Business Exploits and Lessons Learned by Kristen Becker in eCommerce Ventures
Kristen Becker, an environmental systems graduate with a diverse background in design, business, and finance, embarked on a unique entrepreneurial journey in 2008. She founded Kir Devries, an ecommerce site specialising in dining and entertaining accessories that were eco-friendly, safe, and ethically produced.
From the outset, Becker took a hands-on approach, handling everything except for outsourcing web coding and SEO. She maintained a strong creative direction while ensuring the business adhered to her ideals. In the day-to-day running of Kir Devries, Becker paid meticulous attention to each element of the business, managing a never-ending list of tasks with dedication and focus.
Becker's inspiration for Kir Devries came from her admiration for other successful ecommerce sites. She would scour the web, dissecting their strategies to build her own ideas for Kir Devries. This approach paid off, as Apartment Therapy described Kir Devries as "one of our new favourite go-to green gift shops".
Running Kir Devries was not just about business, it was also about creativity. Becker attended tradeshows, brainstormed new promotional strategies, developed social media content, and learnt about ecommerce best practices. Her experience with Kir Devries taught her the importance of thorough planning and research.
However, as the business grew, it required more capital to sustain and expand. This became Becker's biggest challenge in the months leading up to her decision to close Kir Devries in 2011.
Today, Becker continues to share her entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge as an instructor at an institution. She teaches marketing design, ecommerce, and graphic design, providing students with insights from her diverse career. Her time with Kir Devries remains a significant part of her journey, offering her an opportunity to combine her interests in design, environmentalism, and business.
Despite limited information available online about Kir Devries, its impact on Becker's career and the ecommerce industry is clear. Her story serves as an inspiration for those looking to combine their passions with entrepreneurship, and to create businesses that are not just profitable, but also sustainable and socially responsible.
Kristen Becker decided to expand her educational pursuits, enrolling in degree programs focused on graphic design and marketing. This decision aimed to enhance her creative direction and marketing strategies for Kir Devries.
In her current role as an instructor, Becker emphasizes the importance of combining passions with entrepreneurship, encouraging students to consider degree programs in education-and-self-development areas like graphic design, business, and environmentalism, just as she did to establish Kir Devries.
