What I’ve Learned From Working At Kiskadee
Do you remember being asked the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I remember it vividly, as though it was yesterday. Without a moment of hesitation, I would respond with, “one day, I want to own a store.”
Retail is in my blood. My grandfather was one of the pioneers of the big-box discount retail concept in the 1960s and owned and operated 49 stores under the name Family Bargain Center. If you are reading this and are from upstate New York, this name might sound familiar.
My grandfather died when I was seven, and for years I would ask my mom and uncle to tell me stories about what it was like to work with him and for him. They always told me the same thing: “your grandfather loved what he did because of the people that he worked with - the customers, the staff, the vendors, everyone.”
Almost one year ago, I was at a transition point in my career and asked Kiskadee’s owner, Celeste, for coffee. I wanted to learn from her about what it took to run a boutique, as I imagine much had changed since the 1960s. When a request for an informational interview turned into an offer to join her team, I jumped at it without hesitation. And to my surprise, while technology has, of course, changed how the world of retail works, so much of what I’ve learned through the stories of my grandfather still remains true today.
Reflecting on being part of Celeste’s team now for almost a year, I’ve learned that small business ownership requires the right combination of creativity, warmth, and grit. It also requires leadership in the areas of strategy, marketing, sourcing, hiring, and risk-taking.
If you’re like me and are thinking about owning a boutique someday, here are some lessons that I’ve had the privilege of learning from Celeste and the ladies of Kiskadee:
Say “hello!” - This creates a warm and inviting atmosphere and helps ensure that your clients feel seen.
Listen to your customers - We take feedback seriously at Kiskadee, and our customers have provided some of the most insightful feedback that helps us get better at our craft.
Embrace experimentation - This is especially true now coming out of the pandemic, where we had to rely on testing new concepts to see what worked best.
Know your product - One of the things we pride ourselves on at Kiskadee is really knowing our products and being able to provide recommendations and help answer questions from our customers. This builds trust and keeps our customers coming back.
Outsource when possible - I’ve seen Celeste do this a few times, including with the launch of Kiskadee’s new website, and it has made a big lift just a little bit easier.
Lean on your team - Everyone is human, and sometimes we can have days where we’re not at our best. Having support from a team that cares for one another makes all the difference.
Don’t give up - This one might seem obvious, but it bears being included on this list. Resilience is key to being a small business owner, and it is what keeps Kiskadee thriving!
If you’re a small business owner and have something to add to this list, I’d love to hear about it. You can find us on Instagram at @kiskadee_shop and shop online. I hope to see you soon around the nest or in the neighborhood!
