With only $500 and a huge vision, Kristi brocato founded The Basketry in 1992 growing her company to over $3 million. She sold her company, retired at age 50 and now helps other product bosses get out of the weeds to find freedom!
Believe me, I’ve been where you are and understand the struggles you face in your business day-to-day. LOOK at you, taking the leap to grow your company. You’re doing something most only dream of. Here’s a little story that hopefully inspires you.
It was in the early 90’s inside of my college dorm room that my gifting company was founded. While my friends were plotting their next night out, I was mapping out my business in an old fashion binder filled with ideas and vision.
The Basketry’s success and growth over the next 28 years didn’t happen with me alone. There were hundreds of employees, amazing sales reps and dedicated customers that entrusted me with their gifting needs, and not to mention many family & friends that helped me grow.
My company quickly became larger than I imagined, impacting thousands of families, communities, and businesses around the world. The Basketry became the place where my two kids would be raised, where I was able to give back to the community that raised me, where hundreds of young people would learn the value of hard work and where I would eventually find my love of coaching other boutique owners just like you and empowering them to scale, generate serious revenue and build legacies that allow them to have freedom to live the life they dream of.
Growing a company isn’t a bed of roses as you know. Through the years of growth also came the heavy responsibilities of building teams, balancing cash flow, growing revenue and increasing my customer base all of which are the basics of business success. While It seemed successful from the outside, internally I struggled…a lot!
The struggled with work and family balance allowed guilt to rule my world. I struggled with micromanaging my team, and not allowing even myself to take a break. Going through the financial crash in 2008, several hurricanes, and Covid to name a few were beyond tough. There were many struggles through the years that I never shared, and realized quickly that other entrepreneurs were feeling the same.
In early 2022, I “quietly quit.” Overcome with burnout, mental exhaustion and feeling stuck in spite of record breaking revenue & growth, I created a plan to close my store. I would often say, “If this is what success looks like, I want no part of it.” Can you relate?
BUT I didn’t give up! After getting the coaching I needed, I was able to run my company totally different. My revenue increased, I built a leadership team, and a team-managed company that ran without me.
In 2022, I FIRED myself and found the FREEDOM I deserved. I loved my company again. I worked less, led with vision, inspired my team to lead and enjoyed my life since my business wasn’t running mine.
I sold The Basketry in April 2023 to three amazing business women who successfully ran their own retail stores.
After I retired, I wanted to help people like me who craved a better team, growth & freedom. I had too many experiences and gifts to share with other boutique owners. For the last several years, I’ve worked 1:1 with business owners to offer a well-rounded approach to supporting their business’ success. Consulting them and giving them the tools needed to get out of the weeds, to build quality teams and increase revenue, allows them to grow as business owners.
Connect with me today- xoxo, Kristi
