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

Kenzie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I love being a business owner and all that comes with it. I put a lot into it while also having a full time job. My business is not a “side hustle” to me. It’s one of my favorite things to work on. There are times where I come home after my full time job and I’m exhausted and I don’t want to work on my business. I get into ruts where I feel so uninspired. I’m still learning how to navigate these periods. I hope to one day be able to work on my small business full time because it makes me the happiest and I love doing it.

Kenzie, 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 Kenzie Dorsher and I am midwest born and raised. I’ve always been interested in music and the arts. I started my Etsy shop in 2018 originally selling friendship bracelets. I then started drawing/designing in late 2019 and switched my shop to what it currently is today. My shop, “Dorshie Designs” is where I sell stickers, greeting cards, clothing, and other merchandise. The stickers and greeting cards are handmade in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

I named my shop after the nickname my dad calls me, “Dorshie”. I’ve sold items in all 50 states and several other countries. I currently work full time in finance but I hope to one day have my full focus on my small business. It truly brings me the most joy and it is so fulfilling. Most recently I was asked by a local business to create some stickers and postcards for them.

It was very fun to let the creativity flow and design Midwest-based art and get local exposure. I am so grateful for that opportunity and I hope to do more of that in the future. I think it’s important to shop locally and to promote small businesses as it keeps business in the community and supports future growth.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

I sell all my products on Etsy. It’s great for me because it is a marketplace where people can search for unique products. Anything you can imagine could be sold on Etsy. One Pro is that it is a marketplace platform so you can manage your shop and advertise all in one place. One Con is that sometimes the fees can add up so when you price your products you have to take that into account.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

It’s not necessarily a lesson, but one mindset I had to unlearn is that my art is not for everyone and that is ok. I’m still very much a people pleaser and don’t want to ruffle any feathers, but I’m trying very hard to remind myself that everyone is allowed their own opinions and that is ok.

Contact Info:

• Website: dorshiedesigns.etsy.com
• Instagram: @dorshiedesigns

Image Credits
@berniesegf @brissdonis