Laurel Mayrs, owner of Kays & Co., launched a new website for her local online business with the help from Digital Service Squad expert, Taylor Hardekopf.
Having a user-friendly website was important to Mayrs for her customers’ experience, and the website will help her product line reach a larger audience. Customers pick out a cap or toque, and then request a design for the custom-made badge on the hat.
After she had her first born, she often found very specific “mommy and me” designs and felt her business would allow for personal creativity from the person ordering, whether it’s a matching set or not.
“I struggled to find a simplistic style that was affordable and local. It was a great opportunity for people to custom-order headwear to give their children or people in their life,” says the mother of two. “It’s a meaningful gift that people can order for their loved ones.”
Mayrs wanted to build a website for a really long time but realized there’s a lot that goes into making an e-commerce site. Hardekopf was able to work with Mayrs and her husband to set up a website that fit the brand and showed Mayrs how to edit and update the website.
“We would never have been able to do it as quickly as him. Anything I asked, Taylor had an answer for. He’s very knowledgeable in this area and was interested and committed to my business. We had the same want, which was to see the growth and success in my business. That was really nice,” says Mayrs.
Not only was Mayrs able to have a full website designed, she left every meeting with more knowledge about the digital space. Hardekopf shared tips and resources that would have taken much more time for Mayrs to research herself.
“I hope this program can keep going, because it really does help small businesses. It gives us the points we need to succeed. I think the biggest part of his knowledge is seeing the same excitement I have in seeing my business evolve from him. It’s been really amazing and special,” says the business owner.
The Kays & Co., name is inspired by Mayrs and her husband’s first born son, Kaysen, and her husband is supportive and helpful when it comes to running the business. They started ordering materials in spring 2021, and by November, the store officially launched.
“I made the decision to give the dream a try and create a custom style for headwear.”
Check out Kays & Co. online at kaysandco.ca and on Instagram!
Learn more about our Digital Service Squad here.
