Meet Nicholas & K’teonia Gunder | The CEO’S Of K.Gunder Tools LLC.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicholas & K’teonia Gunder and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicholas & K’teonia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
One day while crafting, an idea came to mind. We wanted to have our own tools and knew this could be something big. We also knew it could impact our community in such a great way and inspire other black crafters because it’s not many of us. That’s when K. Gunder Tools was born. K. Gunder Tools was established to create a legacy and safe haven for all craft creatives, whether you are new in business or seasoned.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are proud to make history as the first African American crafting company to produce its own die-cutting tools. These tools can be used for weeding vinyl when using any die-cutting machine. We have been in business a little over a month and a half and have shipped to over 11 states. We pride ourselves on delivering great customer service, great designs, and fast shipping. It wasn’t always easy getting everything together for this business as we had a lot of bumps and bruises, a lot of ups and downs, and a lot of money being spent on unnecessary things. However, it was all a part of the process, and going through this process allowed us to learn the different sides of the business. It also showed us how it’s never good to rush.

We were able to overcome all the challenges and barriers that were sent our way. We studied. We had long nights of no sleep. We even had days where it just seemed like we lost our way, but we never gave up. We always kept our eyes on the prize and kept going. We can definitely say, “the moment you give up is the moment you’ve lost.” My husband always says, “Giving up is never an option.” Some advice that we would like to share with others that we feel helped us along the way are just a few simple phrases: The same energy that you use for self-pity, you can put into yourself so you can have a successful business. Be coachable, ask the questions that most people are afraid to ask. Remember to keep your eyes on your own paper! Stay focused and remember procrastination do not exist in the same room as success. Align yourself with success, be disciplined, and know that you are going to have challenging days, but this isn’t a race. It’s a marathon, and you must continue.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our favorite spots in the city to hang out at are the Old lady gang; it’s a restaurant on peter street in Atlanta, Ga. The food is good, and the vibe is everything. For drinks, we like to hang out at the Tambou lounge in Mcdonogh ga; it’s a nice lounge with great drinks and a laid-back vibe. We recently moved to Atlanta’s outskirt, so we have a lot more of getting out to do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We would love to shout out our loving parents Essie & Bobby Gunder and Kenyatta & Lorenzo Warren, Our Beautiful Kids Masiah and Mason Gunder. Our Wonderful Publicist Danyel Mcbride, MBA., Our Amazing Life/Family Coach Donald Williams, one of our family friends Jerry Paige and last but not least, Our brand ambassadors. Alexius Wright, Paige Driver, Breanna Brown, Latresia Hunter, Zya Wimberly, Destini Battle, Amrita Dhatt, Vanessa Jones, Lakeisha Parrish. We are very thankful for every one of you guys.

Website: www.kgundertools.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kgundertools/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KGunderToolsllc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KGunder-Tools-113054970496385

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVb-nWO70pTsFtXfx6R0bg

Image Credits
DaRika Harris Chase Photography