Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Lay Jones.
Kim, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was 16, I was working part time as an administrative assistant in a local hospital. Unfortunately, my position was eliminated & I was in work program so I had to have a job. My mom had recently gotten her real estate license & was working at Helena Underwood (that dates me!). I interviewed & was hired for a job with the office’s top producer, Ellen Gomez (if you want names). And that is where it all began …
The year was 1986 & at that time, we still had big phone book like catalogs of listings, hand delivered keys & contracts & sent graphics to “the graphic printer.” There were no faxes, e-mails, color printing or online listings. Thank goodness, or I would have been out a job! I was the “girl Friday”. I ran errands, handled deliveries, made copies & occasionally typed something up on the IBM typewriter. I LOVED IT! A year later, I was still at it & Ellen moved to a larger Brokerage, RE/MAX. Summer came & another agent approached me about working part time for her in addition to the part time I was working with Ellen.
After discussing it with Ellen, and many serious confidentiality conversations, I was hired by Mary Harker (if you want names) & continued to work with Ellen. I learned from the best of the best! Both were competing top agents so I was privy to tips & tricks on both sides. I continued my delivery duties & picked up some office tasks as well. This continued through 1991 when I headed off to college in Durango, Colorado. The economy in a ski-college town was pretty grim for a college student & at that time, the real estate market wasn’t “hot” in Durango so most agents didn’t need an assistant. Blessed with the gift of gab & the ability to plan & write well, I created a proposal for Mary.
She would fly me in once a month & I would organize her office, home & trunk for a full weekend & take home her bulk mailings & prepare them for mail. I was on top of the world! I was doing what I loved & making far more than Durango was able to pay me. I completed college & graduated with a degree in Psychology & Sociology. I moved back to Texas & was left with the daunting task of finding a “real job.” I opted to go back to what I knew & loved! Half a day with Ellen & half a day with Mary! Along the way, I picked up hours with other agents & helped when someone needed help. Eventually, a full-time position opened in Mary’s office & I was ready for it.
I became the relocation director for her team & thriving relocation business. In 1995, after 9 years as an assistant, I was ready for a new opportunity. I took a leap of faith, my years of real estate experience – a very valuable asset to most agents & often difficult to find, put together a list of things I knew how to do & put a price beside it. KL Creations was born & I was off on my new adventure. At the time, this was something new in the real estate world.
There wasn’t anyone available to perform assistant tasks on a per project basis. Although the idea was a good one, it would be years before the business truly becomes sustainable, much less profitable.
In 1999, after 4 years of long days, late bills, a limited budget, countless marketing pieces, agent meetings & presentations & multiple modifications & additions to the services we offer, things started looking up. I met & married my husband, Bob, who was quickly able to quit his full-time job & come on board to help me. The market was hot & business was strong. KL Creations was becoming a known name among agents & real estate affiliates.
Over the years, my creativity launched us more into a marketing business rather than my original thought of being a “per project” assistant. At that time, marketing was still relatively simple & agents weren’t doing a lot of out of the box marketing – we were still printing in black & white & 2 colors back then! Through research, creativity & the knowledge of both the area & the real estate market, we were producing fresh ideas & marketing pieces with value.
We were also one of the first companies to start advertising properties & events to mass agents through e-mail. Word continued to spread – thank the Lord agents are referral based – & we continued to grow.
Fast forward to 2007. The bottom had started to fall out of our hot market & agents weren’t selling (or spending) like they had in previous years. Sadly, Bob (the hubs, the business partner, the rock) was also diagnosed with cancer that year. He lived 91 days from the day he was diagnosed. I was 38 years old, widowed & struggling to make it in a down market. I learned through this that you never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice. I struggled to get excited & stay excited about work & the market continued to grow colder. I was back to struggling to pay bills & truly at a loss as to how to create more business. (you do not have to include this if you feel it will make anyone uncomfortable)
During this time, my story gets a little dark. The amount of loss I was experiencing was simply overwhelming & I was struggling to cope & pull myself up by the boot straps. I continued to work during this time, there just wasn’t much work to be done. Social drinking turned to dependency & in 2009, it was time to start fresh. I had my last drink on October 30, 2009. In 2010, I accepted a part time administrative position with a technology firm. This was enough to get me through my new sobriety, the remainder of the bleak market & the loss of my love.
When the market started to come back around, I was beyond ready! I was able to leave my part time job & get back to what I love. Happily, the years of change had ignited a new passion. Once again, we expanded our client base & our services. Today I work 12-15 hours a day & love every minute of it. I have 2 full-time employees & a part-timer. We have grown our service area to all of Texas and last year we did over $750K in gross sales. I did remarry in 2011 & am excited to report that my story truly has a happy ending all the way around. I look forward to continuing to serve the real estate market with enthusiasm, passion, knowledge & fresh ideas.
So sorry – I gave you a book – feel free to edit as necessary – I am super easy! If you need to know what we do – we design, print, mail & e-mail for anyone who would like to engage our services with heavy emphasis on realtors. 🙂
KL Creations – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We offer design, print, mail & e-mail services to agents, affiliates & small businesses. We are probably best known for our agent to agent e-mail marketing & longevity as a company. I grew up in this business & the fact that KL Creations has weathered storm has made our name pretty common among agents.
Our passion, attitude, customer service, extensive area & real estate knowledge set us apart from others.
I most proud of the services we offer – knowing that the agents are getting a solid product that will help separate them from the pack. We also have the ability to turn projects quickly & work hard to make sure agents hig their seemingly endless last minute deadlines. Additionally, we are truly grateful for the clients we have. As an owner, I make a point to acknowledge each order & thank each person for their order.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I am never going to please everyone but I am going to give each client everything I have. Having a solid name in the business, a continued stream of referrals & happy customers is my idea of success. Having been through low points, growth & numbers are definitely markers for me.
Pricing:
- We offer $55 business cards
- Our E-Mail Blasts start at $69
- Design work starts at $45
Contact Info:
- Website: www.klcreations.biz
- Phone: 972/248-9678
- Email: klcreations1@aol.com
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
