
Welcome to the Success With Jewelry podcast, hosted by Laryssa Wirstiuk and Liz Kantner, two experts passionate about helping independent jewelry artists thrive. Welcome to episode #110. In this episode, we're chatting with Kelly Hedgpeth, founder of...
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Larissa
Welcome to the Success with Jewelry podcast where we invite you inside our conversations about business success and marketing for jewelry designers and entrepreneurs where Larissa and Liz.
Liz
Jewelry marketing experts with a combined 16 years of experience in jewelry marketing and proven track records and helping jewelry brands meet their goals. When you listen to or watch this podcast, you get an intimate and exclusive peek behind the curtain of all the things you wish you could know about earning success in this industry.
Larissa
Welcome to episode 110. Today we're chatting with Kelly Hedgepath, founder of Grace and Company Solutions. With over 17 years of experience, Kelly is an expert in streamlining systems, especially for small businesses. She'll share what you need to know about setting up effective systems to keep your business running smoothly. Stay tuned for our bonus segment where we'll dive into practical tips for getting started with systems in your business. Hey Kelly, welcome to the podcast.
Kelly Hedgepath
Hey, thanks for having me. Excited to be here.
Larissa
Thanks for being here. We. I feel like you're just set. I mean you've talked to stay gold before and I've known you for a while, but I mean I think it's just so important. We're. I think this is coming out in December, but for, you know, going into a new year for businesses, small businesses to think about their systems. Right.
Kelly Hedgepath
Definitely. It can be like your New Year's resolution.
Larissa
I love that.
Kelly Hedgepath
Working out one away. We never succeed in that. Let's talk systems.
Larissa
Yes, that's such a good New Year's res resolution. Why don't we start with an intro? Why don't you tell us a little bit about your journey?
Kelly Hedgepath
Okay. So I have always worked for small businesses when I was in college when I got out and it's just kind of my little happy place. It's a little chaotic always working for small businesses because you wear a lot of hats. But it's a great opportunity to be able to make a large impact in a company. So that's what I think I've always enjoyed is I kind of see where small businesses have struggled with. For me, I'm a systems oriented person so I'm always seeing where they're struggling with systems and in bottlenecks and just making things smooth. And so I kind of noticed that firsthand. A lot of businesses that are really passionate, small businesses tend to be really passionate about what they do, but then they get bogged down in the day to day. So I kind of found my passion for systems early. I'm not a creative person like a lot of my clients are. I'm creative in a different Mindset, I guess, spreadsheets and crazy things like that. So I just started implementing systems early in businesses and realized how quickly things got easier for all of the employees and for management, we, like, had answers faster for things. I remember my first system at Dog Eared was just order tracking. They used to hand write everything. Every order would come in and it would go on like a piece of paper. And then people would call in and ask, did you get my order? And we would be flipping through, like, I mean, Dog Eared was insane. When I worked there, It'd be like 40 pages we were looking through and I was like, we cannot do this anymore. I was like, I am not. I'm digitizing this. It's going into Excel like that. We'll just start simple. And I just did an Excel spreadsheet for any incoming orders. And everyone was like, flabbergasted, like it was rocket science. And I was like, okay, well, this was not difficult. Let me see where else I can do things. And so then we just started implementing systems in that sales department and it kind of just sparked my fire. So, yeah, that's where I've been.
Larissa
It's especially wild that they were handwriting stuff because Dog Eared was a huge business at that time, wasn't it?
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, I mean, I was there when Robin was there. I worked under Robin, and we saw 800% growth at that time. So, I mean, they didn't have the problem of having to do a ton of outreach for orders. Orders were just flat flowing in. I mean, the booth, the line would be like down the hallway at New York now. It was insane. I mean, so having to figure out if somebody placed an order or not and like, looking at paper and everyone's different handwriting, it was impossible. So, yeah, it was. They needed systems and they let me kind of just put in whatever I wanted, you know, try out a bunch of different things. It was fantastic. So that set me up for. When I moved back to Texas, I worked for a couple companies and I did. I moved into employee development and training. So I was creating all of the manuals that we were, you know, creating how people were going to onboard and how they were going to learn their jobs and how they were going to continue that education. And so we noticed a lot of, you know, system breakdowns doing that. And so, yeah, I've always just kind of been working to improve, I guess, the lives of employees too. Employees and owners, because nobody likes it when, you know, they're hitting their head against a wall.
Larissa
So, yeah, it is interesting how Big businesses have. You think that they have all of these systems in place because they're so big and they have so many employees. But I've worked for some bigger companies, too, and it's like, oh, wow, you're just doing it this way right now. Like, you haven't really thought this through.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, well, they do it that way because it's the way it's always been done. And I. I hate that answer when somebody's like. I'm like, well, why are you doing it that way? And they're like, because that's just the way we do it. It's the way we've always done it. And I'm like, yeah, but don't you think there could be a better way? And. And, you know, I'm usually talking with managers when they bring me in, when I used to consult for companies that were a little larger, and I'd be like, let's just ask the team members what they think. And they would have total solutions. They'd be like, if we did it this way, we could save, you know, half a day. And I was like, great, let's put that in place.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly Hedgepath
And so, yeah, then I started. I realized I could just do my own thing and started Grace and Co Solutions. So that's where it all started.
Liz
Change is hard for people.
Larissa
Yeah, change is hard for people. Although in some of my roles, I had to write SOPs, and that is not my skill set at all. And then I'd be like, wait, but you're having me write an sop? Like, you're supposed to tell me what to do. I don't know.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, well, that is where a lot of company, little companies start. But I'll give you a few tools that'll make writing saps really easy. Some of them will just document it for you. And then now so many people just want to watch video so we can talk about tools for that too.
Larissa
That's great. And just to be clear with everyone listening, who doesn't know what an SOP is or has never been tasked with doing that? It's a standard operating procedure and it can be like, traditionally, like, what I've seen is like a binder with, like, notes on how to, like, do certain things.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, it's kind of like your how to guide, like your little, like, step by step how to's.
Larissa
So, okay, how would you define systems for a small business owner? Like what, what do we mean by systems?
Kelly Hedgepath
So for systems, how we're talking about here, it's basically just the process and tools that you're using to help your business run smoothly and consistently. The, the key thing with systems is that consistency that you're not reinventing this, the wheel every time you do something. And so it's those how to steps. It's just like to mail something. You do these 10 things, you know, simple example, but so they can be like a checklist. It can be automated tools that you're using that are kind of starting and then it runs through its own automation of getting a process done. It's documented workflows, it is how to videos. So it's, you know, it's however works for you to document something or to, to jot something down is the best method to kind of get your system in place. Like in the old days. Yes. It was sops in a binder like they were printed. You went to it when you had to learn how to do it. Now there's so many digital options, it can be like at your fingertips and ready to go. So. Yeah, but that's kind of the systems we talk about.
Larissa
Larissa, I'm guessing you have a lot of systems for your business.
Kelly Hedgepath
No.
Liz
Thanks to me though. Yeah, I have a marketing operations team member and she pretty much created all the systems that live in notion for us. So everything's like super searchable and like data bases and stuff and it transformed everything.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, yeah. It's nice because you have an entire team and you want them to be able to do things the same way for all of your clients, I imagine or.
Larissa
Exactly.
Kelly Hedgepath
Pretty much. So.
Liz
Yeah. Without having to ask people all the time also. Which is good. Saves time and energy.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah.
Larissa
And so. So why are systems so critical for a small business and for them to find success.
Kelly Hedgepath
So for small businesses or solopreneurs, which is a lot of who I work with, you have a limited time frame to get everything done right. I think we have a lot of stress every day in our lives and so adding extra things on top can be overwhelming. So a lot of times small businesses will find overwhelm happening when they don't have efficient and sufficient procedures in place. And so the idea behind systems is that it's, it's creating consistency for you, it's saving you time, it's reducing that stress level. And when you have that structure in place, it's a lot easier to run your day to day operations. It's easier to scale and train new people. If I can say like, oh, I'm going to bring you on and here's like everything you need to learn how to do, you don't have to necessarily come to me all the time, because that's the other hard thing is, like, people will be like, I can't hire. I don't have time to train someone and I don't have time to, like, get them running up and board. I'm like, well, you, you can't keep this up. Like, you're going to burn out. And so having that ability to, like, push off tasks to somebody else, and I don't mean push off, but like, assign tasks to somebody else is really a, like, it's an aha moment for a lot of businesses when they're able to do that. So, yeah, they're critical because you, you want that consistency. You don't want things to fall through the crack. And while sales are fantastic, systems are the backbone of your business. Like, they are what is sustaining you for growth and allowing you to, to sell. Because you could sell all day long. But if you can't deliver the product, if you, you suck on the back end and the customer service fails, like, you're not going to be having a long success, I guess.
Liz
Yeah. What I've found too, like, for us, it just makes our team feel happier and more empowered too, because they can really succeed in their job. Like, I've been in roles myself before. I had my own business where I just felt like I was being set up for failure because there was no structure in place for me. And it's like, where do you go from there? But if someone's given a structure, then they can really, like, shine in that.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, they can take ownership and really be proud.
Larissa
I think also, you know, we talk a lot about marketing, like having a marketing plan. And I always, like, kind of try to reinforce with designers that having a system to create that plan or to create that content is going to make it easier for you and it's not going to be such a time suck.
Liz
Yes.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, definitely. Marketing is a huge system that I think people don't realize is a system. I think they just think of, like, marketing as this other thing. But yeah, the content creation, the brainstorming of ideas, the discipline of, like, I'm going to do this at this time every month, that's a system. And then how you're posting it and all that is, you know, a system for sure.
Larissa
Can you talk about a few signs that a business, like, needs help with systems or needs to put systems in place?
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah. So the first is just that constant overwhelm feeling where you just can't get it all done and you have tasks that are being missed. You're dropping the ball with orders or clients, and there's that inconsistent customer experience, I imagine. For Larissa's business, you know, you have an agency, you have a lot of clients that you're delivering for, and if you miss something or if one client's having a great experience and another one's not, that's not looking great on your business.
Liz
Right.
Kelly Hedgepath
Exactly. Yeah. And, you know, people talk. That's the whole deal. Right. So, you know, you have word of mouth getting around. You have testimonials, you have reviews online now. And those inconsistencies can really hurt businesses. So huge sign of their struggling is like they're overwhelmed. And then there's this inconsistency in experience. And so. And somebody, an owner who's spending more time on admin tasks than working on their growth or the growth activities or their creative tasks, that's usually a big sign, too. Like when you're bogged down in all the admin and you can't do what you enjoy or what you need to do to grow the business, then you really need to put some systems in.
Liz
Yeah.
Larissa
Even though I just work for my. I don't have employees or anything like that, I have my own systems, too. Because if I didn't and I don't have them written down, which maybe it's something I should consider, but without them, I find myself spinning my wheels. Or I find myself, to your point, being inconsistent with the way I deliver my content or the way I show up for my different communities and platforms.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, exactly. And, you know, we all have a lot of different, like, irons in the fire. Right. You know, so we have different objectives for our business. We serve different clientele. And so, you know, each one of those has a different feel for a process that had to happen. But for me, the other one that's really important with systems is, like, sometimes I only do things once a quarter. Or like, my taxes, okay. I'm really terrible about my taxes. And I do them at the end of the year, which is horrible because I. And I keep telling myself every time I do it, I'm going to do it every month, But I do it at the end of the year. But I have to remember at the end of every year, where am I going to pull all of these different numbers? And so I. I wrote it down. You know, finally I followed my own rules, and I really wrote it down. And so this past year, I was like, oh, yeah, I'm going to go here. And that's where I Found this. And this is where I did this. And this is how I send it to my accounting person in the format that they want it, you know, so that I'm not making their life a headache. Um, and so, you know, sometimes it's really helpful for those things that you do very infrequently as well, to remember as well.
Liz
That's so true. The thing that's frustrating for me about systems is I find they're never like, just set and forget. Like, usually you have to come and update them or as you're working through it, then it's like, oh, yeah, now we need a system for this other thing. So it never ends.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, it's very true. They are, I call them like a living being, you know, they are constantly changing. They're growing. They're growing with your business and the demand that your business has and, and the changing world of systems and tools and technology as well. What?
Larissa
Okay, so say you're a small business and you're listening to this episode and you're like, I have no systems. Where do you get started?
Kelly Hedgepath
Okay, so don't over overcomplicate it, right? Like I first say, just start easy. Think of something that you do on a regular basis every single day and start documenting that. And it could also be a lot of times people will be like, where do I want to start? And I'm like, start with what you want to get rid of. You know, start with tasks that you maybe want to outsource to somebody else at some point. So if that is, you know, order processing or client communication or, you know, accounting and things like that are always things. But a lot of times a great place to start is with client communication, because if you're doing that on your own, it can be a headache. We have a lot of people who are like, well, everyone always asks me, like, you know, what's my return policy? Or like, how long is it going to take for my order to ship? And they're like, it's on my website, it's in my FAQs. And I'm like, that's very true. I understand that people aren't going to go read it, and so they're emailing you. And so the simple system with client communication is just creating email templates. And people will be like, well, how do I know what templates to create? And I'm like, just go through your FAQs. And that's like a time saver there, because then somebody's asking the same repetitive question to you. You can just select that Template. And you know, you're not necessarily writing a step by step process. You wrote out those emails that you've already written a hundred times, but now you just made it a template. And so that's a great place people start, that starts to save them time and then documenting kind of their order processing and you know, just more simple tasks as well.
Larissa
I find that shipping too, like having a system for shipping is a good place for people to start because that's like oftentimes a thing that designers want to get off their plate.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, it's a thing that designers want to get off their plate. And it's also a thing that sometimes when you're getting in there halfway through, you forget like, okay, now what do I do here? Or what am I supposed to select at this part? But yeah, shipping is a lot of times, especially during the holiday, you're bringing in like you know, employee to do it or a family friend to help with it. Also just packaging rules is something that is really easy so that you're maybe not passing off your production yet, but you can pass off, you know, how does it go on the card and then into the box and then how are we putting that together? Because, you know, especially as we approach, you know, getting into. Well, this will be after holiday season, but when you're in holiday season, a lot of people do hire on extra help of just extra hands and you're looking for simple things you can pass off. So documenting those things are usually the ones to start with.
Larissa
Okay, so how feel like I asked this question already. Where do I want to go from here? Okay, I feel like you've answered all of these questions that I have already. Like, you know, how can a business identify the areas they need help with, with, you know, look at what you don't want to be doing or look at, you know, where you have the least consistency.
Kelly Hedgepath
I feel like where you're, yeah, where you're wasting time a lot of times. So you know a lot of times when you're doing stuff repetitively but you haven't documented it, you're like reinventing the wheel every time and you're like having to think for a moment like, okay, what do I do now? And those minutes, those like little minutes add up and so, you know, just really thinking about how to cut those time wasting activities. And it's usually those repetitive ones.
Liz
I've found you just also have to change your mindset too. Because if you're a solopreneur and you're so, so used to doing things you're not thinking about the doing the things because you just kind of do them, especially if you're used to it. And so it kind of requires you to like start being more aware of what you're doing also.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, I can't remember what is the book, Is it e myth or something where they're talking about working in your business, but versus working on your business. And I think when you, there's a certain point when you're in your solopreneur ship where you are so in your business, you cannot see out, you can't start to think strategically, you can't think of growth because you're so much in the day to day. And so a lot of people will be like, I'm just tired, I'm just burn out, like. And I'm like, well, what do you want to do? And they're like, I want to create again. I want to be inspired to like make new stuff. And I just don't have the time to even get to the bench. And I'm like, well, you gotta, you gotta make time by creating these systems and making these things easier or thinking, how can I automate something? You know, as well? And so yeah, a lot of times, you know, people will just be looking for a way to get back to what they loved in the beginning so they can enjoy the business again. And that, you know, a lot of times people have all this other solutions in mine is like, you just need systems.
Larissa
It's so true. I mean that really is my roundabout answer when designers tell me they can't get to their marketing. It's like you just need a system in place. You just need to be consistent with it and you just have to figure out a way to do it. You know, are there any like common mistakes you see with small businesses when they're setting up their systems?
Kelly Hedgepath
Okay, so yes, one over complicating it. So sometimes people will think it has to be perfect. Like they've got to like document every single step. There can't be a single mistake or something missing. They have to find the perfect way to document it. And all this stuff, it's just perfectionism that bogs us down in so many aspects of our lives. But it also happens when people want to start implementing systems. They feel like they have to have a certain way like this SOP word and they have to have this form that they fill out. And I'm like, no, just like jot down the bullet points or the numbered, you know, how to. So that's one thing is just keep it simple. And then the other thing is people will be doing this thing over and over and then they just neglect to document the process. And so there are, yes, you can grab your pen and paper and start writing. You could type when you're doing the steps along with it. But there's also great tools like there's a Google extension. Both of these are going to be Google Chrome extensions that I'm going to mention. And I do recommend using Google Chrome because they have all these lovely extensions that you can use where, you know, Safari and other things don't have. But one of them is called Scribe S C R I B E and it's a Google extension. You can just Google it. And basically when you turn it on, it records everything that you're doing on the screen. Not like a video recording, but it is watching where your pencil's going. It's taking screen night pencils, your clicker is going, your mouse and it's taking screenshots whenever you click. And then it's documenting what you did. So it's writing your system for you. And then you just basically go back and you can tweak it. You can say like, oh, you know, I misclicked there or something. And you can delete that and you can write out a more explanation for it. So it's already kind of done a lot of the work for you. The other thing that I love to do when I'm doing things on the computer is use Loom. L O O M Loom does video recordings of your screen and you can talk through the process. And if you've ever watched one of my trainings, that's what I'm using when I'm training. It also now like gives you a transcript, it gives steps, it gives like timestamps that you can edit to help people skip ahead. But it's a really great tool so that you're not even having to document anything. You're not having to write anything down. It's all doing it for you. And so those are great ways to like just start the process of documenting. And then you could just take the transcript and turn that into a document if you want want it.
Liz
So I use Loom every day so much.
Kelly Hedgepath
I love loom. Yeah, I do it a lot. Like, so I'll have people, you know, past clients ask me, oh, you know, how do I do this in the system? And I'm like, we could get on a call, but that's going to be like at least 30 minutes for me, if not more, you know, because we want to talk and all that kind of stuff. But I'll just do a video and it's like two to five minutes of me explaining. So then one, they have that recording, they can watch it again later. But it also just saved me 25 minutes. Not that I don't want to talk to people. I love to connect, but sometimes I have a lot of other things going on. So, yeah, I do those a ton.
Liz
I like to take the transcripts too, and I'll run it through ChatGPT and I'll say just pull out like the main action items or something like that. If I just need like a bullet list too. So there's like tools you can use together to really like pull out the meat of whatever you're talking about.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, you know, Chat GPT is, is a really cool tool for that because, yeah, I'll say, like create my step by step process from this transcript. It will write that out. And so if you think about how long it would have taken you to write that, and then now you did a video, you copied and pasted a transcript, you gave a little prompt, and now you have a written document along with your video. Can you imagine like if somebody, you hired somebody and brought them in and you were like, you can watch the video. Here's the written as well. People learn in different ways. Some people will learn from the video, some people want to have a written document. And so you're like, you've set them up for success already.
Larissa
Yeah, those are some amazing tools. Can you share a success story where a client saw like a big impact after improving their systems?
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah. So for me, one of the systems that I put in place a lot that clients like initially don't think that they need, and then they're like, oh my God. Is a CRM. So a CRM is a client relationship management database. Essentially, it's where you can store information about all of your clients, their contact information, but also notes and their order history and everything like that. And so it's also a way that you can email out and a lot of times people will use it for their wholesale accounts. So I had a designer come to me last year and she was going to be doing New York now, and she wanted to go ahead and get a CRM in place so she could get her list in and start reaching out and doing some wholesale outreach before the show, which is what we always coach on. Right. We're like, if you're going to go to a trade show, you need to do outreach. You need to tell people you're there, you need to invite them, you need to show them your pieces before they come so that they'll come and stop by. It'll help have more success. And so she put that in place. She was like, okay, I want you to help me with the emails that I'm going to send out. I want you to help me create these templates. I want to have a plan for, you know what my first email is going to be my second and third and then I want to be able to track who's opening it, who's clicking it, who's most interested so I can target them harder. And so we put that all in place and she ran her plan perfectly, her outreach plan. And she had more people coming to her booth. She placed some orders, she was like. And it was even more so of my follow up afterward. I could track who came, who saw who just looked and I could follow up with them on the back end as well. But she was like, I have so much more data at my fingertips to see like who's actually interested based off of their activities with my emails and my outreach. And so that was fantastic to know that. And she's still using it religiously. She's like, this has changed my whole world. And I was like, great, I'm so glad. I love when people actually use what we implement.
Larissa
So I know who you're talking about and it, it was a game changer for her. But yeah, I think that you can also implement that with direct to consumer too and like high end clients and private clients and stuff like that because it's so much to keep track of like birth dates or like when they last ordered or when you last correspondent with them. And what you said, like, I mean that is a really important system to think about.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah. And I was, I talked about this. I can't remember what if it was a training with RBI or if it was a training when I came and talked with somebody. But somebody asked me like, you know, when you're doing outreach emails, you know, what are the most successful ones? And I was like, okay. To be honest, I do a birthday email every year to all of my clients. It is an automated email. I was like, as much as I want to personalize it in every year, like I can go in sometimes and personalize them ahead of time. Usually I'm sending my clients that I know of the birthdays texts anyway or I'm messaging them on Facebook or Instagram and all that stuff. So that's my personalization. But I send out a birthday Email every year to everybody. And that is the one I get a hundred percent response on every year. Like my automated email is the one I get a hundred percent back on. And that is one that I wouldn't have if I didn't have my CRM with their birthdays in it. Like Facebook's might tell me. But I'm not necessarily going to be able to go in the system every day that somebody has a birthday and write an email to them. So it automatically goes. And that's a, that's an automation that I put in place. But it is one that I get 100% response on, which is crazy to me because I don't necessarily respond to everyone who wishes me a happy birthday business wise. But you know, it is, but that's like a simple one. It's a simple, must be a good email. Yeah, it's cute. So yeah, it is a cute one but it's not like anything special. It's a simple graphic and then like a, you know, heartfelt message. And I change the message every year and I add things to it. But yeah, that's something I track. I also track my client anniversary with everybody. So I wish, you know, I say thank you so much for becoming my client on this date. But yes, I have clients who track their VIP and they will keep in there the ring sizes, the spouse's name, the what they might have been interested in, their favorite gemstones. They will keep in track. Like is the earlobe attached or detached? So when they're designing earrings they can like think about that. I mean these are details you wouldn't necessarily remember but they are really valuable for going forward and with customs and things. Those are clients that you've built this big relationship with. Right. And so a lot of times you can have those repeat, repeat business from custom clients. And so but it's about like that follow up game that like I know when their anniversary is. I'm going to email them, you know, three weeks before to see if they need anything or whatever. My lead time might be right if I'm going to custom make something or if I'm going to sell them something off of the shelf. Not really a shelf, but you know, and so it's about, you know, and also saying happy Anniversary, you know, even if they didn't purchase, but still wishing them because you want to continue to cultivate that relationship.
Larissa
We could do a whole episode on CRM systems.
Kelly Hedgepath
Yeah, we could. CRM systems, custom jewelry systems, like that process there, you know, can be such a headache for so many yeah, that's the other one I set up for people. A lot is a custom design process.
Larissa
Yeah, we're gonna have to have you back, but for now, thank you so much for chatting with us. Can you tell us a little bit about the Red Boot Intensive and how designers can work with you?
Kelly Hedgepath
Yes. So the Red Boot Intensive, or RBI as we call it, you'll hear us refer to that a lot, is a 12 pro coaching program I do with Robin Kramer of Red Boot Consulting. And it is a small group coaching program, very personalized to each designer. We keep it small because we want it to be intimate. We really dive deep into each person's business and we offer one on one coaching every month. We do group training every month. We do tech training every month. So I'll get on and show people how to do something. We will implement it in their business. Right. Then we also do an in person workshop every March. And so it's a great way to kind of be able to really dive into your business and implement a lot very quickly. It's called an intensive for a reason because we are kind of getting you up and running and growing a lot faster. So it is for established designers who are looking to grow and really focus on their business and make a change and an impact in a short period of time. And our applications are open right now. If you apply before November 15th, which this will air after, that's in like two days. But anyway, if you apply before the end of the year, you can join us in 2025.
Larissa
Yeah, I've heard great things about this program. How can designers work with you? You mentioned setting up systems for people or helping people in that way. How can people get in touch with you?
Kelly Hedgepath
So you can go to my website, www.graysonco solutions with an S@the end.com you can look at for me on Instagram at Grace and Co Solutions. And you can email me. It's just Kelly at Grace and Co Solutions. So you can reach out to me lots of different ways, but amazing.
Larissa
Thanks for being here.
Kelly Hedgepath
Thanks so much for having me.
Larissa
All right. Do you have systems in place in your business? Let us know. Visit successwithjewelry.com and if you love the podcast, we'd love to hear from, send us a message or leave us a review. Thanks for being a part of the success with jewelry community.
Title: Success With Jewelry
Host/Authors: Laryssa Wirstiuk and Liz Kantner
Guest: Kelly Hedgpeth, Founder of Grace and Company Solutions
Release Date: December 9, 2024
In Episode 110 of the Success With Jewelry podcast, hosts Laryssa Wirstiuk and Liz Kantner welcome Kelly Hedgpeth, a seasoned business systems expert with over 17 years of experience. Kelly is the founder of Grace and Company Solutions, specializing in streamlining systems for small businesses. The episode focuses on the critical role of effective business systems in ensuring smooth operations and achieving sustained success in the jewelry industry.
Kelly shares her passion for systems development, which began during her college years working with small businesses. She recounts her early experience at Dog Eared, where she implemented an Excel-based order tracking system, transforming chaotic paper orders into a streamlined digital process.
Kelly Hedgpeth [01:40]:
“I just started implementing systems early in businesses and realized how quickly things got easier for all of the employees and for management.”
Her commitment to improving operational efficiency led her to focus on employee development and training, further solidifying her expertise in creating sustainable business systems.
Kelly emphasizes that systems are the backbone of any business, providing consistency, saving time, and reducing stress. She likens setting up systems to making a New Year’s resolution, highlighting their transformative potential.
Kelly Hedgpeth [09:01]:
“Sales are fantastic, systems are the backbone of your business. They are what is sustaining you for growth and allowing you to sell.”
Systems enable businesses to handle day-to-day operations efficiently, scale effectively, and maintain high standards of customer service, which are essential for long-term success.
Kelly outlines key indicators that a business requires better systems:
Kelly Hedgpeth [12:06]:
“A huge sign of their struggling is like they're overwhelmed. Someone who's spending more time on admin tasks than on growth activities really needs to put some systems in.”
Kelly advises small businesses to begin implementing systems by:
Kelly Hedgpeth [15:29]:
“Start easy. Think of something that you do on a regular basis every single day and start documenting that.”
She also suggests focusing on order processing and shipping as initial areas to establish structured workflows.
Kelly warns against:
Kelly Hedgpeth [20:33]:
“One is overcomplicating it. People think it has to be perfect, but keeping it simple is key.”
She encourages businesses to use straightforward methods like bullet points or numbered lists and to utilize tools that simplify the documentation process.
Kelly highlights several digital tools that facilitate system documentation:
Kelly Hedgpeth [22:03]:
“Scribe records everything that you're doing on the screen and documents your system for you. Loom allows you to create video guides that can be easily shared and referenced.”
Kelly shares a compelling success story of a jewelry designer who implemented a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. By organizing client information and automating personalized communication, the designer experienced significant improvements in client engagement and sales.
Kelly Hedgpeth [24:47]:
“She ran her outreach plan perfectly, had more people coming to her booth, and placed some orders. It was fantastic to see her gain so much more data about her clients’ interests.”
This case illustrates how effective systems can enhance business operations and foster stronger client relationships.
Kelly introduces the Red Boot Intensive (RBI), a 12-week coaching program co-hosted with Robin Kramer of Red Boot Consulting. The program offers personalized, small-group coaching, monthly one-on-one sessions, group and tech training, and an in-person workshop. It is designed for established jewelry designers aiming to accelerate business growth and implement impactful changes swiftly.
Kelly Hedgpeth [30:30]:
“The Red Boot Intensive... is a small group coaching program, very personalized to each designer. We dive deep into each person's business and implement strategies quickly.”
Applications are open until the end of the year, providing an opportunity for designers to join and transform their businesses in 2025.
The episode concludes with Kelly sharing her contact information for those interested in her services or the RBI program. Listeners are encouraged to visit her website or reach out via Instagram and email.
Kelly Hedgpeth [32:03]:
“You can go to my website, www.graceandcosolutions.com, follow me on Instagram at GraceandCoSolutions, or email me at Kelly@GraceandCoSolutions.com.”
Hosts thank Kelly for her insights, emphasizing the importance of robust systems in achieving business success within the jewelry industry.
For more insights and resources on achieving business success in the jewelry industry, visit successwithjewelry.com. If you enjoyed this summary, consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a review to support the community.