Ditmas Park Designer Uses Kickstarter to Back Business

Kimberly Lewis has thought of a nifty way to back her second collection of boutique wallpaper, pillows and fabric: popular crowd-funding website Kickstarter. 

The local designer had received high praise for her inaugural collection last year, but when she set out to design a second batch, she knew she would need some financial help. 

"I was really excited to put out another collection, and people have been asking me when I would," said Lewis, who has lived in Ditmas Park for two years and in Brooklyn since she attended the Pratt Institute to study Industrial Design. 

"But the collection and company [Kimberly Lewis Home] is entirely self-funded, all from personal savings. I thought, since there was such an interest the first time, why not look at a funding platform?"

She has pledged to collect $8,000 by Aug. 11 on the website, a goal that she must meet in order to keep any funds that have been donated thus far. 

"If I don't get 100 percent funded by Aug. 11, it all goes back," she said. "If I receive 100 percent or more, then everyone's credit cards will be charged. Kickstarter takes a percentage of the funds, but it's not much."

So far, she has collected $625, but isn't too worried about the outcome. "[Getting the word out] has been like a full-time job, actually," she said. "I wasn't sure what to expect, but people seem to be really interested in it." 

She noted that while she stands to benefit greatly from meeting her goal, this campaign will also help others. "I think it's really important and really exciting to invest in local businesses, like a business in Ditmas Park," she said. "I think it's exciting to see someone from the beginning grow and succeed."

Lewis added that everything is made locally, through manufacturers in New York City and Hoboken, N.J., so by supporting her business, donors support local manufacturers as well.

Donors also receive gifts for donating certain amounts, with pledge gifts increasing in size as the amount of money pledged increases, The largest pledge gift is a custom wallpaper designed for the individual who pledges $1,000 or more. 

"I'm a one woman business; it's just me doing what I love, doing my passion," she said.