CRWND as a KC pitch contest winner, Keliah Smith expands her product line (and comfort zone)

Keliah Smith was nervous. She’d never been a fan of speaking in front of a crowd, but knew exposing her discomfort and weakness through the Alchemy Sandbox pitch competition was just part of the ongoing journey of an entrepreneur, she said.

Avoiding that spotlight, Smith noted, already had kept her — and her business, CRWND Illustrations — from growing to its full potential. (She previously attempted to compete in the event in 2022, but backed out just before presenting because she didn’t feel worthy, ready or confident, Smith said.)

Keliah Smith, CRWND Illustrations

This year was different, the single mom of twins said, amid a Black Friday rush of holiday season gift orders.

“I knew that I needed to just do it,” said Smith, who ultimately was named one of five $5,000 Alchemy Sandbox winners. “After finally completing the pitch, I felt liberated. Definitely a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders — for the pitch and in business in general.”

Though her nerves had remained, she felt confident about winning, she said, joking that she might have actually been a little overprepared this go-round of the program, which is coordinated by The Porter House KC.

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CRWND Illustrations — a maker venture that empowers women of color through art, cards and gifts — has been evolving for years, Smith said. With changes to the economy and a growing need for her to be more innovative and creative to wow her customers and attract new ones, Smith already was beginning a pivot prior to the Alchemy Sandbox program, she said.

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“In 2017, my focus was more on art and tote bags, whereas now, I have a full inclusive (and expanding) line of greeting cards, gifts, journals, bags, stickers — essentially all things art, cards, paper and novelty,” she said.

Click here to shop CRWND Illustrations on Etsy.

CRWND Illustrations products also are sold in stores locally at Made In KC, the Kansas City Jazz Museum, The Prospect KC cafe, Bliss Books & Wine, Research Hospital Gift Shop and — coming soon — The Black Archives of Mid-America and The Laya Center.

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“I am beyond grateful for these partnerships and am continuously looking to partner with even more local stores, cafes and retailers,” Smith said.

Keliah Smith, CRWND Illustrations, with her children

The business is currently in the midst of rebranding, wherein Smith plans to develop a parent company that will act as an umbrella for unique styles and collections that will continue to provide representation as well as unique and diverse designs, she said. 

Her recent Alchemy Sandbox grant win gets her closer to that goal, Smith added.

“I am finally able to carry the full line that I have always envisioned, being more confident to show up in the public eye more authentically through increased social media presence, marketing,” she said.

Click here to follow CRWND Illustrations on Instagram and here for Facebook.

“I can happily say that we’ve been knowing how wonderful Keliah, and her business, is for at least the timeframe of the Alchemy Sandbox program’s inception,” said Miranda Schultz, director of operations for The Porter House KC. “And I don’t know if ‘begging her’ to pitch her business would be the correct phrase here, but … to see her choose to lean-in to her potential fears, highlighting the (tremendous) products that she creates, and receiving positive feedback from the panel judges was magical to see — not only from the perspective of an entrepreneurship support organization, but also from the perspective of a person.”

“We know that leaning in to anything that makes us fearful is a challenge,” Schultz continued. “And to watch a business owner do that with their business is even more of a win. Excited for the world to see what she leans into next.”

The past few months have been rough, Smith acknowledged, emphasizing her gratitude for The Porter House KC and Alchemy Sandbox.

“I can without a shadow of a doubt say that this pitch has absolutely saved my business,” she said. “Being a single mom of twins — with my business as my only income — I was about 2 seconds from having to put it to the side and go pick up a part time job.”

“My plate is forever full!”

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