This year has been full of changes for me as a business owner. I decided to hit pause on my clothing company, Knieriem Designs, to focus on KD Social. I was beginning to really feel the grind of physically creating each piece of clothing in hopes that it would sell in a political landscape where retail businesses are just trying to survive. With tariffs straining the already tight budgets of the boutiques I was trying to sell to and consumer spending plummeting alongside rising economic uncertainty, it made sense to take a step back. I was feeling stretched thin in just about every way possible and this change has bought me some much needed breathing room.
While my heart will always love designing, I am very much looking forward to creating for no one but myself for a little while. If you’re curious about the clothing line you can shop it here, everything is on sale as I close out the year.
All that being said, I was surprised this year by the growth of KD Social. Marketing is often one of the first things to go when times are tough in small business, but I think the last few years have shown many of us how essential it is to have strong digital marketing in order to reach our customers no matter where they are.
I’ve been lucky enough to work with a host of amazing clients who are focused on creating their digital communities thoughtfully and purposefully. Being part of those communities and their growth has me feeling inspired and energized to put some of that same energy back into my own business.
KD Social started as a side hobby and a thing that I did to fund my clothing business so that I didn’t have to take on debt. Then in late 2019 I had grand plans to grow it more officially, realizing that for 6 years I’d been doing it as “just” a side business but it could be so much more. We all know how 2020 unfolded, but KD Social was slowly growing even then.
Fast forward to 2025, with the aid of an amazingly supportive partner and access to childcare facilitating a more full time return to work, I’ve finally been able to invest more of myself into building this business. This year I’ve expanded & refined our services, enjoyed getting way more time on site with clients, and felt renewed creativity. I’m looking forward to having a blog where I can dive into the nuance of social media that you can’t get within the confines of a single instagram post!
