Today we’d like to introduce you to Karissa Hagemeister.
Hi Karissa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For several years now I have had an online boutique. For the past three years, I have wanted to open up a space as I have had a dream growing in my heart. This past year I was able to open it up to the public and make into more of a community space for people to come together, hang out and make new friends. Yes it is a boutique, there is shopping but it also has a spa where friends can enjoy red light therapy and electrical massages together. It also has party rooms where people come with friends and family to decorate cookies and or cupcakes (all of which are gluten free). It is a very unique space and I am so excited to see my dream coming alive and people enjoying what I have created.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t know that there is a smooth road when it comes to a running a business. Some of the hurdles I have had to work over was finding a good space. I needed a larger area where I could do all these different things but was also in my budget. That took a while.
The space that I have, I am so thankful for, but it’s not in a retail shopping area where there is a lot of foot traffic. So I have constantly been working on trying to think outside of the box to let people know I am here.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The whole concept really sets me apart from others. I am not just a boutique. I do have clothing and accessories but I also have a lot of gift items and household items that I sell at discounted prices.
I am not just another place to grab a sweet treat or have a cookie decorating party, I only make gluten free items. I have been gluten free for over 12 years myself because of health reasons and I know how hard it is to find a yummy treat when you get that sweet tooth.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Opening this store up was a big risk in itself and the location was even riskier. I didn’t have loyalty local shoppers on my site before I opened. I didn’t even know if anyone was going to show up to my grand opening. The gluten free community has been awesome. They have come from all areas of Jacksonville to get treats. I am so thankful for their support and the risk has been worth it to hear how much they love the treats.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kingdomdezignsboutique.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingdomdezigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18DneXoBDc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
