Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Salas.
Kelli, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I left my corporate sales job in July 2016 when I was 4 months pregnant with my first baby. I knew this was risky and could potentially hurt my career in the long run, but I wanted to enjoy every single moment of my pregnancy as I had prayed for this for years. When my baby turned one I began to search for a new job and man was the process difficult! I interviewed for multiple positions where the interviewing process was about 2 months long for each job. It was exhausting and none of them worked out (which I’m very thankful for today). At that time, I had lost a little bit of hope and thought that my career in fashion was over. Feeling disappointed, I remember just thinking about how the heck I was going to help provide for my family. Nothing was going as I planned and I was eager to find something that would allow me to help my husband with all the bills. I began brainstorming and thought about my passion, experience and skills and how I could put that towards a business. With a degree in fashion merchandising, over ten years of experience in the accessories industry and a passion for my Salvadoran culture; I knew I could create something unique and could put to use all I had learned from my previous jobs. This is how KelMari came about. With a lot of hard work and dedication I was able to make my dream a reality.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not! This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life! Haha! Putting my designs out there was so scary! I wasn’t sure about the reactions I would get. If it weren’t for the support of my family and friends I would have never taken this huge leap of faith. Running a business is not easy. There’s so much that goes into it that others can’t see. It’s not just about making pretty product. It’s about customer service, customer satisfaction, product quality, turnaround time, etc.! The most difficult part of all of this has been choosing the right materials for my designs. There are so many options out there when making fashion jewelry, but there is also a lot to keep in mind. You always want to offer your customer the best of the best, but also have to be mindful of their needs and wants. I’m learning to not be afraid to ask my customers for feedback as they will be the ones who will help me grow in the future. We are a TEAM and I value my customers very much!
KelMari – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
KelMari is a handcrafted jewelry line based out of Dallas, TX. Inspired by the Salvadoran culture, I create artisan pieces that celebrate my family’s motherland’s nature, history and people. From the colorful art of the great Fernando Llort to my grandparents’ remote home village; I gather inspiration from my traditions, heritage and experiences to create one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect happiness and life. Short for my first and middle names, Kelli Marisela, KelMari is not just a fashion jewelry brand. It is a brand that is committed to teaching others about the beautiful country of El Salvador. Often times El Salvador is mistaken for being just a violent country, but there is so much beauty to be discovered. The people of this country are some of the kindest individuals who have endured a lot of pain over the years, but still manage to live their lives with much LOVE and HAPPINESS. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share my culture and traditions with so many people. This is what makes KelMari different and what sets the brand apart from others. KelMari creates, inspires, educates and spreads loves through each and every design.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
To see my customers’ smiles while wearing my designs has been the proudest moment of my career! I get chills when my customers tag me on their photos or when I get messages telling me how much they love their purchase! It literally brings tears of joy to my eyes. My customers mean the world to me! It’s thanks to them that I am where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kelmari.bigcartel.com
- Phone: 214-732-9530
- Email: kelmarijewelry@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelmarijewelry/
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