Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Mallory.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always enjoyed creating and working with my hands, so during college, I studied industrial design. I first picked up leather work when I was living at home with my parents while doing an internship for school. I needed something to keep me busy in the evenings, and I’d always been interested in leather goods, so I bought some materials and tools and gave it a go. I loved the detailed nature of the craft and creating a product from a natural, classic material that only became more wonderful with time. I continued to dabble in leather work during school and eventually transitioned to using a laser cutter to cut my materials. For me, this mix of modern technology and classic techniques was the sweet spot; it allowed me to create a highly refined, clean product that still retained the hand-finished qualities that are so indicative of leather working. A few years ago, I bought my own laser cutter, ramped up my online and social media presence, worked to buy materials and tools in bulk, and create items on a larger scale. It’s been so interesting to see the business change and grow during the past few years. It has allowed me to craft a better product, learn about building a website and photography, struggle with social media and marketing, talk more openly and confidently about my work, and all of the other this and that that accompany being a maker and small business owner.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
By far the most challenging part is the “traveling workshop” nature of my small business. While my origin was in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I spend a period of time there every year, I also work seasonally as a whitewater river guide in Idaho for the majority of the summer months. This means I am constantly packing up and moving my business, and working out of whatever space I am occupying at the time. And sometimes that means fulfilling orders out of the back of my car! Additionally, my whole system as a business must be flexible enough to match that transient lifestyle. So, when folks ask me what it is I primarily make, my answer is “small things!” as those are the items that are easiest to move from one place to another. The balance of working as a seasonal guide as well as a business owner certainly comes with its challenges, but for me, it’s incredibly fulfilling to be a part of both the physical, and outdoor world as well as the creative, maker world.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Kinship leather goods and their other creative counterparts are carefully crafted goods that are meant to be used, bruised, and loved for years to come. Most of the items are directly inspired by my time living and working outdoors. They use simple, natural materials such as leather, wood, paper, and paint. Each item is handcrafted by myself, and created with a combination of modern techniques and traditional craftsmanship. The hope is that each item will only grow better with age and use. My work is primarily enjoyed by folks who are associated with the outdoor/recreational/seasonal industry, so in that way, it’s a bit of a unique product. I find it interesting how leather work can sell so differently in different parts of the country. For example, a lot of folks in the Midwest have never heard of cribbage, so they’re more inclined to buy wallets and bottle openers. But in Idaho, fellow guides don’t bat an eye at spending nearly $80 for a pocket-sized cribbage board, but have no need for a bottle opener, because let’s be honest, we almost exclusively drink our beverages out of cans. It’s just interesting to see those changes depending on where in the country I am at any given time. By far, the travel-sized cribbage board is the item I am most proud of. In 2018 I traveled through Latin America for three months and took with me the first-ever prototype board. It was so much fun teaching those I met along the way how to play a game of cribbage. Afterward, I worked through many prototypes and iterations to get it to where it is now. It’s an item that folks are excited to treat themselves to, or are the absolute perfect gift to a friend or family member.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
We live in a world where we have constant access to seemingly endless brands, businesses, or individuals who are making cool work, work that we’d like to try to emulate ourselves. It’s on our social media, our news feeds, at the local small shop, and even amongst our closer circles. We see work that is finer crafted, more unique, has better design elements, uses higher quality photography, etc., etc. and the list can go on and on. This constant access to content, and inevitably, the comparison of another’s work to one’s own, can create such a state of paralysis and lack of confidence. And unfortunately, that small voice in the back of our head that says “my work just isn’t as good, and therefore, not worth pursuing” can be the difference between following one’s path and standing still. The habit of reminding yourself that your work is always in a state of growth and that you’re simply in a different place on your path, as compared to another person, is a daily practice. So, I encourage someone who is just beginning their journey as a maker or a business owner to be patient and kind to themselves. That you’re on your own path, and truly, the only way to grow and become better at what it is you do, is simply by doing it. Often, action is the most challenging part of getting started. And as someone who is currently on her own path of growth within her craft, I remind myself I am only getting better with each mistake.
Contact Info:
- Website: kinshopgoods.com
- Instagram: kinshopgoods
