Meet Penny Byrd | Information Technology Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Penny Byrd and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Penny, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Kreative Dedicated Moguls (KDM) Popup is a mother (Penny) and daughter (Ashley) team. Penny and Ashley merged their retail and marketing skillsets to create KDM Popup.

Ashley started her retail fashion business Mlove because she saw a need for women to be confident dressing classy and sexy in a tasteful manner as herself. To promote her brand, she attended various popups.

Penny on the other hand always wanted to start a business helping others while utilizing her Information Technology skillset. Penny and Ashley merged their skillsets. This is how KDM Popup was started.

KDM Popup is the Mlove store but there is a twist. The owners wanted to help other small businesses by promoting them through both retail and marketing. As a result small businesses are allowed to sell their items in KDM’s uniquely designed storefront, while marketing their brand through KDM’s online platform.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our business promotes small businesses through our vendor and marketing services. What sets us apart is that we provide a unique boutique storefront that allows the small businesses to sell their products or utilize the storefront for business events to further promote their brand. All small businesses that serve some sort of capacity are marketed through our online platform. This platform entails the KDM Virtual store, a place for consumers to shop small businesses and also find out the latest in small business announcements/news.

Local small businesses that have a physical location also need marketing within their facility so we provide digital signage installation services. What sets us apart is that we create/customize the digital signage content for these local small businesses.

We realize that a newly established small business does not know where to begin so there is the whole KDM Experience that entails promoting small businesses through other aspects of marketing; website design/development and branding (logos and business cards).

KDM is able to achieve all of these services because of Penny and Ashley’s professional career. Ashley handles the retail/vendor side. She has managed major retail stores for a number of years so her experience lures the customers into the boutique due to the boutique’s unique trendy fashionable look. She is the store’s buyer and manager. She handles the day to day operations and determines what vendor is cohesive and the best fit for the Mlove brand.

As far as the marketing side, Penny has worked in Information Technology over 20 years as a software programmer and website designer/developer for the government and 10 years as a business analyst for a fortune 500 company. These two CEO’s have faced challenges of exposure but have overcome them through their great marketing team of close family members and mentors.

We have learned that you cannot do this by yourself and it is ok to ask others. However, in the final analysis you are the one with the vision and no one understands that but you. We want people to know that we are a small business that are proud to have helped other small businesses on their journey to being Moguls. We have been blessed and want to be a blessing to others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
KDM Popup is located in Richland MS, a small town of Rankin county. We have received so much love from the community. There are so many fun things to do in the Rankin County community; shop, eat, and take in a concert. You can’t come to Rankin County without shopping at the stores within Mississippi’s popular malls, the Outlets of MS and Dogwood Mall.

We know that a lot of shopping brings on an appetite. Corban’s New Orleans restaurant is a great place to eat with that taste and feel of traditional New Orleans. It is a family friendly restaurant located in Richland. Another hot spot to eat is McClain Safari. Just as it sounds, you eat a home cooked meal while overlooking nature and wildlife animals. Again the atmosphere is family oriented because everyone is excited about the animal safari scenery.

For entertainment, the newly built Brandon Amphitheater is a must. When visiting the city, make sure there is a concert going on in this facility. You won’t be disappointed because every view is a great one and the sound is clear. It is a very enjoyable experience.

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?
I (Penny) have to give a shoutout to my entire family. Me and my sister are Air Force military brats. I remember throughout our childhood we would travel to various bases in the states and overseas. My parents made sure to find us a church home. This was number one priority. It has and is my foundation. My family is blessed and I want to bless others.

Of course a shoutout to my daughter Ashley, co-owner of KDM, because if it wasn’t for her taking the initiative in starting her business we wouldn’t be here. She provides encouragement and business savvy to KDM. What initially started out to promote small businesses through vendor services, marketing services were added to the equation. It was Ashley’s idea to bring my Information Technology (IT) skillset to the business. This lead from website design to marketing businesses through our online platform, instore digital signage, digital signage installation, business cards and logos.

Last but not least, I have to give a shoutout to my very supportive husband because he is the backbone that had the contacts to put the store’s physical transition into motion.

Website: https://kdmpopup.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KdmPopup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdmpopup

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kdm-popup-richland