristen.com
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