Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Batalden Smith
Kathleen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Our husband-wife business began in 2010 when we returned to the U.S. after serving two years with the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. After living in a small, strongly-knit community in West Africa, we wanted the same for our new home in the U.S. We chose my family roots in rural southwestern Minnesota as our quiet place to call home. That’s where you’ll find us still today, where Justin enjoys the prairie views from the woodshop windows, and I’m thrilled to raise our kids in the wide open spaces of my childhood.
From the basement of our old farm house to our now renovated red barn woodshop and a newer space designated solely for engraving and shipping, our business has grown to support our family and a team of ten employees and contractors.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A rocky, winding road it has been! Growing a business while starting our family was overwhelming to say the least. The better part of our first ten years in business was a quite exhausting blur of work and personal; up early and staying up late to fit a few extra hours of work in while the kids were sleeping, and relying heavily on nearby family for childcare and help with shipping during our busy holiday season.
Hiring skilled, long-term on-site employees has proven challenging given how rural of an area we live in.
On the ecommerce side of things, getting found by the right people and scaling is a continual challenge. Just when you think a certain ad or marketing opportunity will work for the foreseeable future, something out of your control changes and requires another round of creative brainstorming on how to continue to fill the top of our sales funnel.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Smiling Tree Gifts and Smiling Tree Toys?
We’re a woman-owned, family business specializing in sustainably handcrafted, custom engraved wooden corporate gifts and keepsake toys. We make everything on-site in our red barn woodshop on the Minnesota prairie, from raw lumber to hand cutting, sanding, oiling, engraving, and shipping. Our team is a small, tight-knit, fun-loving crew passionate about what we offer and doing it all as sustainably as absolutely possible.
We use sustainable American hardwoods, organic finishes, minimal/plastic-free packaging, and plant trees for every product we sell.
What started as a small, side-hustle wooden toyshop has blossomed over the past 15 years into a near 7-figure business that offers truly sustainable corporate gifts and toys for people and brands who are searching for long-lasting, earth friendly gifts.
When you choose Smiling Tree Gifts or Smiling Tree Toys, you’ll enjoy exceptional, personalized customer service from our on-site team and a finished product that will knock your socks off. We really are crazy passionate about all of this!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
When it comes to networking, PR, and collaboration opportunities, be open to saying yes. Some of my most valuable mentoring and business friend partnerships have come about because someone I knew mentioned someone they knew, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.smilingtreegifts.com and www.smilingtreetoys.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smilingtreegifts and https://www.instagram.com/smilingtreetoys
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smilingtreegifts and https://www.facebook.com/smilingtreetoys
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-batalden-smith
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@smilingtreegifts133 and https://www.youtube.com/@smilingtreetoys
- Other: https://youtu.be/uxYjRPSS7u0 and https://youtu.be/vWEoQ5uQHEQ
Image Credits
Smiling Tree Toys LLC
