Mar 13

Mar 13 Molly Grace

Owner at KLEUR

http://www.kleurshop.com/
INSTAGRAM: @kleur_shop TWITTER: @kleur_shop

Let’s start off with the obvious place to start, please tell us a little about yourself:

My name is Molly Grace. I currently live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, but was born in a small town in Western Pennsylvania. I lived up north for pretty much all of my life until about seven years ago, when my family moved down here. It’s a great little city. I fell in love with it when I was younger, way before it was developed into what it is now.

When we did make the move down here, my son had just been born and it was supposed to be just a transition move, a sort of place to go where we could learn how to be new parents before returning to bigger cities up North. My then-husband and I were looking to change careers as well. When we met, we were actors, but not really loving the lifestyle and were pretty unfulfilled.

By the time we settled down here, Winston was really starting to develop and boom as a fast-growing city, and there was a ton of potential to explore what we actually might like doing, so we stayed put. I’m a painter and a musician as well, so I ended up being able to throw myself into taking those two avenues more seriously. I joined an artist collective that ran a gallery downtown, and started painting regularly. Because the music scene is extremely grassroots, I was also quickly welcomed into that sort of world, and began playing shows and collaborating with other musicians. It’s all kind of a blur, to be honest, it was a beautiful whirlwind for a few years, learning to flex all these new sides of myself. Because it’s a smaller city, it didn’t take long to be fully integrated into the growing downtown creative scene culture, and getting involved with a lot of collaborations became pretty natural. At the same time, I went back to school to become a middle school teacher, which I did for a couple of years before deciding to put that career on hold and try my hand at owning a business.

So, how did this all start? Where did the original idea to start KLEUR come from?

Honestly, the idea to start Kleur started a long time ago almost as a joke. My son, his father, and I traveled up to Western Massachusetts when he was barely a year old. I lived up there for a time about ten years ago and we were considering it as an area to move to once our “transition” period in North Carolina was up. Some friends of mine up there had opened a shop called LOOT, which featured small-batch handmade goods and also a lot of up cycled and found pieces, and they did workshops and community events, like potlucks and political stitch-n-bitches.

At the same time, as you know, little shops like this were popping up all over the world, as part of the whole Maker Movement thing. When I lived in New York years before, Brooklyn was already way ahead in that game. So in that respect, I guess you could say Kleur was first inspired simply by other shops who do essentially the same thing -- they’re all different, but the heart is the same. Anyway, totally apart from that: When we got back to Winston, we talked about staying because it was so affordable. I was staying at home with the baby while he worked, and so started running an Etsy vintage shop online to stay busy and to make some extra money. When we would go to thrift and antique shops to get things for me to sell, we noticed that books were dirt cheap at most of these places. Since he and I both love to read, and also really love discussions, we joked that we could maybe open up a used bookstore here in Winston. There were, at the time (and still), a ton of empty spaces in our downtown. Our grand fantasy was a bookshop that would have big, long reading tables down the center. We would host discussions, readings, think-tanks, small performances, and other things like that. Maybe serve coffee. It was a total pipe dream that we never even pretended to begin fully realizing.

When I started teaching, I loved it so deeply, but it was difficult for me to maintain because I’m very non-traditional in that sense and teach in a way that isn’t really suitable for public schools in a conservative part of the country. But I loved the process of education, of people learning, of conversation, exploration of ideas, and so forth. When I quit, I was sitting around a dining room with my mom, pretty upset and at a loss about what the hell I could do with myself, and somehow the idea of opening a space of my own came up - one where people could share ideas, collaborate, build new skill sets, and feel totally comfortable flexing some creative and intellectual muscle.

The bookstore idea came back to me, but it wouldn’t work in a city like this just yet -- I didn’t think used books would sell well enough to keep the doors open. Right around then, Instagram was totally off the chain acting as a window into an enormous world full of creative young tradespeople and all of these beautiful shops that were featuring their work. So somewhere at that time I thought, “well, shit, maybe I can do that! And add a maker space to the mix, to get the community-building/skill-building aspect in there as well. Once the idea set in, there was 100% no way in hell I wasn’t going to do it. I did the craziest thing I think I’d ever done up until that point: I made an Instagram account, came up with a name for this future shop, and started advertising the shop as “COMING SOON,” way before I had any real inventory, a space, or even a plan at all. When i did that, I was sort of holding myself accountable. Sort of a “No going back now!” type of thing.

What does KLEUR mean? How did you come up with such a unique name?

Kleur is Dutch for “Color,” which is partially a joke because the color palette of the shop is predominantly devoid of most colors! Mostly whites, beiges, natural tones, that sort of thing. Most people who hear Kleur means Color have a little chuckle. The reason for it, though, is mostly to do with my childhood. My parents worked odd hours, so I was partially raised by another family who were my caretakers when my parents had to work. My daytime caregiver when I was really young was a woman named Mary. I get most of my more noticeable personality traits from her. She’s wildly colorful - talks a lot, tells incredibly detailed and illustrated stories, and is always vibrant.

When I was a kid in her home, I witnessed how deeply committed she was to community-building. They often had people coming in from all over to stay with them, sometimes for months at a time. Anyone would pop in unannounced for dinner. They had a total revolving door policy - their house was always open to anyone who wanted a home cooked meal, or just an evening of talk and company. It was an incredible way to grow up. I used to (still do) marvel at her capacity for giving and loving just about anyone who would let her. It’s something I grew up knowing I wanted to be able to do for others one day.

Mary also is a compulsive collector of things -- anything she might come across when she’s out doing errands could charm her, and she’d buy it, and bring it home. She would go out into the Amish country and buy up just about any hand-carved wooden object that someone made with their own hands -- and you can be damn sure she would get to know their life story in doing so, then come back and relay it to anyone who was over that night for dinner. Their home was always filled with random wooden pieces, or milk glass pitchers, or anything at all that screamed homestead, or comfort, or traditional trades. She had dried flowers everywhere. The whole atmosphere was cozy, and eclectic, and homey. Mary also has Dutch ancestry, having grown up in Holland, Michigan. I don’t actually know if that’s true. But I do know that Dutch culture is something she’s always been obsessed with, and it was evident in her decor and in her collections. So, when I was trying to think of a name that would, to me, embody the sort of place I wanted my shop to be like, it seemed natural to name it in homage to her.

What is KLEUR’s mission and who does it serve?

For the boutique side of things, the mission is simply to be a venue for hard-working makers and creatives to have their products sold and shared with my world. I curate the shop myself, and each product line is chosen first and foremost for how dedicated the individuals behind them are. In short, the shop acts as a way to celebrate and promote the hard work and ingenuity of other people who have truly taken on their craft as their livelihood.

As for the maker space, the mission there is to offer a huge variety of free or affordable events and workshops that promote individual and community enlightenment. It sounds broad because it is. A maker space is, simply, a place where people can come together, share tools and resources, and learn or share new skills and ideas. What makes Kleur a little unique, at least to this area, is how accessible these are. We keep the cost really low, and the environment is extremely laid back and casual. It’s important to me that people feel at home there. Also, while I come up with a lot of the workshops or events on the calendar, the community also has an open door to propose what they would like to have offered. Actually, I’d say more than half of the things we offer are proposed and then led by random community members who walk in and say, “I’d love to lead a class on _______, can I do that here?” And the answer is almost always yes.

The work space has a fully stocked tool and materials library. There are about ten cabinets filled with creative and practical supplies and materials, and a cataloged tool chest with hand tools, power tools, hardware, you name it. One of my favorite little extras Kleur provides is a no-questions-asked availability of these to whoever wants them. When we don’t have workshops, mostly during the daytime business hours, the work space is also available for anyone to use. A lot of small organizations or teams meet there on their lunch breaks, for instance, to have a group meeting. Sometimes people come in just to work on a project or something. It’s really cool.

Did you open Kleur all by yourself or were there others involved?

When Kleur first opened, there were three partners: myself, and two other women who, aside from Kleur, were independent entrepreneurs and had their own lines of products. One of them is a clothing designer and founder of Formation Design Studio women’s apparel, and the other was a leather worker, and Jane-of-all-Trades sorts. She owned Narrow Lines Co. Originally I had approached them just as makers whose products I wanted in my store, but one thing led to another and they joined me as partners.

That lasted for about six months after the shop originally opened, but both ended up getting bigger opportunities in their fields and left to pursue them. The original location was a really, really tiny spot. We had workshops and classes and things, but not as many as we wanted because our space and resources were so limited.

Once the other two moved on, I decided to expand into a bigger location and really put more emphasis on the maker space. The shop shut down last summer for a short period while I moved everything into the current location. Around that time, I hired a freelance marketing consultant who had just moved here from New York City - Allison Beilharz - just for some help in revamping my PR strategies in the hopes of growing my market reach. We became really close pretty quickly, and she has since assumed the role of my creative partner. She helps me run the show, and in general is just as much a part of Kleur as I am now. She gets Kleur in a big way, and really understands and shares the whole dream is for what the shop can do for the community. I love working with her.

Do any of you have a background in retail or business? How did you learn all the ins and outs of starting a brick and mortar store?

I had no idea what I was signing up for, and still am figuring it out! Every day is a new Trial-and-Error process. Luckily, Allison has worked in retail for eons, and in much higher volume capacities, so she’s been teaching me a lot. Everything that Kleur is now came through making mistakes and learning from them. I make them every single day. Initially, it was a lot of asking the internet what I should do, and then of course social media gave me huge insight. Being able to “see” other shops and how they promote or organize themselves has been totally invaluable.

I happen to know that you have an extensive theater arts background; do you bring any of that or those experiences into your business?

Just this week I was thinking about this! Every time I have to build something or renovate the space, I have to do it with my own hands because I can’t afford to hire contractors. This week, for instance, I’ve been building some small walls inside the shop to partition off the work space area from the boutique area. So in that respect, yes, having a background in theater, particularly with building sets, has certainly come into play. In general, theater really prepares a person to think on their feet, and make do with whatever resources you have in front of you. So that comes into play every single day, as well. Because it’s just me and Allison running the shop (I don’t have employees), we have to work really long hours, often times sitting shop all day and then setting up and being present for workshops or events all night, ending at 10pm. Anyone in theater is very familiar with overworking themselves! I’d say that more than anything is a skill that has transferred over. Skill, curse - same thing.

The items in your shop seem really special. Everything looks so lovely and exceptional; how do you find your artists and/or the goods you sell in your shop?

Initially it was me approaching local makers and simply asking them. I also took to Instagram to find pretty much all of my faraway, out-of-town product lines. Once we’d been open for awhile, I started getting emailed submissions from makers all over the country. Now, I’d say almost all of our new products come to me in that way, though sometimes if I come across some work that I absolutely love, I write them right away and ask if they’d like to be in the shop.

Will you work with any artist or is there a philosophy you stick to?

Quality of the products is key, of course, and obviously there is an aesthetic component. I like things minimal, with either a modern or traditional quality to it, or a blend of both. I call it, “Modern Nostalgia,” in those cases. I mentioned the color palette. That’s actually pretty important to me, to keep that consistency of style across the board. The branding is extremely important. Branding tells anyone - myself, the consumer -- how professional and serious the maker is. Bad branding, obviously, doesn’t sell as well. More importantly, though, bad branding communicates a lack of connection to what they are doing. If a label or logo is on point, if their website is really well-maintained and of professional quality, if their product photos are consistent with what you’d see in any bigger retail shop, then I’m pretty much down to carry.

There are exceptions, of course. I do carry many lines who, for them, I’m the first or only stockist they have. Some of them don’t even have branding yet. I really like being a venue for those people to see what they need to improve on while they start to make this jump in their careers. Being displayed alongside other products who are thriving and can be found in shops all over the country gives these sort of novices a boost in their confidence, but also gives them an avenue to see how they could potentially grow their brand.

What made you feel ready to make the leap and take the first step?

Desperation. Everything else I was doing wasn’t fulfilling me or paying the bills. Now, that’s not to say that I’m able to pay those bills with Kleur yet, but it’s getting there! In general, I’m pretty impulsive. Not the best quality in a business woman, but I’m making it work. That impulsive side of me tends to jump first and worry about the parachute on the way down. I’m working on that, but it certainly helped make the shop come to fruition.

What’s the most challenging and the most rewarding part of starting a retail business?

Money is the most challenging aspect, second maybe only to the notion that no matter what day it is, you’re never “off” work. Trying to find a balance between Kleur and my personal life is very challenging. If I sign off from the shop, I most certainly fall behind a little, and vice versa. I’m working constantly to try to streamline my business operations so that I can allow myself very structured times where I can say, “No. I’m not checking my email today, it can wait until Wednesday,” so that every duty has a time and place. If I had employees and could delegate, things might be easier, but I don’t. So, for right now, the biggest challenge is juggling it all, and finding time for myself. That said, the most rewarding thing is seeing the fruits of all this labor. People love Kleur. Winston loves Kleur. I hear it every day now - they’re finally starting to really understand what the makerspace is, and what the mission behind it is. I love seeing the community use the space, and hearing the public’s response to what I’m doing. It really makes the long hours feel worth it.

Starting your own business is definitely not easy. It’s a really admirable adventure to take on. Do you ever experience fear or doubt? How do you manage those feelings?

I experience doubt and fear daily, but I simply shove it aside. I have to, or I won’t get anything done. I’ve been really focused on trying to learn how to live in the moment and keep anxiety at bay. When things pile up, and I feel pulled in a million directions, I try to get myself to prioritize what needs to get done and check off the boxes in that order. Given my personality, that sometimes gets tricky. Whenever I lose track, and things do get a little chaotic, I just try to reel my dial down a bit and not let stress take over. There are so many things to fear: what if sales are bad this month? What if no one comes to this workshop and the instructor is disappointed? What if one of my makers decides I’m doing a shitty job and wants to pull their products? Tons of “What Ifs” to be found. I’m learning to just let those things happen, not take it personally, and try to stay super positive while I’m learning how to do this well.

In times of stress, how do you relax, take care of yourself, or indulge yourself?

The workshops and events we have really help! I really mean that. They give me a re-charge. Thinking back to the whole theater analogy, I think the same goes for that mindset. It’s like when, as an actor, you finally get to opening night after weeks of hard work. It’s pretty euphoric, and euphoria can refresh anybody. Apart from that, I take baths. A lot. I don’t let myself nap. And I started doing yoga daily, even if its only for a few minutes. I make myself get up early, so that I don’t stress about wasted time, and so that I can give myself at least one hour each day to have a coffee and hang out alone. I try to spend time with my son when I can, and when he goes to bed, I try to unwind with myself or with friends. Wine helps! So does going to bed early sometimes. I never watch TV. I sometimes go to movies, alone or with someone else. Other fun facts: I like college basketball, so taking myself out for a small meal at a bar where a game is on is a definite guilty pleasure. Part of the whole “Turning Off” thing, I guess.

What makes you feel strong or powerful?

I think being involved in so many good things makes me feel powerful. In addition to Kleur, I’m an activist for a lot of causes I really care about. I do a lot of that activism through Kleur, actually. Being involved in things that have heart is a powerful thing. Apart from that, I spend a lot of time now giving myself credit. I learned earlier this year that I had, for years and years, gotten into a rut where I didn’t celebrate myself or even acknowledge parts of me that were good, or interesting. Since then, I’ve actively pursued self-compassion and self-celebration. I started therapy, and I love it. Each Monday I get to sort of assess where I am and how I’m feeling toward myself. I’ve allowed myself that luxury so that I can give myself more additional emotional luxuries every day.

What do you do when you feel stuck creatively?

I have no idea. I truly don’t. I think I must just switch gears and hope something comes up when I’m not looking for it. It usually does.

What’s something else you like to do besides build your business?

I like to be a help to other people, like my friends, or work on those social advocacy causes I mentioned. Since Trump was elected, I’ve dedicated almost all of my spare time to resistance activities or advocacy, and it’s extremely rewarding, if not more than a little daunting at times. Also, North Carolina is beautiful, and I’m very close to a lot of great hiking spots. I’ve been trying to re-incorporate a lot more time spent outdoors than I was able to do in recent years. I do still paint when I can, and I am very fortunate to have found a great fellow musician whom I squeeze in shows with. His name is Tyler Nail and he’s profoundly talented. We’ve been playing together under the handle “Grace & Nails” for a little under two years now. Of course, we’re too busy to have any recordings I can share with you. We’re both working on that. I’m hoping to spend more time on that project this year.

What is something you wish you knew before you started?

Oh god. I wish I knew more about taxes, money flow, profit and loss, and time management. I also wish I had been born a more organized person. Oh well.

What are you most proud of in this experience?

I’m proud that I’m doing it, and that I’m trying my best. A lot of people, understandably, were a bit doubtful of Kleur’s mission and what I was saying to everyone it would look like. Yet, a year and a half later, almost everything I illustrated at the beginning has happened, or is happening. I’m proud that I went in totally green and naive and have been slowly learning what works and what doesn’t. I’m also very proud of the network I’ve been building, with both local professionals and also some of the friendships I’m making with my makers and others, like the artists we host for residencies. I’ve met so many wonderful people who just want to put goodwill out into the world. It’s such a positive career. Almost anyone I’ve connected with through Kleur is a positive individual, with good morals and a big heart. It’s the best.

What is the best advice you've been given? (career or otherwise)

Haters gonna hate! Don’t let anyone who is skeptical of you or your ideas make you feel like they’re not going to work out, or that they’re not good ones. If something isn’t working, figure out why, try to fix it, and go from there.

Who or what inspires you? (in your business or otherwise)

Empathy, and the desire to instill it in others. And the drive to inspire other people to be good. I know that sounds cheesy but it’s true.

What scares you?

Ugh. Money. And the current political situation we’re in.

What motivates you?

The fact that change is possible, and the fact that people are capable of changing what isn’t good in their world or the world we’re sharing. I’m a painful optimist. It’s obnoxious.

What brings you the greatest joy?

Teaching kids really did that for me. Also, having any really incredible conversation, or laughing with someone whose sense of humor is perfectly in sync with mine. Also, any moment where I feel like I’m not failing as mother is the biggest win for me on earth.

What brings you the greatest satisfaction?

Hearing encouraging words from others, hearing feedback that tells me people are happy I’m doing what I’m doing, that they’re even a little better because of something I’ve said or had a hand in creating.

Have you ever taken a risk and have it work out great?

Always! Teaching was that way. I had no idea what I was doing or if I’d be good at it. I was great at it. I’ve never been more sure of something in my life.

Have you ever straight up failed? What did you learn and how did you come back from it?

I’ve failed at so much. For a long time I had a terrible habit of abandoning anything once it got too hard or heavy. Like being an actor. To be sure, I’m glad I’m not doing that anymore, it wasn’t as selfless or satisfying - but I still gave up before I even really tried. That’s the worst kind of failure. I’ve done that with many things and I regret it sometimes.

What is an experience that you would want to experience again?

Teaching language arts and history again, to middle schoolers. I so hope to be able to do that again, or something similar to it. I also really want to travel more, put myself in situations where I’m in a place where I can’t speak the language and everything around me is new and foreign. My experience with that is really limited.

What would you like to do that you haven’t done yet?

I’d love to be a maker myself one day. I’m very attracted to ceramics, pottery in general. I’d love to get myself a studio set up and learn the skill set needed to start a little line of my own. I’d also really like to make yoga more of a staple in my life. Also, my little dream is to have a cabin in the woods somewhere, decorate the shit out of it, and essentially have it be a main source of income as a rental property (that I, obviously, get to use whenever I please). If I could do that with any combination of the above, I’d be set.

What should everyone do at least once in their life?

Wait tables and get broken up with.

Beyond what we’ve covered here, what is something you really want people to know about you?

That I was not always so positive or driven, and that I’ve spent years being a fairly selfish, self-indulgent person. It takes time and energy, but most of all, it takes being conscious of your faults, if you want to change yourself into a happier, healthier, and all around better person. When I talk about empathy, which I do a lot, it’s because when I woke up to how shitty and depressed I could be sometimes, I realized it was because I wasn’t looking outward at other people enough. Now it’s something I see all the time.

Who’s your idol?

James Baldwin, Mary (who I mentioned before), Gloria Steinam,

Who is on your guest list (alive or dead) for your perfect dinner party and what would you eat?

Gertrude Stein, Seth and Jonathan from Uhh Yeah Dude, James Baldwin, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Edward Morrow, Jerry Spinelli, Barack and Michelle Obama, my dad, Bill Nye, my good friends, Tom Hanks, Kate Winslet. And we’re just at a lake house eating cheese and snacks on a big porch. It’s a good time.

What advice would you give to your teenage or younger self?

You are an idiot and that’s okay, but don’t blame others for your shortcomings, you dummy. Buckle down.