Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenneth & Betty Ra.
Hi Kenneth & Betty, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We are Betty and Kenneth Ra, a husband-and-wife duo, both from fine art and design backgrounds. After working in our respective fields for a couple years, we had our own e-commerce clothing line for 10 years. Then, in 2020, after our clothing line was sold to new ownership, we started Theras Atelier in hopes of sharing our love for hand made goods. Focused on craftsmanship, quality, and design we wanted to create a line of leather goods that we would be proud to put our names on (‘Theras’: the Ra’s; ‘Atelier’: workshop in French).
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?
The journey of entrepreneurship has its bumps and turns, as any other journey in life. Our business was started during Covid, in September of 2020. The anxiety that comes with starting a new business was amplified by the stress of the pandemic. Would a new fine leather goods company be well-received during a time when the world was uncertain of tomorrow? Thankfully, our 10+ years of experience in e-commerce taught us some valuable lessons– that qualities like consistency, dedication, and honesty can shine through. So, that’s just what we did! We stuck to our brand vision, consistently offered new products, and clearly focused our efforts on quality and craftsmanship. Two years have passed since then, and Theras Atelier has been rewarded by a warm response. We are especially thankful because we know that the past two years has been a challenge for everyone.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Theras Atelier is a fine leather goods boutique. Each and every item is made by hand and made to order. Since we strongly believe that luxury is defined by quality, craftsmanship, and design, we take great care in developing products that are timeless and tasteful. Our leather is sourced directly from Italy, with a renowned tannery respected for its vegetable-tanned leather. In an age where the market is saturated by factory-made goods, we take pride in the fact that we can provide high-quality, hand-crafted goods to our customers who also believe that quality is over quantity and that hands can be superior to machines.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
This question evokes a deeper response than just business talk. We remind ourselves of our values and try to make sure they guide us in all our endeavors. We believe that time is one of our greatest assets. As long as our business can sustain our livelihood, we try to be content. While we try to continue to better our business, we also try to set a clear amount of time to better aspects of our life that are most important– our relationship with each other, our friendships and family, our spiritual, emotional, and mental needs. After all, a happy business owner means better products and satisfied customers, wouldn’t you agree?
Contact Info:
- Email: info@therasatelier.com
- Website: therasatelier.com
- Instagram: @therasdecorandgifts @therasatelier
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0bvPlXe-CiuUyXeo0Uv7aQ
Image Credits
Betty Ra
