So, you see names like Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams everywhere, right? One’s basically a walking, talking brand, built from, well, being herself, very loudly. The other, an absolute titan on the tennis court, a powerhouse of talent and grit, who also happens to be a massive brand. Totally different paths, same stratosphere of fame. Makes you wonder.
I got to wondering a while back. I had this little side thing going, trying to sell some handmade stuff online. You know, a tiny little shop. And everyone, I mean everyone, keeps yapping about “building your brand! You gotta have a brand!” So, I thought, okay, let’s look at the biggest brands out there. And these two names just kept popping up. So, my “practice,” if you want to call it that, was trying to figure out their secret sauce. What could little old me, with my crocheted coasters, learn from Kim K and Serena?
My Deep Dive into Celebrity Branding…Sort Of
I didn’t exactly enroll in a marketing course. Nah, my research was more like late-night internet rabbit holes. Reading articles, scrolling through feeds, watching a few interviews. Here’s what I thought I was figuring out:
- Kim K: The woman is a genius at getting attention. Any attention. She made a brand out of just… being. Sharing everything. Creating drama, or at least being near it. The hustle is undeniable, though. She’s always selling something.
- Serena: Pure excellence, first and foremost. Years and years of dedication. But also super smart about her image. Powerful, inspiring, but also relatable with her own struggles. She chooses her endorsements carefully, it seems. It’s about legacy.
So, I’m sitting there, thinking, “Okay, how do I apply this to my ‘Brenda’s Baubles’ shop?” My first brilliant idea? Be more like Kim. Share more! So, I posted a picture of my messy craft room. Disaster. My aunt commented, “Dear, are you alright? Do you need me to come over and help you tidy?” Not quite the “raw and real” engagement I was hoping for.
Then I thought, okay, Serena’s angle. Excellence! Quality! I spent like, three weeks perfecting a new coaster design. Poured my heart and soul into it. Took amazing photos. Wrote this super inspiring caption about “the dedication behind each stitch.” Sold one. To my mom. She said it was “very nice, dear.”
The Reality Check Came Knocking
Here’s the thing, right? I was trying to take lessons from people who operate on a completely different planet. It’s like trying to learn how to fly by watching a space shuttle launch. Their scale is just… unimaginable for most of us. Their resources, their teams, the whole damn machine behind them.
I remember telling my husband about my “Kim K marketing strategy” for my Etsy page. He just looked at me, blinked slowly, and asked if I was going to start contouring the cat. That’s when it really hit me. This wasn’t going to work. Not in the way I thought it would.
It’s not that there’s nothing to learn. Ambition is good. Hard work is essential. Knowing who you are trying to reach matters. But trying to copy-paste the playbook of global icons? For selling, you know, artisanal soap dishes? It’s mostly just a recipe for feeling a bit silly.
My little shop is still there. It’s not setting the world on fire. I mostly just post pictures of the things I make now. No grand strategy. And you know what? It’s less stressful. I realized Kim K can be Kim K, and Serena can be Serena. And I can just be Brenda, with her baubles. And that’s probably for the best. Trying to be someone else is exhausting, man. Especially when they’re, you know, them.