Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylee Peterson.
Kylee, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My name is Kylee Peterson. I grew up in North Dakota on a farm and was raised little differently than most girls. Driving combines, tractors and semis. So, I had an upbringing around machinery and trucks, which allowed me the skills and knowledge to be able to be successful in the industry today.
In 2000 I moved to Fort Worth and fell into a job at an automotive dealership selling accessories. Within a few years, I was offered a job of outside sales executive for a vendor that I was doing business with at the dealership. I continued to compile skills and knowledge of the aftermarket industries and was eventually hired by the nation’s largest wheel manufacturer. After deciding to leave this manufacturer, I was in search of a new challenge. What I didn’t know was that my relationships that I had built did business with me and not the company that I employed me. So long story short, my clients in retrospect drove me to start my own vehicle customization shop. The calls started pouring in over the next few weeks and months and before I knew it Mks Customs was born. www.MksCustoms.com
I have been in the automotive accessories business since 2001. In 2009 I took what was left of my 401k and made a bet on myself. Due to the mortgage crisis, other businesses were struggling and needed to raise cash, I was able to purchase inventory from those businesses at huge discounts and turn profits very quickly. The business has grown by leaps and bounds. Our primary customers are Car Dealerships but along the way, our dealer customers have come directly to us and word of mouth and repeat clientele have dictated our opening of our retail side of the business. We build custom trucks and Jeeps with everything from suspension lifts, wheels and tires, leather, navigation systems, sound systems and much much more.
Even though I was raised on the farm, drove semis, and have success in Mks Customs, my true love is fashion. I was sponsoring barrel races with Mks Customs and while at the events everyone was asking about my bling ladies Mks t-shirts and wanted to buy them from me. So, I started doing research and was able to get set up to purchase wholesale at market and started bringing out clothes, boots, and jewelry to these sponsored events. Very quickly I had quite a sell through rate and great response to my lines of women’s fashion clothing. Don’t ask me why, since I was extremely busy with my automotive business, but I decided to also build a website and created Dakota South Boutique as an online retail store. www.DakotaSouthBoutique.com
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Has the road been smooth? LOL, I started in 2009 when the stock market had crashed and banks were not entertaining new business loans. I had a great relationship with car dealers as clients, so the business was already established for me due to my previous hard work, and it grew faster than anyone imagined it would.
Everyone was so excited to see me start my own company and give me business, but hardest part for sure is cash flowing a business with this kind of volume. so that was my toughest obstacle to overcome. Another big obstacle is being a female in an industry that is predominately male. At least when it comes to Mks Customs.
The toughest part to overcome with respect to Dakota South Boutique, is the big box stores, with their purchasing power and fulfillment channels. Also, Amazon is very fast for shipping items and some people expect the same shipping but we have grown and really concentrated on our customer service.
Please tell us about Mk’s Customs. Dakota South Boutique.
At www.MksCustoms.com We build custom trucks, jeep, and cars. Every Aftermarket Accessory from Leather, Wheels tires, suspension lifts, audio and video, LED lights, replacement bumpers, etc. Anything added to a vehicle that does not void factory warranty. I believe our customer service sets us apart from the rest of my competition. What I am most proud about are my employees. I have an outstanding group of guys. Some starting as a drivers and have moved their way up to mechanics. They take pride in their work and it shows. All my employees go above and beyond to ensure that we deliver a high-quality product in a timely manner.
With www.DakotaSouthBoutique.com We are an online Clothing and Jewelry Boutique. We focus on quality clothing and jewelry. I feel the Customer service and communication we have with our customers is what absolutely sets us apart from other online stores. We have seasonal private parties where we cater in food and champagne and the ladies love to come in on Sundays while their hubbies are watching football and shop.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Oh my, if I could start over? Wow, that’s always the question isn’t it? I would try and stay a little calmer and try to understand that growth doesn’t have to happen so quickly. Sometimes its ok to have to wait a little longer for the success to show its face. Whenever my phone rang I felt like I had to answer it day and night or I would miss a deal. I just never wanted to turn anything down or have to say no I can’t make that happen for my client. I literally made myself 24 hours a day 7 day a week and now I have set that precedent and my client base expects that kind of service from me all the time. It’s hard now for me to take time for myself and my family to be able to reset and disconnect a little bit and take a vacation or just be away from my phone for a Dr. appt. All thought last May I was able to take my first week long vacation in 16 years and the building was still standing when I came back LOL, so I am learning to delegate and hire the right staff that protects our vision and our mission to deliver an unbelievable client experience.
Contact Info:
- Mks Customs Address: 4537 City Point Drive North Richland Hills, TX 76180
- Website: www.mkscustoms.com
- Dakota South Boutique
- Website: www.DakotaSouthBoutique.com
- Mks Customs Phone: 817-581-7806.
- Dakota South Boutique Phone: 817-933-3039
- Email: kylee@mkscustoms.com kylee@dakotasouthboutique.com
- Instagram: mks_customs
- Instagram: dakota_south_boutique
- Facebook: mks customs
- FaceBook: dakota south boutique
- Twitter: MKS_Customs
- Twitter: dakotasouth73
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