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| Kenneth Wingard: CEO Shares Secrets to Success by: Herndon L. Davis |
But life wasn’t exactly as rosy as he might have envisioned in this city by the bay. Kenneth was unemployed for six months before finally landing a job as a telephone operator at
William Sonoma.
Although the position may not have been the most ideal position for his background, still Kenneth seemed to make it work. Eight years later he voluntarily left the company as director
of accessories at Pottery Barn to give birth to his own corporate vision.
So what does Kenneth attribute to his success at William Sonoma/Pottery Barn?
“A lot of it was right place right time. Then there was a position opening for an assistant buyer that I begged and begged and begged for and I finally got. Then a year later my buyer
left the company and they didn’t replace her for a year so I was sorta running the department.” Soon after that a Pottery Barn redesign occurred with new store openings which
eventually resulted in a promotion for Kenneth.
Eventually after having been there and done that, Kenneth noticed his tastes began to change differently from that of Pottery Barn. “Eventually I sort of outgrew the setup, my personal
aesthetic starting going in a different direction. As Pottery Barn got bigger and bigger their designs got more conservative. As I got older and more sophisticated with design mine got a
little bit more modern. And I also realized that I had been so used to doing my own thing that once again I started getting bored with the big corporate life” he adds.
Starting his new company was only the easy part. Now Kenneth had to continuously create a new collection, sell it to potential clients, and then finance the entire operation pushing it
through manufacturing and then distributing his products to buyers. This wasn’t exactly an easy fete for a one person operation.
“I credit most of my success to my original stupidity” Kenneth chuckles referring to the fact that he did not do any market research before jumping into his new venture. He stated that
if he had done the research and studied all of the challenges that would eventually lie before him, that he probably wouldn’t have started the business.
William Sonoma.
Although the position may not have been the most ideal position for his background, still Kenneth seemed to make it work. Eight years later he voluntarily left the company as director
of accessories at Pottery Barn to give birth to his own corporate vision.
So what does Kenneth attribute to his success at William Sonoma/Pottery Barn?
“A lot of it was right place right time. Then there was a position opening for an assistant buyer that I begged and begged and begged for and I finally got. Then a year later my buyer
left the company and they didn’t replace her for a year so I was sorta running the department.” Soon after that a Pottery Barn redesign occurred with new store openings which
eventually resulted in a promotion for Kenneth.
Eventually after having been there and done that, Kenneth noticed his tastes began to change differently from that of Pottery Barn. “Eventually I sort of outgrew the setup, my personal
aesthetic starting going in a different direction. As Pottery Barn got bigger and bigger their designs got more conservative. As I got older and more sophisticated with design mine got a
little bit more modern. And I also realized that I had been so used to doing my own thing that once again I started getting bored with the big corporate life” he adds.
Starting his new company was only the easy part. Now Kenneth had to continuously create a new collection, sell it to potential clients, and then finance the entire operation pushing it
through manufacturing and then distributing his products to buyers. This wasn’t exactly an easy fete for a one person operation.
“I credit most of my success to my original stupidity” Kenneth chuckles referring to the fact that he did not do any market research before jumping into his new venture. He stated that
if he had done the research and studied all of the challenges that would eventually lie before him, that he probably wouldn’t have started the business.
But once he jumped in, he had no choice
but to embrace faith in his own abilities,
along with the internal grit to succeed and
an unyielding determination to realize his
dreams.
He was also able to secure a small business
minority loan from Bank of America to
help push him forward. Now 10 years
later, Kenneth’s home furnishings
merchandise is carried as far away as
London’s Selfridge's and in New York
Bloomingdale's.
He was also hired to design eclectic
merchandise for Barney's, Restoration
Hardware, and Target stores. In addition,
mega casino owner, Steve Wynn
commissioned him to design a penthouse
suite at his Las Vegas Casino and in a
resort in Macau.
Despite all of his success, interestingly
enough Kenneth does not perceive himself
to be a role mode despite his ability to
overcome potential racial and gay labels
and roadblocks.
“Growing up in the military which is very
race blind, growing up as a kid, I had
White, Asian, Jewish, Latin friends and I
never thought of myself as Black. And
then being gay in San Francisco I don’t
think of myself as being gay, it’s very
much an accepted fact here. My mother
always taught me that I am Ken Wingard,
that’s the only person I have to be
beholden to.
but to embrace faith in his own abilities,
along with the internal grit to succeed and
an unyielding determination to realize his
dreams.
He was also able to secure a small business
minority loan from Bank of America to
help push him forward. Now 10 years
later, Kenneth’s home furnishings
merchandise is carried as far away as
London’s Selfridge's and in New York
Bloomingdale's.
He was also hired to design eclectic
merchandise for Barney's, Restoration
Hardware, and Target stores. In addition,
mega casino owner, Steve Wynn
commissioned him to design a penthouse
suite at his Las Vegas Casino and in a
resort in Macau.
Despite all of his success, interestingly
enough Kenneth does not perceive himself
to be a role mode despite his ability to
overcome potential racial and gay labels
and roadblocks.
“Growing up in the military which is very
race blind, growing up as a kid, I had
White, Asian, Jewish, Latin friends and I
never thought of myself as Black. And
then being gay in San Francisco I don’t
think of myself as being gay, it’s very
much an accepted fact here. My mother
always taught me that I am Ken Wingard,
that’s the only person I have to be
beholden to.
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Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be
reached directly at http://herndondavis.com
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be
reached directly at http://herndondavis.com
| Empowering The World's Diversity |
Ten years ago Kenneth Wingard quit his cushy and lucrative position as
director of the accessories division at Pottery Barn to follow his dream, his
passion, and his inner calling. As a result, he founded Wingard, a home
furnishing design and accessories company.
A decade later he’s designed a stunning collection of award-winning products
including tabletop arrangements, pillows, ceramics, candlesticks, and now
personally designed belts, bracelets and T-shirts. Headquartered in San
Francisco, Kenneth recently opened a flagship store in the Castro
neighborhood to complement his boutique space on Union Street in the
Marina district.
An Army brat who traveled the world as a child, Kenneth spent his junior and
high school years in the serene coastal town of Savannah, Georgia. A bright
child, Kenneth was accepted and attended Princeton University majoring in
architecture.
By the time he graduated, Kenneth came to the conclusion that architecture
would not be his intended path in life. “To be a successful architect you
either have to be really good or really dedicated and I was neither. I realized
that I didn’t have the innate talent or the drive to be an architect. My heart
goes out to architects because they work very hard for many, many years to
get to a point where they can build their true dreams, and I just didn’t have it
in me” he reflects.
After attempting to work retail in New York City for six months, he soon
realized he wasn’t necessarily 9-5 or retail material, so he quit his job in an
effort to further find himself. He was still young and highly educated and
ready to see the world, and that’s exactly what he did. Kenneth hopped a
plane and spent the next 18 months traveling throughout Europe, Africa, and
Asia.
“I bought a one-way ticket to Europe and I traveled for about a year and a
half working odd jobs working in hotels youth hostels, taking midnight trains
across mostly Europe, Africa, and India, probably the best experience of my
life. I’d never been to Asia, I’d never been to China, I’d never been to
Thailand. It really gave me an appreciation as an American to be over there
and see what else was going..it added to the mindset” he explains.
But all good things must come to an end and so did Kenneth’s European/
African/Asian journey. After returning back to the states and mulling over his
employment options, he traveled to San Francisco for a friend’s wedding and
the rest is history.
The month of “March in San Francisco is gorgeous, everything is blooming,
the weather is great. I went back sold everything I owned and bought a little
beat up MG midget and drove across the county to this golden land of San
Francisco” he recalls.
director of the accessories division at Pottery Barn to follow his dream, his
passion, and his inner calling. As a result, he founded Wingard, a home
furnishing design and accessories company.
A decade later he’s designed a stunning collection of award-winning products
including tabletop arrangements, pillows, ceramics, candlesticks, and now
personally designed belts, bracelets and T-shirts. Headquartered in San
Francisco, Kenneth recently opened a flagship store in the Castro
neighborhood to complement his boutique space on Union Street in the
Marina district.
An Army brat who traveled the world as a child, Kenneth spent his junior and
high school years in the serene coastal town of Savannah, Georgia. A bright
child, Kenneth was accepted and attended Princeton University majoring in
architecture.
By the time he graduated, Kenneth came to the conclusion that architecture
would not be his intended path in life. “To be a successful architect you
either have to be really good or really dedicated and I was neither. I realized
that I didn’t have the innate talent or the drive to be an architect. My heart
goes out to architects because they work very hard for many, many years to
get to a point where they can build their true dreams, and I just didn’t have it
in me” he reflects.
After attempting to work retail in New York City for six months, he soon
realized he wasn’t necessarily 9-5 or retail material, so he quit his job in an
effort to further find himself. He was still young and highly educated and
ready to see the world, and that’s exactly what he did. Kenneth hopped a
plane and spent the next 18 months traveling throughout Europe, Africa, and
Asia.
“I bought a one-way ticket to Europe and I traveled for about a year and a
half working odd jobs working in hotels youth hostels, taking midnight trains
across mostly Europe, Africa, and India, probably the best experience of my
life. I’d never been to Asia, I’d never been to China, I’d never been to
Thailand. It really gave me an appreciation as an American to be over there
and see what else was going..it added to the mindset” he explains.
But all good things must come to an end and so did Kenneth’s European/
African/Asian journey. After returning back to the states and mulling over his
employment options, he traveled to San Francisco for a friend’s wedding and
the rest is history.
The month of “March in San Francisco is gorgeous, everything is blooming,
the weather is great. I went back sold everything I owned and bought a little
beat up MG midget and drove across the county to this golden land of San
Francisco” he recalls.
I don’t feel that I can’t do anything because
I’m black, don’t feel that I can’t do
anything because I’m not tall and muscular
or whatever. Once I put my mind to it, I as
me can do anything. So I don’t consider
myself a role model. I’m just a guy who is
lucky enough to do what he loves.”
As he embarks into his second decade as an
entrepreneur, the future appears to be far
brighter than his past. On the horizon there
are rumors of another store opening and
more ready to wear merchandise similar to
the Perfect-T shirt line that he just launched.
Finally, Kenneth’s advice to anyone seeking
to materialize their individual dreams is to
“really listen to yourself and what you want
to do. Not what your parents want you to
do, not what you feel what you should do.
It’s not about money it’s not about power.
It’s about enabling the inner you to do what
you really want to do you.
As long as you do that you’re going to be
successful. And don’t listen to other
people that say it’s a bad idea, or that it’ll
never work, or you’re never make any
money out of it. As long as you follow
your true passion, you’re going to be
successful.”
Kenneth Wingard can be reach directly at
his corporate website at www.
kennethwingard.com under the Contact
section.
I’m black, don’t feel that I can’t do
anything because I’m not tall and muscular
or whatever. Once I put my mind to it, I as
me can do anything. So I don’t consider
myself a role model. I’m just a guy who is
lucky enough to do what he loves.”
As he embarks into his second decade as an
entrepreneur, the future appears to be far
brighter than his past. On the horizon there
are rumors of another store opening and
more ready to wear merchandise similar to
the Perfect-T shirt line that he just launched.
Finally, Kenneth’s advice to anyone seeking
to materialize their individual dreams is to
“really listen to yourself and what you want
to do. Not what your parents want you to
do, not what you feel what you should do.
It’s not about money it’s not about power.
It’s about enabling the inner you to do what
you really want to do you.
As long as you do that you’re going to be
successful. And don’t listen to other
people that say it’s a bad idea, or that it’ll
never work, or you’re never make any
money out of it. As long as you follow
your true passion, you’re going to be
successful.”
Kenneth Wingard can be reach directly at
his corporate website at www.
kennethwingard.com under the Contact
section.