Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Simeon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Being the oldest of four, I learned early on how different people actually can be and how to appreciate and maneuver those differences. Everyone processes the world in their own way. Coming up through gifted and IB programs at a young age, I realized that I naturally connect ideas differently, have a strong attention to detail, and lean toward a more technical way of thinking this all of that feeds into my creativity. I have keen senses for all things beautiful including imagery/videography , people , nature sonics you name it. High school is usually where people start putting real effort into figuring out who they are, especially their personal style. And for me, it was Burberry polos, sweatpants with a thrifted Ralph Lauren sweater, and loosely tied 4s. I breathed comfortability. I had my brands, and other people had their brands , both parties noticed. Clothes and shoes were at times a talking point, which led me to start reselling. That’s how I made my money as a teenager flipping clothes, keeping some favorites for myself, it was continuous cycle. Around that same time, Grailed launched. I began posting well-known brands, building a profile, and earning trust within the community through reliability and quick shipping , you know everyone loves convenience. Eventually, I moved into higher end pieces like BAPE and Gucci. That’s when I really started to understand the appeal of luxury. Some fabrics felt like silk and cotton blended together, while others felt surprisingly cheap, which made me think like man we’re really paying for a name sometimes. That led to more thinking on why couldn’t I make comfortable, high-quality clothing in the style I actually wanted to wear and build a brand around it? Then came my brand , NOT FOR SALE. I began designing and developing the brand toward the end of high school and continued into college at Kennesaw State, where I graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management.
Circling back to what I mentioned earlier, being that wall my siblings and family could lean on, I realized I genuinely enjoy helping people. Not in a cliché, medical sense, but in a way that motivates, pushes, and helps people recognize their strengths and believe in their limitless ability. During my senior year, I started coaching youth basketball and quickly saw the impact you can have on others, regardless of age. I wasn’t just working with the kids, but with parents as well.
I chose hospitality to sharpen my soft skills. I’m usually mellow and more in the background, but I realized I have a different facet to me I can reach
Today, I’m the owner of NOT FOR SALE and a part owner of Prodigy Skills Academy, a youth basketball training program.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course there’s been struggles along the way; anyone who says differently is really lying to you really , the only different thing is your perspective on the struggle. Starting a new business as an entrepreneur, you’re overzealous about your product/brand, and sometimes it blinds your decision making. As a young one with my first collection, I definitely overestimated how much product I would sell in said amount of time, left with extra product at the time it was a lesson in recognizing there’s work to do beforehand. In business , you can jump in for sure, but are you prepared to jump in? Doing every task for your business can get tiring and counterproductive so figure out if you need help in certain areas and be receptive to that help.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about NOT FOR SALE?
NOT FOR SALE is a brand that specializes in clothing , we also offer home goods and miscellaneous items. Our slogan being “stay curious” emphasizes explore your self and the world we live in with such inquisitiveness resembling a child always asking questions. We want to bring people into our world of explorers , experience yearners , and lavishly casual wearers. We take pride in our ability to mix functionality with style and a precise focus on quality comfortable fabrics.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
We actually just dropped some new socks! All over print , in 3 different colorways. Currently offering a bulk holiday bundle and we always offer complimentary shipping. We’re really excited about these they’re currently available on our website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://notforsale.company/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/isthisforsale
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@isthisforsale
