Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Cordray.
Hi Kimberly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started with being an entrepreneur out of necessity. My much-beloved cat, Mouchoir, french for “tissue,” was diagnosed with a tumor on her thyroid in early 2018. I was told that if I didn’t get radiation treatment for her that she would die within the year. At the time, I was working for INDY Week Newspaper and had little extra money. My cat is the kind of cat who snuggles in my arms with her head next to mine on the pillow every single night. Needless to say, she and I have an incredibly special bond.
And so when I got that terrible news, I just sat down with myself and asked myself: how can I make several thousand dollars and fast? Upon my reflections, I just started selling whatever I could: art, vintage clothes, antique furniture that I didn’t need. I had no idea that I would fall in love with being a part of the vintage community or that people would actually be interested in buying my art without having any established base here in the Triangle. I had just moved here from Portland, OR, just a few months prior, where I had been mostly supporting myself via art.
However, selling art involves a lot of moving parts: a proper studio within which to create work, connections in were to show, clientele who are familiar with you, and/or your work to purchase your art. And I had been collecting vintage goods for years just out of self-interest. So, I just started selling what I had… and that was my vintage clothes and furniture and my art. With the help of a small gofundme and the sales from my art and vintage sales, I made the money to pay for Mouchy’s radiation treatment in less than a month.
It’s been four years now since that time period, after moving cross-country and knowing no one in the Triangle, and now some of my best friends were made from that experience. And best of all? Mouchoir is still alive and doing great, several years after receiving her radiation treatment.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes and no. I’ve quit several times and claimed that I’ll never do it again. But we’re also in a one and a half years pandemic and growing. So, once again, being an entrepreneur has become a necessity. I’m the kind of person who thrives from having a dictated schedule yet it’s very difficult for me to create and stick to a schedule for myself.
And selling vintage involves lots of investing and just “hoping.” I guess the same can be said for art. And even though I’ve worked in sales, I’ve never been quite able to advertise for my art and I’ve done a crapshoot job at advertising for my vintage goods online. I’m not opposed to it, but it’s just that it takes so much time. And it’s time away from doing the things I DO love, like painting and drawing, doing murals, and finding cool vintage.
So, I have found that the greatest challenge of all has been Instagram. And I’m not entirely sure how to cross or overcome that struggle.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Phew! What do I specialize in? I specialize in “THE HUSTLE.” Just kidding but also 1,000,000% NOT kidding. I specialize in figuring out ~on the fly~ how to pay my mortgage and exorbitant vet bills and how to straight. Up. Hustle. But what do I specialize in that I love to do?
Vintage furniture, jewelry, and hand-painted murals and signs. Those are my jams. I’m known for unique vintage furniture and home goods and vintage snake jewelry as well as old-school hand-painted murals and signs about town. Thems the things I love and they’re the things I rock the hell out of.
What does success mean to you?
If you’d ask 16-year old me, I would have said… “fame and money.” But that’s nonsense. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that success (for me) is best defined as: having the time to water my garden, be a kickass stepmom, nourish my creativity, and be proud. I think it’s important to be proud of one’s life- but not for anyone but your own self.
Pricing:
- $500
- $1000
- $15000
Contact Info:
- Email: berlycordray@gmail.com
- Website: Kimberlycordray.com
- Instagram: @the_maison_rose
