We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelley Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelley, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Well, I had been doing it already really, helping friends keep up with dates, helping with booking for some of the groups I had sang with, writing recommendation letters, building and updating resumes, making flyers, and creating websites…..and it was spread really by word of mouth, “oh ask Kelley, she can do it, she can do just about anything.” After that I thought wait, this is work, I can make a business out of this and I DID!. And being a singer and in the music industry so long, I learned the ins and outs of it all and took on artist management as well, creating contracts, booking engagements, negotiating deals, etc……and just added that to what I was doing and from there Kelley Koated Solutions, LLC was born. I started doing what I’m doing now actually by accident…..lol…I love helping and I was always volunteering to help someone and with my office skills and knowledge it helped me to help other people. One day I thought, dang I can actually do this as a business….and here I am 4 years later!

Im Originally a singer, and my first endeavor as an artist I had to learn a lot of things, I saw a lot of things and definitely heard a lot of things. I’m not new to this though been singing since I was 8 years old. Being a member of God’s Property, singing BGVs and doing studio work I had to learn the business…branding, marketing, publishing, contracts, booking…so I just incorporated all of that into #KKS as part of the services I provide.

 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business Kelley Koated Solutions, LLC offers a wide variety of services, I’m basically one-stop shopping for Administrative Assisting, Marketing, Branding, Promoting, Social Media Management, as well as Graphic Design, Website, Building, and Maintenance, Content Creation, Business Startup and soon I be starting my apparel business, as well as using my certification as a MUA and licensed Esthetician to start my skincare line and also my line of lashes and lipstick line and I will be rebranding my music label as well. I also do credit repair…lol gotta have good credit. I call myself “Wonder Woman” you name it I can do it or I will figure out how to.

This has not been easy though, I have lost clients, friendships ended, relationships ended, money lost…..I almost gave completely up…..but I thought NO…this is my DREAM and I will not let it die. I have cried, kicked and screamed, been depressed, even jobless, carless and homeless, but vowed not to give up on my dream….EVER!

The lessons I have learned is your dream isn’t everyone’s, no one will see your vision the way you do and everyone can not go with you.

What sets me apart from everyone else is, I CARE….I want to see us all WIN, yes there are people out here doing the same thing I’m doing and may be doing it better, however I’m not focused on just making money, I want to help others see thier dreams come to fruition, it can be hard, frustrating but I’m here to push, PRAY and encourage whoever it is to keep going…..and let them know I’ll be there with them and for them no matter what.

If I could leave a message about me and my brand it would be, DON’T QUIT. This brand was built from a dream, tears and perseverance…..and it will not work if I don’t work it. My brand is centered around helping those like me who were struggling to find a path, but instead created their own and now move at my own speed……

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my bestfriends lives here and the other in Kansas, for a weekend girls hangout, I would probably take them to Deep Ellum, we would hit some live music spots, karaoke, drinks and good food, maybe go to uptown to do some shopping and far North Dallas for pampering.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My mama, the late Linda Sue Lewis, /8/26/49-2/4/2006, she was my biggest cheerleader and my children Alexis and Adrian, I couldn’t ask for better GROWN kids…lol, they keep me going, they listen, I listen, we figure things out together we RIDE, MY HITTAS lol and they are my legacy. We are #LindaSuesLegacy

Instagram: @wearekks

Linkedin: Kelley Lewis

Facebook: Kelley Koated Solutions, LLC

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