Today’s highlight goes to Kanary Kobe of Kanary Link!
Hello Kanary, what have you been doing to stay productive during COVID-19?
List! List! LIST! I can’t stress it enough. Make a list and check it twice. I make a list about the list that I need to make. My dad made one every morning growing up, sometimes written so fast that only chickens could read it! I say making lists is my main way to be productive even more so now because we lost all sense of structure due to this pandemic and making a list encourages a sense of purpose when there is none. Purpose is what drives the human race! Also it gives you an opportunity to look back on what you’ve accomplished, it’s my version of validation. My dad taught me a long time ago that the only validation outside of my list, is to validate my parking.
Explain to me what makes Kanary Link unique and how has that business adapted to COVID-19?
Well if you breakdown the name KanaryLink. Canary yellow is my favorite color, it’s the color of my first piece of jewelry of value my dad gifted me on my 18th birthday that I still wear every day. The Link part comes from my love for Kobe Bryant and his infinity symbol 24/8. Being dyslexic I see things differently, so I always thought it looked like the link in a lock, which got me to say every purchase that is made links us together in love and community forever hence KanaryLink! Lastly what makes us unique is every piece is named after either a historical black figure or an empowered woman. I’ve learned so many things about my history this year due to the way society is finally being enlightened, so much so that if I can keep that info going that I’ve learned through my beautiful pieces, Hell I’ll take that!
We’ve updated the business by creating smaller “try & buy” events making it easier to control how many ppl as well as changing the way we do shipping to maintain sanitation.
What started this transition from a new transplant to the DFW area with a corporate marketing background to successful entrepreneur with huge philanthropic projects?
KanaryLink is so special to my heart because it was birthed through the worst times of most of our lives. I moved to Dallas for work from Las Vegas and thought ok instead of coming and trying to be in a community I was going to make my community. Then my love for charity work & aligning myself with community outreach programs started. When I tell you I was volunteering at Bonton farms, helping out with Texas Tree foundation, eager to show up to North Dallas Food Bank at least once a week was religious (on top of working for one of the largest restaurateur groups in Dallas) and the one consistent thing I would continuously get complimented on was my jewelry at every event. “Wow, I love that piece – Understated but so timelessly cute” and I’d always respond “omg thanks, it’s from ______, it was only this much; I bought them for this event/ or when I was feeling like ____” (some of these companies owe me some recruitment cash, lol)
Until one day it hit me “Hey, I think I want to start my own jewelry line!” So I started small selling from all 3 of my jobs (Marketing, Assistant General Manager & Bartender on the side) , then BOOM it started doing really well and I was able to take some of the money to start donating funds, not just time to these charities. I had a few pop up shops here in Dallas and in San Antonio, then I knew I was ready to throw a HUGE fundraiser / birthday party pulling out all of the stops. This time the BOOM that came next was the momentum of my brand coming to a stop due to the order that life as we intended for in 2020 was completely changing, mind you 10days before then event. Even though I was heartbroken with no family here in Dallas, losing the jobs which were the very things that brought me here in the first place, and BROKE from investing EVERYTHING in the upcoming events. I knew the one thing that would root me in my gratitude and align me AGAIN with my purpose was charity. So I put together a “feed the homeless” drive, and that’s what we did. We drove up and down the highway feed 90 the less fortunate that day! And since truly haven’t wanted to do anything else since. Believe it or not losing everything created a feeling of not wanting much, leaving a safe to give more than everything.
Any upcoming projects in the works that you want people notified of?
Super excited to launch on Oct 22nd in downtown Dallas KanaryLinks new initiative: M. A. N. (Mentorship. Accountability. Nourishment for the Mind, Body and Pockets)
The Maskulinity fundraising event will raise funds by highlighting a panel of men in Corporate Business, Independent Entrepreneurs, Technology Start-ups and Healthcare providers in order to place emphasis on the multifaceted empowerment needs within the male community. The goal is to showcase the M.A.N initiative in order to provide the necessary resources and network opportunities to support men who aspire to grow, elevate and secure stability in the current economy. The root of this event is to raise funds for an all-boys day on November 21 where young men will be linked with a potential mentor in our new M. A. N. Mentorship program.
Resources we will provide at MASKULINITY (M. A. N. Initiative):
-Resume building
-Linkedin Accounts
-Grooming services
-Mental health resources
-Financial education
-Mentorship opportunities
-Business 101 for aspiring entrepreneurs
