Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelly Conner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kelly, appreciate you joining us today. One of the toughest parts of scaling a business is maintaining quality as you grow. How have you managed to maintain quality? Any stories or advice?

MeritMade has been blessed with steady growth since its founding. We’ve been lucky enough this year to see a massive uptick in custom orders which I am thrilled about. But being the business owner and designer and creator can be hard to juggle. I’ve also expanded my business, building out a new brand- Alloy: A Metalsmithing Community, where fellow metalsmiths of varying experience can join a community and hone their skills. But I am a big believer of quality over quantity. And I know that doing something hard usually isn’t the fastest. But when someone orders something from MeritMade they are getting a quality hand made piece. And spending the time and doing things intentionally, while using high quality materials, makes for a treasured piece of jewelry that can be worn, loved and cherished for generations to come.

So to make sure quality is not impacted during this busy season of business, I have had to make some changes. I have hired another instructor to help teach workshops. I have a small but mighty team helping with the day to day of running a business. And I have had to put clients on waitlists for custom work until I am better able to service the existing clients I have. All of which are in place to ensure the high quality of MeritMade jewelry stays the same.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Kelly Conner, I live in Kansas City. I have always loved making and creating and stumbled upon metalsmithing in college and was hooked. I have my BFA in Metalsmithing/Jewelry from the University of Kansas and held an apprenticeship with Kizer Cummings Jewelry. I offer custom jewelry creations working with varying materials like gold, silver, stones, diamonds, etc. Clients come to me with either ideas, or heirloom materials they want made into something just for them, or even a blank slate and I execute their vision. I also offer workshops where students learn to make things like their own rings or earrings. I teach private lessons for those interested in metalsmithing who need some guidance and supervision. And I also offer DIY wedding band workshops for couples who want to create their own wedding rings. And then most recently I opened Alloy: A Metalsmithing Community, which is a safe space for makers to explore and have a bench with tools ready for them to get creating. Members pay monthly to secure a bench for them to work at and I also offer members a discount on classes and lessons.

I think the biggest problem I solve for people is “how.” When a client has inherited treasured diamond earrings from a grandparent that they want made into something they can wear themselves, a lot of people would get stuck on the “well, how do I do that?” part. Or when someone is curious about metalsmithing but isn’t even sure where to start and doesn’t want to buy a torch and light their house on fire in the discovery process! That’s where I come in. Or if they want a fun new experience for a friend or family member, so they look into my workshops or classes for a gift or activity and they find my name. And I think that is also what sets me apart. I offer high quality one of a kind pieces and experiences. I can be your one stop shop from idea to design, to purchasing the materials, to execution. Or a place to create that one of a kind piece all on your own!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I have been fortunate enough that a large portion of my clients have come from word of mouth. And I pride myself in knowing that because I offer high quality custom pieces, people want to talk about! I am also very interested in hearing my clients stories on these amazing pieces they inherited. Or their beautiful engagement story and why it is so special to them to create their own wedding bands. And I think being fully invested in your clients is something you get when you shop your small businesses or local makers. And that has also helped clients become more vocal about referring my services. We treat our customers how we want to be treated and they become a member of our MeritMade family. And we continue to offer amazing pieces that can worn frequently and still be passed down from generation to generation.

Any advice for managing a team?

It takes time figuring out how to manage running a business along with everyday life. And then when I am the primary maker, designer and do-er, it becomes challenging! So I have found a great team to help me run various aspects of my business and brands. And I think the most important part of building your team is finding people you trust and you truly want to work with. When you have people in place who you know have your back, the high morale is much easier to maintain. Because you want to see each other succeed and they are also invested in you and your business beyond just making money for themselves. And I also think treating your employees, contractors, sub contractors, etc. as humans first goes a long way. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone gets sick and needs a few days off, everyone needs vacation time. And when you trust that they will quickly bounce back from any hiccups along the way and they have good intentions, it is a lot easier to give empathy. It all goes back to how you treat people and just like I treat my clients, I treat those who help me the way I wish to be treated.

Contact Info:

• Website: meritmadekc.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/meritmade
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meritmade
• Other: alloymetalsmithing.com

Image Credits
Cole Rodger Julie Denesha Jason Domingues