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Taking a Look at How Modern Entrepreneurs Work & Live!

Kathy Kelly has been drawing cats in everyday situations for years. Kelly's first drawing of a cat emerged back in seventh grade when she drew a comical portrait of a cat from behind. She continued to draw the cat as her signature design in her friends' yearbooks over the next couple of years.

The core academic requirements of high school did not allow Kelly to take many art classes. Therefore, she designed sets for school plays as a creative outlet. Once in college, she began drawing her cartoons again. She had a friend color and matte them, and then Kelly would sell them for a little extra money.

Kelly received her bachelor's degree in Art Education from Southern Illinois University and then a Masters in Art Management. She went on to teach at the high school level. After ten years of teaching, she decided to take a year of absence without pay, a risk that would soon pay off. She wanted to start a business based on her designs, so she went to Dallas, Texas and put her drawings in a gift show. She has never looked back.

In 1991, Kelly established Kats By Kelly as a full-time business. Her focal design is a black cat modeled after the first cat she ever owned. Kelly later realized that she had subconsciously named her cat Bridget, after her grandmother whom she credits for inspiration.

Kelly now licenses her graphics to several companies. Her designs are featured on notepads, calendars, mouse pads, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and ball caps. A company that specializes in cross-stitch patterns has even adapted her designs. She is currently working on a 2002 calendar, due out in June.

Kelly learned that, unlike in the U.S., a black cat is a sign of good luck in Ireland. Therefore, in the next year, she hopes to establish a line of greeting cards in Ireland. She will be traveling there this summer in search of contacts to start the greeting card line. She will also use the trip as an exploratory study of places to bring other artists for landscape design, a fine art talent that Kelly has as well.

Kelly says that some of the challenges she has faced as an entrepreneur are managing her time, controlling her business, and not allowing it to control her. At one time, Kelly had as many as thirty sales reps selling her work. Now, she has streamlined the business with only a few sales people and subcontractors.

Currently, Kelly works out of her office in Niles, Illinois. Her work can be viewed at a gallery in Oak Park. She also utilizes a section of storefront window space through a non-profit organization called Expression Graphics. One can purchase Kelly's designs from her Internet site, www.katsbykelly.com.

Kelly says that almost 70% of her sales come from repeat customers. A majority of the situations depicted in her drawings come from stories that her customers have told her. Other situations are inspired by occurrences with her cat. Contrary to popular belief, Kelly says she only owns one cat.

When asked what her professional success has made possible, Kelly says that she is the most proud of her house. The size is just right for her and it reminds her of a cottage in Wisconsin. She decorates it with art pieces by a variety of artists. Kelly also enjoys the  ability to travel whenever she wants. She likes being able to take her nephews skiing in Vail when she chooses.

Kelly also appreciates being able to choose her own work hours. She says that some days she may work eighteen hours, and others only two. She says, "I can work part-time and get paid full-time." However, Kelly says that being an entrepreneur is not for everyone. "You have to be willing to take a chance when you don't know what's going to happen next."

Kelly says that the women in her family have played an integral part in inspiring her to become an entrepreneur. Although they did not run businesses themselves, they did come to America, from Ireland, by themselves. Kelly's grandmother was the first of five girls to venture to the U.S. without any notion of what her fate would be.

When asked what advice she would give to an aspiring entrepreneur, Kelly said, "Never say never. You do not know when the tide will change. I do not like when people say 'should have.' If you try your best and fall on your nose, at least you will have tried."