Kelsey Haver on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Kelsey Haver shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Kelsey, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
My customers continue to surprise me with their support, interest and kindness. I’ve been selling at craft markets and pop up shops in some capacity since 2019. When people come to my booth and say things like “I was hoping you’d be here” or “this is one of my favorite booths every year” it makes my day. I’m consistently surprised when people ask questions about my life or compliment other projects based upon posts and stories they’ve seen on Instagram. It means the world to me that people pay attention and care enough to follow along on my small business journey!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Kelsey, a graphic designer, artist and small shop owner! I graduated from Miami University in 2020 before working in the corporate world as a graphic designer and art director while building my small business on the side. In 2023, I left my corporate job to pursue running my business full-time and haven’t looked back since! Through Kelsey Haver Designs, which started back in 2017, I’ve worked with dozens of small businesses, communities and organizations as a freelance designer and artist. In 2019, I participated in my first pop up shop and that sparked my love for creating products. In addition to designing and creating through KHD, I have a product shop, Daisy Market Co., where I have an online shop, retail space, wholesale line and you can find me at local events as a vendor. Everything in my shop features my original digital artwork and products range from stationery to lifestyle accessories and apparel.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My grandpa, Larry, was an incredibly hardworking man and entrepreneur. Throughout his life, he worked a variety of jobs, owned several businesses and created a great life for his family. Above all, he was a good person and that was evident in how he ran his businesses and built his family. He was kind, caring and known as “everyone’s friend.” I admire his work ethic, his commitment to community and supporting local businesses and his character. Larry, alongside my grandma, Audrey, worked together to instill those values into his kids, including my dad. Growing up, my mom also started her own business which allowed her a creative outlet and additional income while being able to stay home with her kids. Both my grandparents and my parents have shown me what it means to have a partnership that supports entrepreneurial ventures and balances family. They instilled the value of hardwork, the importance of family, friends and relationships and inspired me to strive to create a life like they did.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Being worried about what other people think is something that I struggled with as a kid and honestly, still do today. If I could, I’d tell my younger self to care less about others, focus on yourself and build your confidence!

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Shopping small and supporting local is something that is really important to me! Whenever we go on girls trips, my friends always plan to visit local coffee shops, small boutiques and more. They never rush me when I want to go through all of the greeting cards in the shop. I love sending cards and handwritten notes are something that I treasure. Fun fact – if you’ve ever given me a card, I most likely have it in my card boxes. I have cards dating back to my 5th birthday that I’ve kept!

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
I regret letting imposter syndrome affect my confidence. When I first started sharing my work and my life on Instagram, I worried a lot about what others thought. I worried that my projects weren’t “good enough” to share and that no one would buy my art. I was afraid that people would think I was “trying too hard” or weird for attempting to start my own business. At the end of the day, I think growing and gaining confidence is all a part of the process but my advice to others is to just go for it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopdaisymarketco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyhaverdesigns
• Other: KHD Website: www.kelseyhaverdesigns.com
  Daisy Instagram: @shopdaisymarketco

Image Credits
Professional Images by Olivia of Madison Media Agency