CXS | Entrepreneurs Lessons Learned: "Bootstrap to Boardroom - a Social Entrepreneur's Journey" - Noon

Weave Gotcha Covered! is a local sewing company that fabricates pillows, window treatments, bedding and upholstery. Owner, Kelly Wilson has lots of “ask me how I know”, experience and wisdom to share with other entrepreneurs and business owners.

Kelly will share the challenges inherent in growing her accidental business from a “mom-“sized basement business to a 5000 square foot manufacturing facility with 22 employees.  A key element has been the willingness to question “standard business practices” and, more importantly, question the actual need for said practice. 

During this amazing journey, WGC discovered a pool of employees that were challenged to work a traditional job for one reason or another – a disabled child, their own health needs, refugees from a war-torn country, or having to check a box.  WGC discovered the dedication, enthusiasm and loyalty of these grateful employees more than made up for any inconvenience in tailoring business practices to accommodate their needs.

In 2013 WGC formalized their commitment to the social entrepreneurship business model as the company’s core operating style. This is a business model in which a for-profit business addresses a social need and changes lives, while producing value for its clients.

Today, WGC actively hires women from marginalized demographics, pairs them with professional women for mentoring and support, and forms a work force that is unsurpassed for employee engagement.  Blending the business need for profitability with the social justice needs of employees requires both flexibility and creativity.

In Oct 2013 Kelly Wilson heard a presentation at CXDT by Sister Berta from Operation Breakthrough on her new initiative, “100 Jobs for 100 Moms”. At the end of the presentation, Sister Berta asked, “who here will give a woman a job?”. Kelly raised her hand, and in this moment, Kelly formalized her commitment to an “alternative” business model that embodied her longstanding passion for social justice issues.

Ten years ago, when Kelly found herself in the job market, she took a $5 an hour, minimum wage job, in a fabric store to make ends meet.  Kelly began sewing custom drapery in her spare time. As the demand for her services grew, she enlisted friends to help, and her business was born.

She is the Cofounder and Owner of Weave Gotcha Covered!, a custom soft furnishings company in Kansas City. The company has been in the news a lot this year, and recently was named one of the top 25 Under 25 Small Businesses in Kansas City. The company manufactures custom window treatments, bedding, cushions, pillows and upholstery.

Kelly is gifted with a vision of “what could be” and brings her experience and life-skills together to make it a reality.  Her newest endeavor is a non-profit,  Sewing Lab, which will launch in mid-2016.  The Sewing Labs will provide an educational venue for job skills training in textile-related industries.