We recently had the chance to connect with Keri Kemper and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Keri, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
A friend recently turned me on to writing out 10 goals in present tense every morning. It helps streamline my thought process for the day, keep me accountable and is manifestation for achieving those goals. Im making the effort to be kinder to myself in a time of high stress and take care of my mind and body so after my goals, I head to Pilates and clear my mind so i can tackle the day feeling strong and sane.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Four years ago I started Saughter as a small side hustle with a big dream. We started by offering permanent jewelry at local makers markets and pop-ups. It wasn’t always easy as permanent jewelry was still new and not a lot of people understood what it was, so i begged and demo’d to get markets to give us a chance and am so grateful to the ones that gave us the opportunity. We quickly grew a small following and were booked and busy… with a line at every market. I started thinking about something my grandfather had told me when i was younger, he owned several pharmacies and said he made more money on the impulse items people would peruse while waiting for the prescriptions than the actual medications. So I started thinking while my clients are waiting, why dont i have premade ready to wear pieces for them to shop. Fast forward three years and we have a full fledge ready-to-wear line and a thriving ecommerce business. Weve partnered with huge brands like Marriott, Equinox, Madewell and Anthropologie to name a few and arent stopping there. This year i made the decision that “Saughter” no longer felt like it embraced my brand… were so much more than permanent jewelry and i want the brand to reflect that. So this October we’re taking the leap and re-branding to “Sancera Jewelry” Sancera brings together the ideas of caring wholly for our clients and helping them create meaning memories through sparkle and self expression.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
In my first career i worked in Beauty for over 2 decades. I loved making people feel beautiful whether through the perfect lipstick or the perfect blowout. I think that feeling you get from making someone feel truly special translates seamlessly into working with clients at Sancera and helping them choose or create pieces they truly loved and feel beautiful in. When covid hit and the world changed – my world changed. As a global head of Education for a beauty company I was not able to travel OR touch people and was eventually let go. My world crashed down around me and lit the fire in me to start my own adventure. I didn’t want to run through my savings or retirement to start a venture i wasn’t sure would last so I decided to get a part time bartending job and I would use all my tips to get Saughter off the ground. It was tough and grueling- some days working markets 7-3 and bartending 5-12 and getting up and doing again the next day but it gave me the grit to know that i could make it happen. Im so grateful for everyone that worked around my schedule, tipped me well, and encouraged me to keep going when i felt like i was at rock bottom.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
My biggest fear in life was not being successful. I worked so hard when i was younger to get the better tittle and better salary with the biggest, best company, thinking that would make me successful. Now I determine success by entirely different metrics. Being able to take 2 weeks off at Christmas and Thanksgiving to be with my family, or a week to road trip with my grandfather to Nebraska to see where he grew up makes me feel successful. Being able to support my family and friends makes me feel successful. Having the freedom to make decisions, try new things and take risks makes me feel successful, and i don’t worry about if other people think I am anymore.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, but its a struggle for me to share. For me speaking about someone else’s business or products has always come easy but when I talk about myself or my business I feel cringy. Ive worked incredibly hard building relationships with my clients and partnerships and know that a lot of my success comes from those interactions. Now with the rebrand one the way its time I have to share more of myself on social media to make new clients and new relationships and its difficult. ITs something i work on everyday, and is ALWAYS on my goals list.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When have you had to bet the company?
This rebrand is a big risk and scary at times. At the end of the day, there are only so many weekends and so many markets so our level up relies on being able to reach more people through our social and website. That means doing what i do best and investing in people better than me for the rest. A REAL website that i didnt build by watching youtube videos and a social media team to organizes our strategy. Its literally betting the company and betting on myself, but if you cant bet on yourself who can you bet on… right?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sancerajewelry.com
- Instagram: @sancerajewelry
Image Credits
Valeria Karpova
