Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlyn O’Neill.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kaitlyn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have had big dreams since I was young. Along with this, a never-ending desire to create. From sketching, painting, drawing, clay, sewing, and writing, you name it, I’ve done it. Growing up, I went to a school that promoted individuality and creativity. The seed of creativity that was planted in me only grew from there. As I got older, I developed new passions, from designing clothes in my sketchbook to photography, videography, and a growing need to create something more than just a small project; I wanted my own company. I have been self-motivated and driven my entire life, and definitely a perfectionist. Because of this, I have always dreamed of something that I could make my own, and incorporate all of the things I love in one place, and that is exactly what I did when I graduated high school.
Nine months ago, I took a chance. I had a childhood dream to start making jewelry. I’ve wanted to start a jewelry company since I was 13. After graduating high school, I finally had time to take action. On a summer day by the pool last July, I decided I wanted to finally start my own jewelry company. I started brainstorming for name ideas, and when the name honey by Kait came to mind, it immediately felt right. That night I went home and started working on my site and logo. From that day on, I began to design and craft pieces that were simple and elegant, and I hoped girls would feel beautiful wearing. I created a complete collection for Summer 2019 that consisted of some of my best selling pieces to this day, made up of eight pieces that cohesively resembled a summer look. My favorite piece from this launch was the bee hoops, which is also one of my most popular pieces. I launched honey by Kait a few weeks later in August. I had a launch party with my family and friends to celebrate this dream coming to life. I went to college shortly after, bringing honey by Kait along with me.
During my time at college honey by kait grew a ton, and so did my passion and persistence. I launched a Fall 2019 Collection, a Love Collection, and Spring 2020 collection. honey by kait truly took off when I came home from college to finish classes online due to COVID-19. One day I had an idea to make a TikTok video for Charli D’Amelio to show her the piece I had made just for her birthday. She saw it, reached out, and I was able to send it to her for her sweet sixteen. From this day onward, both my TikTok and my company grew exponentially, and I continue to receive so much love along the way. Interestingly enough, my 2020 goal for honey by kait was to hit 1k followers on both Instagram and TikTok. That was my dream. A few months into 2020, I was able to hit 6k on Instagram and over 21k on TikTok. Through one post where I put myself out there, my business exploded overnight and has transformed to what it is today.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Surprisingly, it has been relatively smooth. There were very few struggles along the way. When I began receiving tons of orders, I had to change my process a bit. This included purchasing a label printer because I did not have time to handwrite each address anymore. Before during, and after launching there were some things I had to fix, but overall everything went really smooth from the start.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about honey by kait – what should we know?
honey by kait is a jewelry company that is completely run by me (Kaitlyn O’Neill). I create gold plated details with a company motto of “elegance, beauty, and simplicity” because it is my hope that every girl who wears my pieces feels these three things; especially beautiful. I have always felt more confident and “dressed up” when I wear jewelry. It is as if my outfit feels complete. I decided to create jewelry that is affordable and also good quality at the same time. Those two things are super important to me. honey by kait is known for its dainty details, specifically its bee and butterfly pieces, my best sellers. As a company, I am most proud of how far I have come in such a short amount of time, and the fact that I am also only 19. I set a goal for this year’s growth at the beginning of 2020 and surpassed it by 6x the amount I had hoped for. That is incredible.
What sets honey by Kait apart from others is the relationship with our community. We would not be anywhere if it weren’t for all of the love that we receive on a daily basis. honey by kait is more than just a jewelry company. It is a community of young girls with dreams, and it is my hope that through honey by kait I can inspire them to take action on their dreams and become successful in whatever they wish to do. I absolutely love the community that we have built and interacting with them every day always inspires me and brightens my day. From this, I feel driven to create each piece with love and care, and put 110% into honey by kait each and every day.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I definitely could not have done this without the help of my friends and family. From my launch party all the way to present day, they have been there showing constant support which means everything to me. From assisting with photoshoots to posting about me on social media, they have been there from the start. Most of all, I could not have done it without my incredible community. Because of them, honey by kait has grown tremendously, and I wake up feeling grateful for them every day.
Pricing:
- Pricing ranges from ($20-$50)
- Best selling butterfly & bee hoop earrings ($24 each)
Contact Info:
- Website: honeybykait.com
- Email: honeybykait@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeybykait/
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/K26E4p/
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