Today we’d like to introduce you to Ingrid Qureshi.
Ingrid, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I actually had no intentions of doing wood working. I had always dreamed about opening some type of flower or boutique store. It actually all started when I was having a dinner party and I wanted to find a cute cheese board. I looked around and everything I found was not exactly what I was looking for, sadly, they were all lacking uniqueness and originality. So, I thought to myself that if I really want a cheese board, which I had in my mind, I’d better try to make one for myself. My husband was very concerned that I would end up in an emergency room in the process. However, much to his surprise, my creation turned out beautiful. My friends and family just loved them and kept taking them home with them. I literally couldn’t keep one in the house! My husband, Sam, said, “Honey maybe you should really think about selling these”. So we started in a few local farmers markets and today we are in several states and have a showroom at the Dallas Market Center as a whole seller.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting your own business comes with struggles, challenges, and sacrifices. The biggest challenge that I faced was finding the time to maintain life at home, working full time, and committing myself to establish a full-fledged business. It definitely requires a lot of hard work, and sometimes it almost feels like that you do not have time for yourself. It also requires a lot of determination and passion. Lucky for me, I have a partner (my husband) who shares my dreams and goals.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
At Kalisee, we specialize in gourmet cheese boards, which are made with locally harvested Black Walnut, Cedar, spalted pecan, and a few others. We are working on introducing new products this year, which consist of Lazy Susan’s, chopping blocks, knife racks and so much more. We are very excited with the direction that our company is going in. We also are proud of the fact that all our products are true Texas products.
The quality and craftsmanship that we put into our products is evident as we have several loyal and repeat customers.
In January of 2018, we opened a showroom in the Dallas World Trade Center, where buyers from around the country converge four times a year. We are very pleased that our products are being featured in seven states, and counting!
I think what sets us apart is our commitment to our customers and the service that we provide, which is unparalleled to the others.
What were you like growing up?
As a little girl, I always saw myself working with arts and nature. I believe my business represents both.
In college I worked part time as a floral designer in a local flower shop. For years I thought I would eventually start a business doing exactly that. However, taking a wood class back in junior high really paid off. Who knew that I would be utilizing that knowledge years later. God really has a plan for all of us, and with the right attitude and determination, you can achieve anything in this world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Kalisee.com
- Phone: 214-585-9713
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalisee_llc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaliseegifts
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaliseellc
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