08/18/2026
Sharing a post from one of my dearest vendor friends. As someone who has also experienced having my years of learning, trials and errors, my hard work that ultimately ended in my business being copied…multiple times. I know all to well where Kelly is coming from.
Just because there may be room for you at the table, doesn’t mean you earned your seat.
And I FULLY STAND 10 TOES DOWN, on while you may see imitation as flattery, ORIGINALITY wins every time. So copy all you want… you’re missing the biggest part of the plan. I AM THE ONLY ME and that can’t be duplicated!
I want to start off by saying this: If I offend anyone, that’s okay. This is me—Kelly. This is not you. I am allowed to speak my mind on here about myself, my animals, and my small business.
I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, and today, this is mainly about my small business.
I am a small business owner here in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and I have worked hard to turn my business into something very special to me.
I started Carolina Coast Creations in 2024 with a small journey in mind. I live with TBITD—Traumatic Brain Injury Trauma Disorder, and my journey has played a huge part in why I wanted to create this business.
My passion wasn't simply about selling something. ❤️
I wanted to see the passion in other people as they discovered their own creativity—choosing beads, colors, charms, and embellishments to create their own keychain, pen, bookmark, badge reel, and so much more.
I truly believe God kept me here for this journey—to travel, create, meet people, hear their stories, and learn something from every person who crosses my path.
Sometimes I joke that I'm like a cat with nine lives. 🐾 But maybe that's God's way of continuing to tell me, "You're still here. Keep going. You're doing something good with this journey." 🙏❤️
But I also want to be truthful…
There are days when I don't believe in myself.
There are days when I struggle with motivation and wonder where my small business is going. Trying to make a name for yourself and build something from the ground up isn't always easy.
Don't get me wrong—I LOVE what I do with Carolina Coast Creations. 🎨❤️
What becomes frustrating is watching others try to become like you instead of finding what makes them special.
It is frustrating when someone comes into your booth or tent, takes pictures or videos of your products, and then you later see ideas that look awfully familiar.
It's frustrating when you feel like you can't attend certain festivals or events because someone else will be there doing something similar.
Those frustrations are real.
Yes, sometimes there is enough room for everyone.
But there also needs to be respect.
We need more patience.
We need more kindness.
We need more honesty.
We need more respect for one another's creativity.
And most importantly, we each need to discover our own niche.
Being inspired by someone is one thing. Trying to duplicate what makes another person's business unique is something entirely different.
Life is always going to hand us lemons. 🍋 The question is: What are YOU going to make with yours?
I'm still learning. I'm still growing. I'm still creating. I'm still figuring out where this journey is taking me.
And I'm going to keep reminding myself why I started.
❤️ Be adventurous in YOUR own mind—not someone else's.
Find what makes YOU different.
Find what makes YOU creative.
Find what makes YOU passionate.
Then build something you can proudly call your own.
Carolina Coast Creations
✨ Come explore your creativity… one masterpiece at a time. ✨
