Friends don’t let friends have bad product photography: Kimberly's first year
Team Letter | May 2, 2023
Hi Team!
It’s a special edition of our Team Letter today, because today’s a special day. Happy first anniversary at Alpaca, Kimberly!!! I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what a big deal today is for our company, and for me personally.
When you’re starting a company, nothing makes it feel more real than the day your first employee starts. At Alpaca, that was one year ago today, when our head of marketing, chief storyteller, and queen of creative Kimberly Bailey showed up to shape our company in immeasurable ways.
It actually dates back to Day 1 of Alpaca, when Kimberly showed up to my basement with her camera because “friends don’t let friends have bad product photography.” From that very first pack, Kimberly has applied her keen eye and made it look more polished, more professional, and more fun than I ever could have imagined. It made me feel like we were building something real, even though I was just in my basement with a box of supplies and thank-you notes.
One of my favorite compliments that I hear about Alpaca is “I can’t believe you’re only a year old – your website and social media makes you look like such a big company!” It’s the product, the creativity, the way teachers show up shining - that’s some Kimberly Bailey magic right there.
But of course, her work goes beyond marketing. By nature of a startup, employee #1 always transcends the role they’re filling. Kimberly builds our culture, from how we onboard new team members (with a photo shoot and their “four forever favorites,” of course!), to how our office welcomes our customers and team, to how we show up for and with members of our community.
I’m grateful for all of it – but I’m perhaps most grateful that a year ago, educators everywhere gained a powerful storyteller in Kimberly Bailey. I watch Kimberly help teachers see themselves as the powerful professionals they are - she brings out confidence, joy, and pride in each teacher’s work she captures. When you see those teachers shining through our brand, it’s Kimberly bringing out the best in each one.
On a personal note, part of Kimberly’s self-appointed mission in the past year has been to bring out confidence in me as a founder and leader. I’m not always comfortable in front of the camera or hosting a party or shouting from the rooftops what we’re doing, but Kimberly’s unique style of gently pushing me toward telling our story, while bringing out confidence in me (and each of us) personally has been a gift.
At Alpaca, two of our company values are “Tell Stories” and “Bring out the Best.” I don’t know that I could have imagined our first employee embodying those two values as fully and completely as our own Kimberly Bailey.
Thank you Kimberly for bringing out the best in each of us, and in our company. I can’t wait to see what the next year will bring us!!!
♥,
KB