It seems almost destiny that Krista Nye Nicholas and Tami Ramsay ended up as business partners bringing their brilliance and beauty to the world with their nationally-recognized interior design studio, boutique trade showroom, and online shop known as CLOTH & KIND.
In this episode, Toma Clark Haines, CEO of the Antiques Diva & Co — the world’s largest antiques touring company – has a chance to visit with Krista and Tami and learn a few of their secrets for this incredibly successful partnership. They truly are a dream team with a design philosophy deeply rooted in their “shared love of creating spaces that are warm, inviting, layered and infinitely livable,” and an origin story written in the stars.
Krista and Tami actively engage their clients in the creative process creating just the magic you might suspect. Serving both residential and commercial clients in their own backyards of Ann Arbor, MI and Athens, GA and throughout the entire country, “CLOTH & KIND offers full service, highly personalized luxury interior design services.”
The two first met on Pinterest (when the platform was in its infancy) chatting online over a pin showing a vintage rattan chaise lounge that Tami had reupholstered in a Susan Hable fabric. Misunderstanding and believing the absolutely gorgeous piece to be for sale, Krisa cried “sold” and, though there was no business transaction to be had that day, a meeting of the minds was made between the two of them, and they continued to converse and develop their friendship online, following each other’s Pinterest boards and design blogs.
They were both independently practicing as interior designers, they were both living in small college towns (albeit in totally different parts of the country), and they had a real shared love and passion for textiles and patterns and design in general — but the two had much in common. They were instant kindred spirits. A year or so after they met on Pinterest, they decided to meet at a design conference and, within just three days, had decided to go into business with one another.
There is one thing they both emphatically agree on. “Alone, neither one of us would have ended up where we are. There’s just no way. It took our combined vision, skill set, design sensibilities, and all that type of thing to get us where we were going,” says Krista. “That’s kind of the beauty of it – in that neither of us alone would have been able to accomplish all of that. It’s almost like a mosaic if you will. I echo what Krista said, our skill sets are very different but very, very complimentary,” adds Tami. Inspired collaboration is what they call it, and it’s kind of magical.
“When we very first met in person at this design conference and decided to go into business together, I came home and was in bed that night with my husband, and he was asking questions, and I almost felt like I had an affair and was like ‘I met somebody and like we’re going to go into business together.’ It was a really really vulnerable scenario and he – because he’s the person that he is – was extremely excited. But, at the same time, he was like, ‘But who is she?’ ” Tami laughs as she shares. “He knows me so well and he couldn’t actually believe I had decided to partner with somebody. And I was like ‘She dreams so big. It’s like it doesn’t even occur to her to be scared. And that was so mind-blowing to me. Because I’ve been very successful by all accounts in my life and have pretty much done anything I wanted to do, but I’ve also chosen things that I knew were also very attainable for me. So it might have appeared that I was being bold, but I was being bold to a degree I was comfortable with. And I was just so taken back by this joie de vivre that she had. I just wanted to scream ‘Why are you not scared?’”
It’s a business marriage of perfectly complementing skill sets. Krista brings her fearlessness and spreadsheet, and true love of the operational and business side of things, while Tami brings to the table what Krista describes as “incredibly detail-oriented, incredibly creative ability to just move through things at warp speed but like still while creating these incredibly beautiful and creative results.”
In her business coaching with antique dealers, Toma is often approached about her thoughts on business partners, and often she finds herself advising against it. Afterall, it can be incredibly hard for there to be two bosses and downright impossible at times for there to be an equal distribution of labor or a shared vision, but hearing Krista and Tami’s story, Toma is reminded of every reason why having a business partner can be good. Be sure and listen to the end to hear all of the exciting things brewing for the future of CLOTH & KIND, and even a few travel recommendations that Toma cannot wait to check out!
Not all partnerships are made in heaven, but this brilliant duo clearly was meant to be. These two driven, and authentic women – along with their team – are filling the world with beauty, creativity, and kindness. When it works, it works! And Krista and Tami are clearly making it work at CLOTH & KIND!
You can find CLOTH & KIND online at their website: clothandkind.com.
If you are a trade member and you want to apply to their showroom, the application is at: shop.clothandkind.com/virtual-showroom. And @clothandkind on pretty much all the social media channels and for the showroom– @clothandkindshowroom
And if you’re still interested in those hotels they told Toma about…
- Alvear Palace in Buenos Aires
- Hotel Magdelena in Austin Texas
SPONSOR - Get Ready to Be Diva-ed - Diva Education that is!!! We’re hosting an Antiques Diva Educational Retreat
Join your hosts Toma Clark Haines - CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co and Gail McLeod, VP Antiques Diva & owner Antique News & Fairs for learning the Business of Antiques.
When: OCTOBER 2-6, 2023
Where: You’ll be based at Hemswell Court Hotel each day visiting world renowned antique fairs, centers and dealers nearby https://www.hemswellcourt.com/
Sunday 1 October, 2023
Arrive England and check into Hemswell Court Hotel Welcome drinks at 6pm courtesy of The Antiques Diva.
* As we anticipate jetlagged guests
- dinner at your own leisure so you can go early to bed!
Monday 2 October, 2023
Meet & Greet fellow tour members in a Welcome to England Brunch with Will Thomas, Managing Director - IACF , Robert Miller, CEO - Hemswell Antiques Center , Richard Burgoin, CEO - Arthur Swallow Fairs as well as get an introduction to art & antiques shippers. In the afternoon we whisk you to a secret destination to not only source accessories but to also discuss the art of selling antiques. We follow the Route to Market learning sales strategies, photography, sales platforms as well as staging and retail merchandising.
Dinner with Top Secret TV Celebrity Guests from British Antiques TV.
Tuesday 3 October, 2023
After an English brekkie at the hotel - we’ll head to the Lincoln Antiques & Home Fair giving you the opportunity to shop til you drop (or at least until lunch time when we head back to the hotel for a full afternoon of educational workshops). This long-standing one-day showground event has avenues, shopping arcades and an indoor area hosting dealers from the UK and Europe.
During our afternoon educational session Margaret Schwartz, founder of Modern Antiquarian gives us the Inside Track on Technology and Logistics in the Antiques Trade. She spearheads a conversation on Inventory Management, Client Presentations and Photography, Sales Cycles, Warehouse Management and Sales Tracking. Toma Clark Haines presents the cash cow for antiques dealers - how to develop relationships with and sell antiques to interior designers.
Dinner- Fish & Chips at Hemswell Court with another celebrated British Television guest from the antiques trade.
Wednesday 4 October, 2023
The early bird gets the worm! Hemswell Antiques Centre – the largest antiques center in Europe - gives our retreat attendees Early Bird access. Shop the morning hours before Hemswell opens to the trade. And then spend the day shopping the centers vast of array dealers specializing in everything from period antiques to vintage fun finds - and everything in between - arts, garden, kitchenalia, jewelry and even Asian antiques!
Late afternoon we sit down with Scott & Amanda Herring of La Petite Maison Antiques to discuss how social media launched their business followed up with a talk about PR for Antique Dealers by New York City Interior Design Publicist Andrew Joseph of AJPR.
The evening is capped off with cocktails with John Hansord of Hansord Antiques as we talk about the Classical Antiques - a Lesson in Quality and Craftsmanship.
Thursday 5 October, 2023
Happy Shopping!
Today we shop at the world famous Newark Antiques Fair Europe’s largest antiques fair. You’ll find everything from fine antique furniture to teacups, jewelry, ceramics, garden antiques and vintage clothing. Whether you’re looking for Country House Furniture or art de la table this fair has got you covered.
After returning to the hotel, sit down with your hosts Toma Clark Haines and Gail Mcleod for an Optional Q&A on next steps for propelling your antiques business forward and maximizing your profits. Toma & Gail continue in the evening with a workshop on How to Source and Ship Antiques in the EU and England.
Having seen firsthand how the smooth running operation at Hemswell Antiques functions- Robert Miller CEO Hemswell Antiques and Paul Dagg Director of Operations join to give an inside scoop on How Tech Supports The Business of Antiques.
Friday 6 October 2023
You can’t visit England without visiting a famous country house. Enjoy a tour of Doddington Hall a family-owned and run Elizabethan Manor House with Flemish tapestries and walled garden. Or see the actual Magna Carta at Lincoln Cathedral
That concludes PART 1 of the Diva
Educational Retreat.
Program Costs Included:
- 5 nights hotel, single occupancy
- Daily breakfast and dinner, exclusive of beverages (except arrival night)
- Ground transport to external events
- Educational Workshops with Expert Guests
- Visits to Fairs and Antiques Center
3900 GBP Single Occupancy
*Discount available for Double Occupancy
3500 GBP Early Bird Discount if booked before May 1, 2023
Maximize Your Time And Join for Part 2:
Delegates have the opportunity to join for an Optional Add On 3 Day Antiques Buying Tour in London and the South of England.
Optional 3 Day Add On Antiques Diva Tour
(pricing based upon regular Antiques Diva day tour pricing, email to inquire [email protected])
Friday 6 October 2023
Take the train to London, approximately 2 hours.
The Diva Antiques Buying Tour Overview, London and South.
This Diva Buying Tour, with the inclusion of the central London show, covers many of our key trade hotspots.
Saturday 7 October 2023
Take in a celebrated decorative antiques and interior design fair in London before heading South for private visits to our selected Antiques Diva trusted vendors working with the trade.
Sunday 8 October 2023
Spend the day in a Victorian Gothic Country Estate with one of our top sources for decorative and garden antiques as we shop for antiques followed by a Lunch and Learn where we discuss the secret to success in the antiques trade - staying ahead of the curve, the importance of building a lifestyle brand and why your sales platform should include #morethanantiques.
Monday 9 October 2023
Kick the day off with a down and dirty to the trade only 8 building collective of antiques dealers specializing in export to the US trade market. Learn paint techniques and a high level overview on the art of restoration. Mid afternoon meet a Legend of The Trade for a talk about his illustrious career and celebrate his 50th anniversary selling antiques in this 16th C Elizabethan storefront. 5 Floors of perfection in antiques shopping from the master, who knows the US antiques trade inside out.
End of Tour.
Note: Transportation from Lincolnshire to London by train at guests' own cost.
Contacts:
Toma Clark Haines CEO - The Antiques Diva & Co
[email protected] +393883476032
