We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Cain recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for The Raleigh Local was born in 2020, during a time when so many small businesses were struggling just to stay afloat. I remember watching some of my favorite local spots close their doors -some temporarily, some for good – and feeling this urgency to do something. I didn’t have a big budget or a marketing agency behind me, but I did have a passion for storytelling, a phone with a camera, and a genuine love for this city.

What started as sharing a few of my go-to coffee shops, restaurants, and small shops on Instagram quickly turned into something so much bigger. People were craving connection, community, and ways to support local when everything felt uncertain. And small business owners needed visibility more than ever – but often didn’t have the means or know-how to get it. That’s when it clicked.

There was a gap I could help fill. I realized I could bridge the distance between the businesses that make Raleigh special and the people who wanted to show up for them. I wasn’t just sharing places -I was building a platform rooted in community care, one that gave small business owners the spotlight they deserved.

What got me most excited was the impact. This wasn’t just another blog or social media page – it was a way to help businesses grow, tell their stories, and remind people why shopping small matters. And the response? It was immediate and heartfelt. Followers were finding hidden gems. Business owners were seeing real results. I knew then this wasn’t just a good idea -it was a necessary one.

Today, The Raleigh Local is still all about connection: connecting people to places, passion to purpose, and stories to the community that needs to hear them.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I’m Kelly Cain—founder of *The Raleigh Local*, a digital platform dedicated to spotlighting the people, places, and businesses that make Raleigh such a vibrant place to live, work, and explore. I wear a lot of hats—content creator, small business cheerleader, marketing strategist, and community connector -but at the core of everything I do is a deep love for storytelling and a passion for helping others shine.

I started *The Raleigh Local* in 2020, at a time when small businesses were facing enormous challenges. I saw local spots I loved struggling to survive or closing altogether, and it broke my heart. I wanted to do something -anything- to help. So, I picked up my phone and started sharing their stories. What began as casual Instagram posts quickly grew into a highly engaged community of locals who were hungry for authentic recommendations, and a platform that small businesses could trust to amplify their message.

Today, I offer a range of services including Instagram reels and posts, blog features, email promotion, giveaways, social media coaching, marketing strategy, and even workshops on tools like AI and Canva. I also offer digital ad management, website support, and influencer collaborations to help businesses get seen and grow sustainably.

What sets *The Raleigh Local* apart is that I’m not just promoting businesses- I’m creating connection. Everything I share is curated with intention. I get to know the owners, understand their stories, and present them in a way that builds genuine trust with my audience. My followers know I only share what I truly love and believe in – and that’s something I never compromise on.

I work with everyone from brand-new local shops to established venues and national brands looking to connect with Raleigh’s community in a real and meaningful way. Whether I’m filming a reel at a local bakery, hosting a vendor market, or sharing weekend guides, my goal is always the same: to make it easier for people to fall in love with where they live, and to help small businesses thrive while doing it.

I’m most proud of the impact. Seeing a small business sell out of a product after being featured, hearing someone say they discovered their new favorite spot from one of my posts, or helping a business owner feel seen and supported – those are the moments that fuel me.

At the end of the day, *The Raleigh Local* is about more than just content-it’s about community. I want people to feel excited to explore their city, and I want small business owners to feel like they have a friend in their corner who’s rooting for their success.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that in order to be successful, I had to do everything myself.

When I started The Raleigh Local, it was a one-woman show—me, my phone, and a mission to spotlight as many small businesses as possible. I wore all the hats: content creator, editor, strategist, admin, event planner, customer service rep—you name it. And for a while, I believed that hustling nonstop and doing it all on my own was just part of the process. It felt like a badge of honor.

But the truth? That mindset led straight to burnout. I was constantly tired, overwhelmed, and never truly felt like I was caught up. I loved my work, but I started to feel the weight of it all, and it took the joy out of something that used to light me up. Eventually, I realized that asking for help, setting boundaries, and building support systems didn’t make me any less capable—it made me stronger.

I had to unlearn the belief that I had to prove my worth by doing it all, and instead lean into collaboration, delegation, and rest as part of a sustainable, long-term vision.

Now, I remind myself often: just because I can do everything, doesn’t mean I should. Letting go of that pressure has made me a better creator, a better business owner, and a better version of myself.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A few years ago, I owned a charcuterie business that I poured a lot of heart into. I loved the creativity, the connection with customers, and the joy of crafting something beautiful and delicious that brought people together. But as much as I loved pieces of it, I started to feel the weight of the logistics -especially the ongoing need for a commercial kitchen, the physical demands, and the challenges of scaling it sustainably long-term.

There came a point where I had to be really honest with myself. While the business brought me joy, it also brought a level of stress that didn’t feel aligned with the kind of lifestyle I wanted to build. I realized that just because something is going well, doesn’t mean it’s meant to be forever. That was a tough but necessary lesson.

So I pivoted. I took the things I did love- storytelling, creativity, connecting with people—and started building something new. That pivot eventually became The Raleigh Local, a platform that allows me to support small businesses in a different way—one that’s sustainable, aligned, and rooted in community.

Looking back, I’m so grateful for that season and everything it taught me. It showed me how to listen to my gut, embrace change, and trust that a pivot isn’t a failure—it’s just a redirection toward something better suited for your long-term vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://theraleighlocal.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theraleighlocal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1280727812983144
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theraleighlocal

Image Credits

I am getting branding photos done in one week — I will send photos then!