Women in Business: Chelsey of Kansas City Black-Owned

Words by: Maggie Laubscher | Music by: Abby Yemm

If you’re not following Kansas City Black-Owned (KCBO) on Instagram, go do so now. Founder Chelsey is a female entrepreneur with a vision. She is also a delight to be around, with an enthusiasm and drive that are irresistible. Chelsey started her business the same way many do: she noticed a problem and found a solution. With KCBO, she aims to raise up Black-owned businesses in KC. She aims to amplify their presence. She aims to make connections that will snowball. And she is succeeding. 

When Chelsey started KCBO in July 2020, she just wanted to know where to shop Black-owned. From there, her vision caught on and grew and continues to expand. At its core, KCBO is a (powerful) modern day phone book. It lets people easily shop local + Black-owned. It helps people invest in Black-owned businesses near them. It helps these businesses not just stay alive but also thrive. As the KCBO website proudly reminds us, ‘There is nothing better than shopping locally and supporting your community.’

Read on to learn more about Chelsey, KCBO, and how to help amplify her mission. 

Where did the idea for Kansas City Black-Owned originate? 

Okay, so question of the year, right? 

Yes! Details, please. 

Last July, my husband and I were looking for a place to eat. We wanted to support Black-owned businesses, especially with all of the injustice going on. So we started looking for a directory. One hour later, we hadn’t found anything. 

I couldn’t shake that experience. It really frustrated me that we couldn’t find anything. My husband looks at me and says, ‘Well, what are we going to do?’ And that was it, that's all she wrote! I decided to start an online page where people could search for Black-owned brands in KC, like a modern day phone book. Something to access quickly, right at your fingertips, that’s clear and concise. 

I love that. Do you see it as a side project or something more? 

I hope the latter, eventually. Everything that I've done thus far has been from passion. I went, ‘Okay, here's a problem. I think I have a solution.’ But I’m looking forward to it becoming bigger. I'm a firm believer in God and I really trust that he will pave the way for me.

It’s really about time management, which I am very strong at. But it's definitely been challenging. I'm also writing a dissertation right now. I'm in school, I'm a newlywed, and I just started this business. 

Do you like being an entrepreneur? 

I love being an entrepreneur. I love, love, love the connections I've made. I am a people person. Did I always think I would be an entrepreneur? No. I always thought I would be a teacher. But with the shutdown from Covid-19, I think a lot of us have had the time to develop and grow in our craft in different ways.

Through KCBO, I've met a variety of people of all ages, all doing what they believe is the best for them. I love helping them. They throw out ideas, like, ‘What about this?’ And I get to help. With my background in teaching, I used to work as a literacy coach. And now I’m a coach for businesses, too. That is one avenue that KCBO is looking to expand, in fact.  

How have you coped during the stresses of the pandemic? 

Oh wow. Well, KCBO has been a really good outlet for me. So many small businesses, they put everything into their business. To know that I’ve been helping them, it means everything. A lot of small businesses have older owners. A lot of them don't know how to utilize Instagram or update their Google Accounts to be listed as a Black-owned business, which helps them get found more easily. I help with that. Because if small businesses are going to survive, they need the next generation. 

I’m connecting people to other people all the time. I've had college students reach out to me and say, ‘I want to be a lawyer, but I don't know any Black lawyers.’ And I can list three businesses off the top of my head to them. 

What's the hardest part of being an entrepreneur?

I would say developing fresh content. You want to make sure that what you're putting out there is helpful for everyone and you always have to have fresh ideas. I look at data a lot. I know Instagram pretty well at this point. Before I started KCBO, a family member was starting a business and to help them out, I taught myself all about social media. That’s another way God maneuvers these puzzle pieces together to help you in life. By the time I had the idea of KCBO, I already knew so much. 

Where do you envision yourself in five years? 

In five years, I'm going to be a mama. I know I'll still be teaching, too, and KCBO will be really big. Maybe we’ll have KCBO festivals, business panels, partnerships. We’ll be the one-stop shop for people who want to start a business. That's where I see us.

Who is a person who inspires you in your life?

My inspiration is the business owners. They have so much determination. They are there when you show up every day. They’re holding onto their dream and their goals in life. It’s very admirable. Especially after what we went through last year. 

What would you say your proudest accomplishment is?

The directory, the directory, the directory. It's a lot of work and took a lot of late nights. But it’s out there and growing every day. We’re almost at 150 businesses listed in it now. 

Your mantra?

Slay, sis! 

Your theme song.

I don't know if you saw Beyonce’s Coachella special on Netflix, but it’s the song she walks out to. It’s her initial walkout called, ‘Welcome’ with different songs mixed in.

An Abby Yemm playlist for you…

Disclaimer: We love having these conversations. We hope you love them as well. As a peaceful reminder, all views, opinions, statements, feelings, and vibes posted on Nelle News are solely those of the beautiful individuals involved. They might not represent any other person, agency, organization, employer, or company’s views, opinions, statements, feelings, or vibes. Nelle profiles are meant to entertain and show a real-life conversation; nothing more or less. 

maggie laubscher