We recently connected with Aimee Kearns and have shared our conversation below.

Aimee, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I have always been crafty. I enjoy making things – any thing – all things. In fact had a small business making wood signs. The business did alright, but most of my sales came from markets and fairs, and honestly, those venues were saturated with wood signs. I started thinking about changing what I make and wondering what that would look like. Then the pandemic happened. All of the sudden, I had a whole lot of time to watch online videos and learn something new and I decided I wanted to learn how to work with leather. I ordered some supplies online, had them delivered to my house and started in on learning. I made my first project for my husband’s anniversary gift (which was perfect because the traditional gift for the 3rd anniversary is leather). That wallet seemed to turn out okay, so I kept at it, started making more wallets, messing up, ruining leather, giving wallets to friends, taking over a room in the house to store and create leather goods. I watched videos to learn the things I didn’t know, and I started to get ready for my first market selling leather goods instead of wood signs. Did I make a mistake? Would anyone want what I made? Though it was a slow start, I started learning what people wanted to buy, and making those things. And people started buying them.

Aimee, 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 Aimee Kearns and I am the owner of Kearns Leather. We create handmade leather goods like wallets, bags, totes, journal covers, keychains, hats and lots more. I have always loved creating with my hands and have been doing so since I was young. I went to college to be an art teacher, but once I saw an opportunity to be creative as a job, I changed my major to Studio Art. I didn’t use that degree until almost 20 years later when I started my business

I got started in business at the suggestion of my husband who encouraged me to make my passion my vocation. Kearns Leather is a part time gig for me, my full time job is as a graphic designer. I love that I get to be creative in all aspects of my life.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think being honest with my clients and customers has helped build my reputation within the market. I try to let my customers know that I am fairly new at leatherwork, and that I don’t know all there is to know about it. I tell anyone if they ever have any problems with any product they purchase from me, to contact me and I will make it right.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

I purchased a laser engraver for my leather business about a year ago, and have used it to do custom work that don’t necessarily include leather work for clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kearnsleather.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/kearnsleather
• Facebook: facebook.com/kearnsleather