We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kami Sue Clark . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kami below.
Alright, Kami thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
Well, isn’t this a question to make you dig deep into your soul…….
I want to be remembered as the woman that never wanted to fear failure. Remembered as ambitious, strong, dedicated, innovative and a leader. And for my products to stand out be unique and one of a kind. I’ve had trials and challenges and have prevailed. It has given me empathy and integrity and confidence to come up with my buisness Whiskey Stone. The name has been a key to my success with nothing but positive feedback from my men and woman customers.
My goal in life is to bring others up. I truly want to make everyone’s life better because I am in it. You will never have success without failure.
Kami, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Kami Sue Clark with WHISKEY STONE.
I create custom, unique, one of a kind hats. What started it all was Nashville. The place were dreams are created right? I saw so many hats. Everywhere. Every style. But for me something was missing. You can get yourself a fancy hat and have a band thrown on, SURE! But they didn’t speak to me. So as I sat there admiring everyone walking down the streets. My dream was being created. I knew right then and there what my company was going to be about. Here we are- Whiskey Stone. Lets make magic happen! So I did. I flew home with a fire lit under me and I couldn’t wait to get to work.
Ordering- trials and errors. I began with hats and started figuring out what works what doesn’t. WHAT WOMAN WANT?!? That’s the million dollar question and I was going to create it.
I have never been ordinary and I wasn’t going to start with my buisness. I want to stand out. I want to be DIFFERENT.
Each one of my hats are custom, unique and are high end. 100% wool. I name each one because I will never remake the same custom hat. I want each one special.
I also know everyone’s styles are not all the same. What makes each of us special right?!….
I have a large variety of hats for my selection. I do Fedoras. I make cowgirl/cowboy style. I make larger brims. I have smaller brims and also floppy style.
First off- I had my first party it truly was amazing. Woman loved them. Seeing their faces so excited about their new purchase was more fuel for me. I had my first vendor show. I was featured in my first magazine. I had a lady come and buy hats for TV series. I had another vendor show and SOLD OUT! Also got into my first store. Now I am in a magazine again! I don’t even know how to express the gratitude I have. Truly…… I take so much pride in my buisness and I hope I exude that energy.
I only buy top quailty hats that are 100% wool. I want my hats to not only be beautiful to look at. I made sure the quality and my product holds up. You can find yourself a Hatter anywhere. There is lots of people that are creative. I am just hoping I stand out to the rest. I value my customers and what they want. I want each woman to be confident in their hat and feel beautiful wearing it. You have a bad hair day (I do everyday) I got you! You have a special event you want to spice up your wardrobe to. I got you!!! Come get yourself a statement piece.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
I started out small. I was being as frugal as possible. Find the deals where you can. Lots of research. When I sold a hat I would purchase more material. Teedering on a fine line. Wasn’t making money but planning on pushing through until I could finally make profit.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
So I signed up for a vendor show. I had everything riding on this. It was my first. I had so many thoughts running through my head. Hoping everyone saw my vision also on what I have created.
I had my sweet friend help me. She had the products to help in my show. I had my friend come and help with selling. This was was supposed to be special. This was was going to be IT……
IT WASNT- started out on an absolute beautiful October day. Sun is shining. Blue sky’s. Well…… this wasn’t great for me. I got amazing feed back on my hats. People love them. But no one is buying. (WHY) I understand my hats are going to be a “special purchase” it’s a special item so I have to have patience.
This day the feeling was different. In my life I’ve never experienced this. Where I in my mind was smiling and greating everyone but no one was purchasing. For the first time in my life I was feeling like I was needing these customers. (Interesting. I’ve never needed anyone) …….. With that day I had 3 purchases. I left broken. I left defeated. I left with the worst leg aches ever. And I swore in my head more times than I would ever like to admit. Huh……. as I told myself- maybe this isn’t for me.
It’s like a light bulb went off- after feeling defeated I wasn’t going to let my first show make me feel this way. This was a learning curve and I was going to figure it out. I got kicked down and damn it this isn’t where my story ends. I picked myself up. Put that smile back on my face and got to work. From that moment on Whiskey Stone has been nothing but successful. That day was needed. Again success needs failure. Maybe this is where you grow. You figure out different options. Down time. That didnt work. Okay let’s figure out another option.
Whiskey Stone is doing awesome and I am so very proud.
Thank you so much for reading my story! Please check me out on Instagram to see all my creations. Come get yourself your own custom hat branded with your initials.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiskeystonellc?igsh=amoyd2FqN3I0amdp
- Facebook: Kami Sue Clark
Image Credits
Lisa Sweeney photography
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