Life & Work with Kelsey Metzinger of Wichita’s Delano District

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Metzinger.

Hi Kelsey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
A couple of things led me to this point-Personally, I’m a creative/maker type person-cooking, painting, ALWAYS 50 projects going on, and through that, I found that I loved making bath and personal care products. My sister and I would make things like salt scrubs and lip balms, and this was before you could google everything-so. We would come up with recipes from scratch, package, label, and give them to friends for gifts.

Professionally, all my jobs have been in retail, first as a salesperson and eventually moving into a display and merchandising. I’ve always loved retail, especially the psychology and emotion of why people buy what they buy. Plus, I love to shop! It’s my favorite pastime. And I realized when I traveled to places like Chicago or NYC–Wichita needed a fabulous, little boutique-like I’d seen in metro areas-and. I could combine my love of making products and providing a shop that had products you couldn’t find in Wichita, KS, under one roof.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I got serious about the shop and had a solid timeframe. I got a business loan right away, went to my first market, and opened in the fall of 2006. Things were great, and about a year in, the recession started, and what seemed like half of Wichita (including my husband) was laid off. So I had a brand new business, too high rent, a business loan payment, and no income coming in.

I’m an entrepreneur by nature, and I have always had side hustles. I had a small floral business going while I worked a “regular” job, and I staged homes for residential and commercial clients on the side as well. Luckily those jobs helped income flow while business was slow. I wanted to give up A LOT initially, but this was my retirement plan, and failure was not an option.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In addition to sourcing, hard-to-find items and local artisanal product-an integral part of the brick and mortar shop are the product lines I make. It includes the Splendid Alchemy line of all-natural body care and home fragrance, Brett’s Bad Ass Grooming (named after my husband), and the super popular “Neighborhood Pride” line of candles and merchandise inspired by the most iconic neighborhoods in Wichita. I am most well-known for my flagship product, “Inhaling Salts” they fly off the shelves here and in the 12-15 other shops/spas around the country.

If we knew you were growing up, how would we have described you?
Quiet, awkward, I have always been a homebody drawn to scent and taste, so making my living and selling things that make you feel good, whether a great perfume or a cozy blanket, is truly a natural fit.

Pricing:

• The right price points are super important. I’m a bargain shopper but I like nice stuff.
• My motto is “Luxury should be attainable” and by luxury, I don’t mean expensive shoes or jewelry. I mean putting a quiet moment with a really good cup of tea-or finding a lotion that smells so good that your eyes roll back in your head, but you don’t wait for special occasions to use it.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.bungalow26.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bungalow26/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bungalow26

Image Credits
Sarah Jane Silvers (headshot only)