Sustaining Local Creativity with Keith Bradley

Keith Bradley of Made in KC Discusses the Importance of Supporting Local Artists & Makers

Kansas City's Made in KC is more than just a shopping destination—it's a movement that supports and uplifts local artists, makers, and small businesses. Co-owner Keith Bradley sat down with us to discuss the company's origins, growth, and future plans.

Bradley, along with co-founders Thomas McIntyre and Tyler Enders, started Made in KC with a simple idea: artists and makers needed more exposure in the market. Initially, customers had to go to craft shows or local stores to buy their materials, but Bradley and his team wanted to create an all-local store that made shopping more convenient. And customers loved it. Within the first year, Made in KC opened three locations and quickly scaled up to support more makers. 

"We learned that many artists and makers were working two or three jobs," Bradley explained. “By being able to scale up, we could purchase more materials from them, and they could make more money to support themselves and focus on their craft."

Made in KC has a vendor application process to ensure that each product meets the company's high standards for quality and marketability. Bradley and his team look at the packaging, product quality, and demand for each item before selecting it for sale. Made in KC typically sources from within the Kansas City metro area, but has extended its radius to Lawrence, KS, with some book publishers from Wichita also in the mix.

The pandemic presented challenges for Made in KC and its makers, but some were able to make quick pivots to stay afloat. For example, Sandlot Goods, a maker of handmade leather bags, wallets, and hat products, temporarily switched to making masks. They produced half a million, with half sold and half donated to hospitals and schools. Some BBQ sauce makers also had to switch to plastic bottles due to supply chain issues. Although Made in KC had to close its stores for two months, online sales surged, which helped support many of the local artists through the toughest periods of the pandemic.

Bradley and his team are also committed to giving back to the community. Made in KC and Rainy Day Books recently partnered with BeGreat Together to raise funds to purchase multilingual books for Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools’ Global Academy student library. Because of their business philosophy, Made in KC hosts and partners with nonprofits, particularly those focused on arts and education.

"Every business has an obligation to give back," Bradley stated. "Kids are our future leaders, so we usually support nonprofits and community initiatives that focus on youth and the arts."

Looking ahead, Made in KC plans to expand to new locations, including downtown Overland Park, and hopes to inspire other communities to adopt its business model.

"We want to stretch and challenge people to shop local," Bradley said. "When we focus on local products, we may be more resilient to sustaining and supporting ourselves if major shifts happen in the economy."

He also hopes that the pandemic has created a greater sense of gratitude for the local shops and nonprofits that support our communities. In short, Made in KC is more than just a store. It's a celebration of local creativity and community, and a model for sustainable, ethical business practices.