Video: Made in KC expands footprint, mission to cultivate creativity
September 26, 2017 | Bobby Burch
Made in KC — which carries in its stores everything from locally made barbecue sauce and candles to coasters, prints and T-shirts — is opening new locations at 11th Street and Baltimore Avenue downtown, and at 509 E. 18th St. in the Crossroads.
The downtown space is set to debut Dec. 1 with a few features customers might not expect, said Tyler Enders, a co-owner of the business. The store will include a coffee shop showcasing local roasters in front, and a taproom in the back serving all local beers, he said.
A peer-to-peer Made in KC Marketplace, which launched in May, allows the company to broaden its community-based platform to less-established brands, he said. Describing the marketplace as being like Etsy, but specific to Kansas City, and cleaner than Craig’s List, Enders said the portal is moderated by Made in KC to make sure vendors maintain requirements set by the company.
“Right now, we get a really steady trickle of purchases, which is great,” he said. “It’s really opened our eyes to certain products that we said no to for our stores. If we realize they’re doing really well in the marketplace, we bring them in.”
Learn more about the company with the video below.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KCultivator: Plexpod founder Gerald Smith on Internet trolls, anti-gravity machines, man crush
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Check out our features on innovation coach Diana Kander, Victor & Penny’s Erin McGrane, SEED Law’s Adrienne Haynes, Code Koalas’ Robert Manigold, Prep-KC CEO Susan Wally and community builder Donald Carter. Plexpod is more than a shared…
LaunchKC $100K winner Cambrian Tech taking simple idea to new reality
After winning LaunchKC’s grand prize — $100,000 — Cambrian Tech has its virtual eyes on another prize: total interior home transformation. “The goal is to open your phone, walk around and visualize any project you may consider doing,” co-founder Joel Teply said. “From walls, countertops, backsplashes, flooring, cabinetry, appliances, hardware and landscaping.” DIY tech presents…
Techstars Spotlight: Somatic Labs’ sees freedom from distraction in touch tech
Somatic Labs is designing a technology for a future without screens, founder Shantanu Bala said. Imagine this: You’re driving in an unfamiliar neighborhood and instead of needing to look at your phone for directions, your wearable device uses physical sensations to direct you to your destination, keeping your eyes on the road. Or maybe you’re…
Code for Kansas City hacking into fifth year; more civic hackers needed
After five years hacking, Code for Kansas City is expanding its reach with new projects and avenues for using the brigade’s coding and technology skills to identify and match problems in the community with potential solutions. A fifth annual hackathon event this weekend — the National Day of Civic Hacking or HackKC — illustrates the…