Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Stice Stewart.
Hi Kate, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
A family tradition, Bauble Stockings are ornament-sized needlepoint stockings that hang on your tree. Bauble Stockings contain, or a hold a clue to, each family member’s final gift of Christmas. It’s not to be the most expensive, but the most thoughtful- the one that makes you feel warm, fuzzy and thought of. We launched in July 2018, and since then, Bauble Stockings are now carried in over 300 stores across the country, we have a staff of four in Sandy Springs and over 1000 team members hand-stitching them in Haiti for fair trade.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Working in Haiti is extremely meaningful but also comes with its fair share of challenges. In 2021, the presidential assassination there, followed by extreme gang violence, made it nearly impossible to get products out of the country. Luckily for us, our team there is resilient and our customer base was patient and understanding. Gratefully, 2022 has been much smoother and we are optimistic we’ve overcome the issues we faced before.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Bauble Stockings, we are most proud of our Guest Artist collaborations, which have allowed us to work with amazing people while giving back to their charities of choice. Our collaborators include Nicky and Kathy Hilton, Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia, and Dogwood Hill, among others, and in three years since we began the program, we’ve given over $70,000 to charities.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Just keep going! I sell miniature Christmas stockings, and I’ll probably sell over 25,000 of them this year alone. But that wasn’t the case when I started whatsoever. For about three years, people looked at me like I was crazy. But now when I say I’m the founder of Bauble Stockings, people’s eyes light up. You have to be willing to be different and to accept most people won’t get your idea the first, second, or third time they hear it. But some people will from the beginning, and then more and more.
Pricing:
- $85
Contact Info:
- Website: baublestockings.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/baublestockings
- Facebook: facebook.com/baublestockings
Image Credits
Kate Stewart headshot- Mary Catherine Brownfield Flat Lay designs- Kathryn McCrary
