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

Kim , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?

In 2023, I, Kim, started Liv CBD in North Carolina, a state where cannabis wasn’t legal yet. I knew it’d be a long journey, maybe over five years, but I was ready for it. Early that year, North Carolina began considering a medical marijuana program, so I got busy building my team. The state had strict rules for granting limited licenses, and by spring 2023, I had almost everyone I needed, except a Manufacturer.

Then, something great happened. While vending at a Farmer’s Market, another vendor gave me a business card for an FDA-registered cannabis manufacturer. After many conversations over the next few months, I finally got my own license. Now, I’m working on using this license and following FDA guidelines to open an online natural and holistic marketplace. I want to offer the best products, staying true to my original vision for Liv CBD, while expanding into the online marketplace called www.EthicalEvos.com

Kim , 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?

I am an Irish woman from Philly, I have always been an active go-getter when it comes to pursuing what I want. I studied business management in College and knew I wanted to work for myself running something that I built. I ran a medical clinic in Wilmington NC for 10 years with a focus on Clinical Age-Management, health and wellness with a natural approach. I wanted to stay in that field, but had some restrictions not being an MD. I found Cannabis, Full Spectrum CBD Tinctures actually to help me out with some back issues, it worked. I used that stimulus money in 2020 to get certified at the CBD training academy and opened up a Boutique Cannabis Clinic where the customer can get the correct help to utilize the plant correctly. One major problem I have come across is that Cannabis is not federally regulated but State, and the FCC and the banking system is so we cannot advertise and use banks (unless you pay a HUGE monthly fee, but only a few banks have accepted that in the past yearish). Its been hard getting my name out there, especially since I do not look like a smoke shop, vape shop with flashy lights out front. What I am most proud of, is my ability to pivot and excel in this industry. I acquired a beer and wine license, started having music on a regular basis, artistic events, and a very successful open mic night. Doing this brought more people to my shop over others and introduced people to cannabis that normally wouldn’t have tried it. It also allowed sober people to be able to hang out with their non sober friends where everyone is happy out on a Saturday night. We treat Liv CBD as a clinic not a retail store. We educate then allow the customer to decide what they want to do.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think having that certificate helped build my reputation tremendously! I also utilized a relationship I built with a local women focused magazine and they allowed me to advertise and promote my cbd shop. They wrote an article on me and women in cannabis, featured me in a “Women in business” segment. I have lived in Wilmington NC for 21 years and have been out in the community actively for those 21 years. I attribute those 2 things as to why I have been successful in the Cannabis industry especially with it being to saturated.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

This company might not have ever come into fruition, if it wasn’t for my mother. I went to banks, tried home equity loans, investors, but because of the banking system still having issues with the Cannabis brand/products, I was denied. Well I was actually given the money from Wells Fargo and then they took it away a month later because the underwriters saw that my business name was Skidmore CBD, LLC. Then Wells Fargo dropped everything I had with them, personal too and I was with them since 1994, when I was 12. My mother came through and gave me the money I needed. I utilized that money to purchase product in bulk which afforded me a much higher markup so paying back that money made it easier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.livcbdnc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livcbdnc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553151730326
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-skidmore-9741ab19b/
• Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/-vW9igOua9iSin5FMh3D2A

Image Credits
I took all these photos