Today we’d like to introduce you to Raheeg (Rere) Khalid.
Hi Raheeg (Rere), please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my business back in 2020, at the age of 14. What’s now known as “KLABEL” was once an Etsy store called “ShopRBracelets,” where I sold all kinds of jewelry, some of which I made myself, some of which I sourced from various local and international vendors. Eventually, my love for jewelry turned into a love for all kinds of accessories, which is where the business was then renamed to “ShopRAccessories.” I expanded my market and went from just selling jewelry to selling all kinds of accessories (bags, hats, hair accessories, etc.).
While I enjoyed hearing the praise from my customers and I loved the fact that there were people all over the world wearing pieces they purchased from my little business, nothing felt truly personal about it after almost three years, and I didn’t have a passion for any specific accessory anymore, as I once did with jewelry. I wanted my business to succeed more than I’d ever wanted anything before, but my lack of passion behind the products I was selling wasn’t going to give me the longevity I knew I needed to keep my business up and running. Around this same time, I started my second business, Brandology, because I possessed such a deep love for designing, and as I sat there day in and day out crafting brands for other people, I slowly started to realize what my own business was missing: me. I’d always been an art-lover and someone who always utilized my creative mind in any way I could, so sourcing and selling accessories didn’t allow me to put forth my true creativity, and that’s why I felt disconnected.
So I rebranded for the final time to KLABEL, launched my first loungewear set, and didn’t sell a single one. But unlike my past failures, I knew this one was priming me for something greater. So over the next year, I learned the ins and outs of the clothing and manufacturing industry, clothing design, and production, while simultaneously moving 9 hours away from home to Atlanta and starting my first year of pre-nursing classes in college. After years of costly trial and error, and more tears than I’d ever cried before, KLABEL began getting the recognition I’d worked relentlessly for.
As many names and phases as my business has gone through, each symbolizes not only a different point in my entrepreneurial journey, but a different era of my life. I went from thinking small with “ShopRBracelets” to thinking big with “KLABEL.” Despite my ever-evolving business, my goal since I started this journey at 14 years old has and will always be to bring women together over a shared love for quality clothing and jewelry pieces.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a business has in no way been a smooth road, but eventually I’ve realized that every hiccup I’ve had along the way was a lesson I needed to learn to improve. One of my major struggles was the transitional phase of my business, where I was falling out of love with the products I was selling, yet still being very in love with the concept of owning and running my own business. Trying to figure out what was missing and why I felt so disconnected with my brand and the products that my customers so clearly loved was definitely a huge struggle. Additionally, I think it goes without saying that life as a 2x entrepreneur slash full-time nursing student is a balancing act that requires the utmost discipline and patience, but it also requires you to want it badly enough, and luckily, I do.
And overall, I think one of the hardest things about owning and running a business is never having a clear-cut answer to your problems. You usually end up making a blind choice based on knowledge learned through experience and hope you’re making the right decision; whether it works out or doesn’t, it’s all on you. This immense pressure on one individual, especially someone like me who started a business at such a young age, causes people to either fold or flourish under it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As it stands, I think KLABEL is best known for quality and creativity. I feel like there are so many women-owned clothing and loungewear brands out there, but KLABEL brings something new by catering to women of all backgrounds, all style preferences, all aesthetics; it’s truly a brand for women, and I think that’s what is most captivating about it. Despite KLABEL being part of such a large niche, I want people to know that I wholeheartedly believe this brand is in it for the long haul, and this is only possible by allowing the very people who support it to help build it. I love listening and talking to my customers, absorbing their feedback, and not just taking it on the chin, but actually spending months implementing it. There are so many milestones KLABEL has reached and surpassed, and ones we have ahead of us, but I think I’m most proud of my brand’s ability to reach people. It serves as a true testament to the amount of work and passion that is put behind all of the branding, all of the drops, and every piece of clothing and jewelry that touches my customers’ hands.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I think my customers have been the biggest contributors to the success of KLABEL. Without their support, their feedback, and their encouragement, KLABEL couldn’t have progressed as far as it has. It’s easier to run a business when you’re listening to the people you’re running it for.
Besides my customers, my family and my parents have had the biggest impact on my brand’s success, specifically my mom. She’s been there from KLABEL’s inception, experienced every trial alongside me, and she’s watched the brand evolve into what it is today. Her advice and constant support were the additional confidence I didn’t know I needed. From helping me sort through fabric samples to being a listening ear when I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, I hope she truly understands the magnitude of her support and presence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.klabelco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopklabel/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@klabel.us
