We had the good fortune of connecting with Kassandra-Ashley Rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kassandra-Ashley, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Community. Consistency. Cheer(s).

While I’m continuing to expand my community, I’ve already created a wonderful trusting group of friends and clients. I’m grateful for them loving my art, sharing it with their loved ones, and recommending me to paint their home portraits or special occasion cards. My community isn’t only my customers, it’s my besties. My gal pals are the absolute best and we believe in community over competition. We are constantly collaborating, sending our profiles to other small businesses, and so on.

Consistency is a big word for me and has been what pushed me to where I am today. I created a TikTok for KASH Collections, where I mostly post card tutorials. From constantly posting, tagging other brands, and showing up, TikTok reached out to me about becoming part of their TikTok Impact program that highlights small businesses around the country. We all know the algorithm sucks, just keep posting!!

I always thought I was a glass-half-empty kind of girl, but I have a cheery positive mindset and know that everything will be okay, even if at first I need to freak out. I also celebrate the little wins, usually with a “cheers” followed by a sip of a nice cold beer.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
KASH Collections is an original art and gift shop known for loose doodles around watercolor portraits and cute punny cards. KASH is a combination of my first name, Kassandra-Ashley. I like to think KASH is my cool alter-ego.

I started painting and sold my art at craft fairs in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba around 2012. When my family moved to Dover in 2015, I pretty much stopped painting until December 2020 when I needed thoughtful handmade gifts. I normally painted with acrylic on canvas but for whatever reason, I was drawn to watercolor, and painted cards and a home portrait. Then, in the spring my college was acquired by another and someone asked me to paint some Wesley College scenes. I decided after that order that I needed to become a business. I grabbed my laptop, created my initial branding, Instagram, Facebook, website, and ordered supplies.

Since this, I have grown into the most beautiful small business community. We are always planning events, coordinating drops, and supporting each other to the fullest. Being a small business owner and working a typical 9-5 is not easy. It’s really all about time management, being transparent with customers, and knowing that everything will be okay.

I love my art because of the loose outlines, swiggles, and doodles around my watercolor. Art is so powerful and knowing that my art has brought happy tears and smiles to hundreds or even thousands of people is a great feeling.

You can also shop KASH Collections in person if shopping online isn’t for you. Pop ups are announced on my social platforms. You can find some of my art in Golden Poppy in Dover, Peachy Keen Salon and Junebug’s Boutique in Milford.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Dover, Delaware doesn’t have as much to do as the rest of the state and that’s okay. We have so much fun living here and it’s so close to so much. One of my absolute favorite hobbies is drinking beer and writing about my experiences in Here for Beer. I would take my friends to Fordham and Dominion Brewing Company on either a Tuesday night for BINGO or a Thursday night for Trivia. If they’re visiting during the first Friday of the month, we would go for a beer release. They have food trucks from time to time, but I’d opt for Restaurant 55 any day of the week- besides Sunday or Monday because they’re closed. I always get an avocado burger with their homemade chips and extra pepper relish.

If a friend was staying for a week, we’d probably drive down to the beaches to check out local shops and of course, try more beer. My favorite breweries down there are Big Oyster Brewery and Dewey Beer Company. Big Oyster has great food, beer, and a large outdoor area with games. Dewey Beer Company is known for their fruit beers that taste like smoothies

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh my gosh, there are so many people who have inspired and supported me that I cannot thank them enough. I have to give a huge shout out to my bestie gals who listen to all my 7am brainstorm voice messages, help me with product photos, and give me the best small business community a new entrepreneur could ask for.

Thank you Austin and family for your endless love. Y’all believed in me before I believed in me.

Big thanks to TikTok Impact for making me a #TikTokPartner and Hannah Stelter from Scribble Lady Co. for our glass dip pen partnership.

Massive thanks to everyone who has supported me as an artist and pushed me to start KASH Collections. Support is much more than buying from my shop and y’all always show up for me. I wouldn’t be where I am without any of y’all. Thank you!!

    

Website: originalkashcollections.com and hereforbeer.wixsite.com/home

Instagram: instagram.com/originalkashcollections/ and instagram.com/officialhereforbeer/

Facebook: facebook.com/originalkashcollections

Other: tiktok.com/@originalkashcollections pinterest.com/originalkashcollections

Image Credits
Chicka Artistica and Liz Martinez Creations

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