Karen Kennedy. Owner of Firefly Craft Gallery

Five years after first opening the doors for Firefly Craft Gallery, Karen Kennedy is still thrilled to be the owner of a growing business in the center of a bustling Flat Rock business district. With Firefly’s ever-growing cadre of repeat customers, Karen’s shop full of local crafts and artwork has become a go-to destination for shoppers looking for unique gifts and decor.

Karen and Mike Kennedy first bought a home in Flat Rock in 2009 and then left Tampa to live in Flat Rock full-time in 2012. They had been vacationing in the Asheville area for many years and were drawn to the area during those visits. “I like Flat Rock so much,” says Karen.

Once she moved to Flat Rock, Karen turned her attention to a life-long love of antiques and a dream of one day owning her own business. The first step to fulfilling that dream involved a stint at the iconic Wickwire Craft store which was operated in downtown Hendersonville for 16 years by Shirley Palmer-Hill. “I always really wanted my own store, but I didn't really know what kind of store. I just started hanging around downtown and meeting people. And that's how I met Shirley at Wickwire. She taught me everything she knew and I realized that's what I would love to do.”

Fate - as it is often wont to do - soon stepped in and opened a door to Karen’s dream. While driving through “downtown” Flat Rock one day, Mike and Karen noticed that there was a commercial space available for rent next to the Flat Rock Post Office. They immediately made an appointment to see the space and the rest is, as they say, history.

A retired first-grade teacher, Karen has reinvented herself and is thrilled with her new career. When asked which is more demanding - teaching first grade or operating a small business, she laughs. “On days when I’m really busy, they’re about the same. I'm always just “on.” When I come home I’m exhausted. But I love it!”

Spend a few minutes at Firefly and you soon realize that the secret to Karen’s success is the personal relationships she carefully cultivates with the people who walk in the door. “I really like getting to know my customers and knowing more about what they like and want. They asked me about my grandkids and tell me about what’s going on in their lives. It's like having visitors come in the house.” Karen estimates that 75% of her customers live in Flat Rock with the rest a mixture of Henderson County residents and a few tourists.

Karen’s business model is also predicated on her ability to develop relationships with local artists who provide the majority of crafts and arts in the shop. “I love getting to know the artists and I love finding the talent - especially finding someone who just doesn't really know if their creations are something that could sell or not.”

As with most small businesses, Firefly took a serious hit when the pandemic shut down almost all businesses. What had been a very promising start to the new year, suddenly turned into a very daunting challenge. Firefly was closed from mid-March until May. Even when she reopened, Karen was not sure she was doing the right thing. But her customers soon came back and Karen has been encouraged by her customer’s willingness to stay masked while in the small shop. “Everybody's been great and September was a very good month for us.”

American Craft Week is October 2 - 11 and it is the perfect time for Firefly to celebrate another business anniversary. To mark the milestone, Karen is having a sale and there has been a steady stream of customers to kick off the week.

As Karen prepares to embark on her sixth year, she remains optimistic and grateful for the opportunity to pursue her dream. “It's just exciting to see who’s coming through the door I just like buying and selling so much. I think it's in my blood!”

To borrow a line from the Firefly Craft Gallery website, Karen’s shop is certainly the perfect place to find “All the little things that make living beautiful.”

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Learn more at fireflycraftgallery.com

Hours:
Tuesday -Friday 11-4
Saturday 11-3