Today we’d like to introduce you to Kari Littleton.
Hi Kari, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Starting Kari Lea & Company LLC was honestly a complete career change for me. Before this, I worked in corrections and social services. While those fields are incredibly important, I knew I wanted to pursue something completely different creatively and mentally.
In August 2022, I started Kari Lea & Company LLC as a way to build something positive, creative, and meaningful. What began as a small business has continued to grow every single year, and now we’re heading into our fourth year in business.
Although I am a solo owner and operator, my family definitely steps in to help during the busy holiday season when orders really take off.
Since starting the business, we’ve had the opportunity to create products for social media influencers, musicians, state elected officials, retired professional baseball players, fundraisers for organizations, and many others. We also provide wholesale products to more than 25 stores and currently have retail space in four locations across Missouri, including two in the Kansas City area: KC Style Haus and Artisan’s Corner on Wall in Harrisonville, MO.
The best part of all of this is still the personal connection behind what we create. My favorite moments are making an item that truly means something to a customer and seeing how excited they are to give it as a gift or receive it themselves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A lot of the struggles honestly come from being a solo business owner and trying to balance everything yourself. Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats — creator, designer, photographer, customer service, marketing, shipping, bookkeeping, and more — and it can absolutely be exhausting at times.
There have definitely been moments of stress, overwhelm, and long hours, especially during the holiday season when business picks up significantly. Since I started this business as a complete career change from corrections and social services, there was also a learning curve in figuring out the business side of things while continuing to grow creatively.
Another challenge has been continuously learning new equipment, software, and production methods as the business grows. As customer needs changed, I wanted to continue expanding the services and products we offer to better accommodate both our customers and the surrounding area. That has meant investing in new machines, teaching myself how to use them, troubleshooting issues along the way, and constantly adapting to keep growing.
At the same time, those challenges have also helped the business grow stronger each year. I truly believe you have to love what you do to keep pushing through the difficult parts, and for me, seeing how meaningful our products are to customers makes all of the hard work worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Kari Lea & Company LLC, we specialize in custom laser engraved and laser cut products with a strong focus on meaningful, personalized items. One of the things we are most known for is our Hometown Ornament collection, which has been a part of the business since the very beginning.
Each ornament is designed based on feedback from people who live in — or grew up in — the town being featured. I incorporate local landmarks, icons, traditions, and small details that make people feel nostalgic and proud of where they come from. Hometown pride is incredibly important to many people, and it has been amazing seeing how connected customers become to these designs.
Over the years, many organizations and communities have reached out wanting ornaments created for their towns, whether for local fundraising efforts or simply because they want something meaningful that represents their community. We also offer many of the hometown designs as magnets so they can be displayed and enjoyed year-round instead of only during the holiday season.
I’m especially grateful for the support and encouragement I received early on from a fellow laser engraver who became both a mentor and emotional support system during the busy holiday seasons when these ornaments really took off.
I’m also very proud of our leather and wood patch hats, especially the American flag designs. With the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration in the United States, they’ve become an extremely popular item, and we offer a wide variety of hat styles and patch options for customers to choose from.
I think what truly sets me apart is my attention to detail. Whether it’s a hometown ornament, custom engraved gift, or hat patch, I want every item to feel thoughtful, high quality, and meaningful to the person receiving it.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Honestly, I probably have a longer list of books and podcasts saved than I have time to actually get through right now. Running a small business keeps me busy, so a lot of my learning and support comes from real-time connections with other business owners and makers.
One of the biggest resources for me has been the Facebook communities I’m part of. They’ve provided advice, troubleshooting help, inspiration, vendor recommendations, and encouragement from people who truly value community over competition. Having access to others who are willing to share knowledge and experiences has been incredibly helpful as I’ve continued growing the business.
I’ve also been fortunate to have mentors who genuinely enjoy helping others succeed. They’ve been amazing resources when I need guidance, ideas, or direction toward tools and information I may not have found on my own.
That sense of community is something I really believe in, so I always try to do the same for other small business owners whenever I can. If someone reaches out with a question or needs help, I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned along the way.
Pricing:
- Hometown Ornaments & Magnets – $24 each
- Richardson 112 Hat – American Flag Patch with Rivets – $32
- Performance Hat – American Flag Patch with Rivets – $35
- The Sky Looks Different Ornaments & Magnets – $20 each
- The Sky Looks Difference 8 inch Display Piece with Stand – $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karileaandcompany.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karilea.company
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karilea.company
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kari-littleton/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@karilea.company
