Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Kinsey Keith.
Hi Ali, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Central Arkansas, spending my youth with my grandma in her jewelry store. My days consisted of trying to recreate the antique jewelry that I saw and attempting to sell that jewelry to my grandmother’s customers. My love for jewelry grew every day I spent in her store. In 2015, as my college graduation approached, I started Kinsey Designs. Every piece was crafted by hand in the floor of my college apartment, and I hauled my pieces all over the southern U.S., making cold calls to find my next destination as I went. A few years, a few styles, and a few thousand miles later, I was fortunate enough to link up with L & A Showroom, landing my brand right here in Dallas.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Starting a business is never as straightforward as it initially seems. Once we gained traction, I quickly realized two hands and a pair of pliers were not enough to keep up with demand. Researching suppliers who could craft my designs in a quality-first manner was one of my most time-consuming endeavors. I had no guidance here, so I spent countless hours researching and emailing multiple manufacturers until I found the perfect selection that worked for my brand.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
All of my pieces begin with little more than inspiration. I pay attention to what’s trending, and I experiment with how I can make it fresh and affordable while keeping it within the margins of the trend. I spend a lot of my time just drawing new design prospects on paper. Whenever I think I have a design nailed down, I give the drawing and a detailed description to my suppliers. Sometimes they can’t give me exactly what I want, but that’s all part of the process. Sometimes they even exceed my expectations, and those times definitely hype me up. I’m always proud to produce a piece that my customers love. There’s nothing better than seeing the mesmerized faces of my buyers and knowing that they’re falling in love not just with something that I made, but the brand as a whole. It’s an amazing feeling!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
For designs, I subscribe to a couple of trend reports, but my social media requires the most resources. With Instagram being our main focus, I follow multiple accounts that inspire new reel ideas. One of my favorite accounts is @myanichol.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@shopkinseydesigns.com
- Website: https://shopkinseydesigns.com/
- Instagram: @kinseydesigns
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Kinseydesigns/
Image Credits
Jeff Fuller
Freeman Photography
The LA Look
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