MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: MADE IN KC IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOP LOCALLY

With just a few days left to shop for the holiday season, many Kansas Citians are looking for something that fits three categories: 1) it’s unique 2) it represents KC and 3) it won’t get stuck in shipping due to supply-chain issues. That’s where KC Chamber member Made in KC comes in.

Made in KC started in 2015 as a pop-up experience at Prairiefire in Overland Park. In the past nearly 7 years, the company has grown to ten locations. The most recent Made in KC opened in late December at Lenexa City Center. They not only provide unique products to shoppers, they also help makers and artists reach customers and grow their own businesses. “We’re a platform for artists and makers to get products out to the world,” said Co-Owner Keith Bradley. “For a lot of these makers it’s their first time dealing with wholesale buying, or maybe their first time with a storefront. We’re here to help them grow."

With many makers taking advantage of other storefronts and marketplaces close to central Kansas City, Made in KC found success by launching in the suburbs first, then moving closer to the city. That first location at Prairiefire is still there, as is Made in KC’s second storefront at Briarcliff. Bradley said that was intentional. “We wanted to bring local makers that were often centrally located to a new group of customers who may live in different parts of KC and don’t get to the center of Kansas City that often. This way we could make shopping locally more convenient.” After finding that success, Made in KC then worked their way back to a central location, opening their Plaza Store.

Those 9 storefronts are conveniently located for customers – something that is crucial this time of year, as shoppers have experienced lower inventory at big box stores and delayed shipping times from national and global online retailers. Bradley says these are just some of the reasons why shopping at Made in KC for the holidays just makes sense. “We make shopping locally easy, convenient, and meaningful for people,” he said. “Ninety-three cents of every dollar spent at Made in KC stays in Kansas City. That’s really unheard of in the retail world. So we’re proud of that.”

The focus on local is a driving force in the restaurants and vendors that will be part of the new single-terminal project at Kansas City International Airport. Made in KC is one of the local vendors that will have a storefront. Bradley knows this location will target a different kind of customer than other Made in KC stores usually see. Customers at KCI will be travelers and not necessarily from the region.

“Figuring that out in the next year will be what 2022 is all about,” said Bradley. “Right now, we view it as though we want to treat everyone like a local, like a neighbor whether they’re leaving or arriving from KCI. We want to carry that spirit of Kansas City and Midwest hospitality so people can remember that when they head back to where they’re from.”

With the new terminal scheduled for completion in 2023, Bradley says the Made in KC team will continue to focus on a unique local shopping experience, while connecting with more makers. One local maker that became part of the Made in KC storefront in 2021 is The Black Pantry, located at the Martini Corner storefront in Midtown KC. The Black Pantry specializes in high quality Black-made and Black-owned products. “Like anything in Kansas City, everything can be better and stronger with collaboration and supporting each other,” said Bradley.

As a KC-based business owner, Bradley values his KC Chamber membership -- especially during the pandemic. “We were trying to do whatever we could to stay relevant when the pandemic hit,” he said. “We took advantage of the Chamber’s virtual webinars, listening sessions, and just being able to connect with other business owners to hear what everyone was doing. Outside of COVID it’s just helped us become more embedded in the Kansas City business community and to grow.”

Made in KC has locations on both sides of the state line and North and South of the Missouri River open seven days a week to help shoppers get their gifts just in time!