Nichole Kirk Feels the Love With Dear Heart Designs
Watching Nichole Kirk’s No Small Thing video submission, it’s hard not to feel inspired. We get to be a fly on the wall during her favorite business ritual of checking customer e–mails. It’s simple, yet incredibly personal and meaningful—much like her business, Dear Heart Designs.
Launched in 2013 in Texas, Nichole started the inspiration jewelry and apparel company as a way to create pieces that allow people to share their stories with others and celebrate their faith. While she’s never been formally trained in jewelry making, she stumbled upon a business idea after following her personal passion for crafting. “It started out when I was painting and I realized it wouldn’t be profitable for me,” explains Nichole. “I was in a craft store, picked up some materials as a hobby, made some bracelets and put them on social media. People were very interested and it took off!”
Today, Dear Heart Designs offers handmade jewelry and apparel, and will soon add home goods to their collection. While her business team is still relatively small—comprised of Nichole and a part-time employee who helps with packaging and shipping—she is planning to expand and take on a more managerial role in the near future while she raises her children.
As this year’s No Small Thing Video Contest winner, Nichole received complimentary registration to this year’s National Women’s Business Conference—something she’s eager to experience for the first time. “I’ve never been given an opportunity like this before,” she says. “I’m really excited to be able to go and create relationships with people who are in the same boat as me. It will be essential to me as I grow.” She also hopes that this will be a great introduction to NAWBO as a helpful future resource. “I’m raising a family, too, right now, but as I slowly delegate things in my business, I’ll be able to get more involved in NAWBO and that’s really exciting.”
Q: What’s the best advice you can share with other women small business owners?
A: “When you are trying to grow your business or trying to reach people, you want to create an emotional connection with them. Find out what they really want to convey to others through your product. If you are just trying to make a sale with them and are just looking at them as someone with money, they won’t remember you. Create a relationship with them, show them that you really care.”
Watch the other No Small Thing Contest finalist videos here: