Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Radcliff.
Hi Kimberly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Let me LIGHT up your life by introducing my Rope Pendant Lights to you! I’m Kimberly, an interior designer and DIY enthusiast with over 10 years of design experience. For many years, I have helped transform dream spaces into reality. I love the challenge of designing spaces, however, I have always had the dream of creating a whimsical, yet practical, beautiful line of home decor I can call my own and share with others.
My BRIGHT idea was to create plug-in pendant lights that can be easily used by anyone in any space! From my design experience, I know electrical cords and wires should be hidden from sight. I was challenged to develop a light that had no ugly electrical cords visible. I’m so proud to say that this challenge led me to one of my greatest creations.
I sketched my very first rope light image on paper in 2019, never imagining that my sketch would come to life quickly after that. I developed my first rope light design in April of 2020, naming it the light Channing. (If you’re curious as to why my light was named Channing, I sort of had a little obsession with Channing Tatum at the time and felt the need to name my first light after my obsession. I mean, why not?!)
Channing was created with the idea of hiding the electrical cord inside a long line of rope. Thus, leaving the creativity door wide open for fun ways of hanging the light. I used Channing to decorate for a bedroom renovation I was currently working on. After the renovation was complete, I began to get a lot of positive feedback on the light and many inquiries for me to create more.
On May 21st, 2021, I launched my very first curated collection of plug-in rope pendant lights on social media. I did not have the tools and experience to launch a website at the time, instead, I used a completely free platform (Instagram) to get the word out about my launch. In doing so, I was recognized!
After the launch, I was asked to be featured on a live local tiki time show for a boutique called Oceans Allure in Florida. I featured my original prototypes on the show, describing how fun and versatile my lights can be. After the tiki time appearance, my lights took on a whole new life of their own! Within the first month of my launch, I nailed my very first retail location in South Florida.
As a designer, I’m able to build a relationship with my audience because they resonate with my vision, values, and voice. I used an audience that knew me well for my design skills and with this audience, came word of mouth about my lights. I launched my official Kimberly By Design Interior Lighting business and grew into a brand that people all over love and recognize. The brand was born with the idea of being able to use pendant lighting in a whole new way! Long gone are the days of ugly electrical wires.
Now you can decorate with a cool item, using your creativity, thus having a unique, design-worthy, foolproof light. I started so small. Starting with a simple idea, drawing a sketch, and then making that sketch come to life with materials I used to decorate and DIY with. Little did everyone know, I was creating these lights by hand in my tiny rented two-bedroom apartment I shared with my fiancé.
Our second bedroom quickly became a work and storage space for all the lights I created. With my continued success, we eventually outgrew the apartment. We were able to purchase our first home last year, and now I have a bigger location in south Florida I can call my headquarters.
As a small business owner, I’m currently wearing all the hats. Every role in my business is my own. I not only create the lights by hand, but I also handle all the behind-the-scenes as well. I’m my marketer, creator, shipper, receiver, accountant, and employer… you name it, I do it. I call myself a Womenpreneur – an ambitious woman who is willing to take the risks and get any kind of job done on her term.
I’m ecstatic to say my lights are currently sold in six retail locations across south Florida, and my partner list is rapidly growing! I have created 19 different styles of rope lights to choose from and I have been selling them all over the country, never forgetting, that Channing is the one that started it all!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
In the beginning, I faced many challenges, wondering if this was worth working so hard for. I was working odd and end jobs to supplement my side hustle. I never took out a business loan or received donations, but I used my own money and time for years to develop my lights.
One of my biggest challenges was honestly myself. My self-doubts and insecurities about my worth were beating me up inside. If you don’t value your worth, it shows. Was everyone going to understand my vision? Was everyone going to like my style of home decor? And most importantly, would I even make a sale?
Needless to say, I was scared sh*tless! I was struggling to find the LIGHT at the end of the tunnel. I was so worried about what others would think, thus defeating myself most of the time. There were days I felt on top of the world and super productive with my lights, other days, not so much.
The only things that helped me get through my doubts and struggles were the friends and family that stood in my corner. The ones that supported me by showing up to my pop-up events, the ones that would “like” and “share” my posts, the ones that spoke about my lights to their friends, and the ones that gave me their true honest feedback were the real superheroes.
Without the support of my loved ones, I would have never broken the hard shell we call “fear.” I was finally able to overcome my self-doubts and valued my worth.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
I’ve always had a passion and drive for design. As far back as I can remember, anything DIY or design related would make my heart skip a beat. I would scrapbook all the time when I was younger. I would make paper collages and sell them door-to-door for 25 cents in my neighborhood. I was a young entrepreneur at heart.
I took a wood shop class when I was in middle school as an elective. I distinctly remember being made fun of for being the only girl in the class. Looking back now, I’m so grateful for the confidence I had as a young girl to take the class. I learned how to use tools, and big machines and I learned all about furniture when I was only 12! My DIY skills wouldn’t nearly be what they are today without my confidence to take the class,
I started my career as an interior designer many years ago. I flipped furniture for people and also worked as a bartender to make ends meet while taking college design classes. Once I graduated from my design program and became certified, I left the restaurant industry and started working for clients in residential areas designing their dream spaces.
After working with residential spaces, I started to design doctor offices, and also started designing window displays for retail boutiques, all while still doing furniture flips on the side. My designs and furniture flips were always a hit, but I never felt completely fulfilled. I wanted MORE! I wanted to create my home decor line. Thus, Kimberly By Design Interior Lighting was born.
I’m most proud of the success and connections I’ve gained with people. I was able to build a relationship with my audience because they resonate with my vision, values, and voice. I used an audience that knew me well for my design skills and with this audience, came word of mouth about my lights.
The craziest part is that I could launch and sell my lights with zero advertising. I believe this is what set me apart from other lighting companies. I didn’t use a website, Facebook, or anything. Instagram was solely my platform for exposure. It wasn’t until after my exposure on Instagram that I was contacted to be interviewed for the live tiki time appearance. After the appearance, my rope light business took off, and I have never looked back.
What matters most to you? Why?
Honestly, customers. My customers are the ones that come first. They matter the most. Is the customer always right? Well, no, not all the time, but I certainly make them feel as if they are. Any small business owner can relate.
Our customers are our life! Customers who “appreciate what I do” is what makes me THRIVE. Without them, there would be no Kimberly By Design. So cheers to anyone who has ever been a customer of mine. You simply LIGHT up my world!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimberlybydesign.com/
- Instagram: @ropelights.kimberlybydesign and @kimberly.bydesign
- Facebook: @Kimberly By Design
Image Credits
Heather Rhea Photography
