Kati Kim from doe

MFMworkShop interviews shop owners that specialize in handmade items and independent designers.

Our first interview was with Kati Kim, owner of doe, in San Francisco. She shares with us her answers to our most pressing questions!


Why or how did you decide to start your shop?
I left my teaching career shortly before the birth of my first child. I knew I didn't want to go back to teaching, as it didn't leave me the flexibility to stay at home with young children. Opening a dress shop had been a long-time dream. After a year and a half as a stay-at-home mom I opened doe.

How long have you been in business?
A little over 2 years

What does doe specialize in?
Clothing and accessories by independent designers, especially designers from the Bay Area and the West Coast.

Describe your ideal (or even your 'typical') customer.
Typical customer is female, age 25-40. Wants something unique, well-made, and not overly trendy.

What is the retail environment like in your neck of the woods? Are you in a groovy shopping district, a college town, big city?
Lower Haight is kind of known as an artist community. There aren't a lot of other women's clothing boutiques in the vicinity, so we have a very loyal neighborhood following.

What are some of your favorite things at the shop right now? What seems to be the customer favorites?
Personal favorite: Zoe Chicco rosegold jewelry, anything by Woo.
Customer favorites: ModaSpia and She-bible dresses.

Are there any products that you don't carry now but would like to?
I'd love to bring in another candle line, but I haven't found one (other than Red Flower) that matches the store aesthetic, has great packaging, and excellent scents.

How do you find your inventory? Do you attend trade shows, work with reps, scour the web?
Fashion Magazines, reps, web research.

What are some of the biggest challenges shops like yours face?
Not overspending on in-coming inventory. There is just so much great stuff out there!

What are the BEST things about your job?
Seeing the clothes 6 months before everyone else does. Working with artists and designers to create custom goods for the shop.

How do you promote your shop? Do you employ any interesting or unusual means to get noticed?
Direct-marketing via e-mail and postcards to mailing-list members.

Has your website helped your business?
Website has helped us immensely. We launched an e-commerce site late last summer, and it has really taken our business to the next level. (Visit doe online at www.doe-sf.com)

Do you have any noteworthy (famous!) clients or customers?
Neko Case recently purchased some stuff from us.

What advice would give to someone who was considering going down a similar path - wanting to open their own shop?
Do it!

What advice would you give to someone who would like to get their products into shops like yours?
Be persistant - but not pushy. We get such a high volume of sales material/calls that it's impossible to go through all of it. Sometimes someone has to e-mail us and send printed materials before we finally bite, even if it's a good fit. Definitely know a little about the store before you try and sell stuff.

Try and find a good fit. Make sure the buyer is excited about the product. Send samples when
possible. _Don't_ request the samples back.

Thanks for your time!
My pleasure!

Visit Kati's shop on the web at www.doe-sf.com or in person at:
doe
629-a Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
ph: 415-558-8588