Meet Kara Quackenbush | Founder & Creator, Kid Hooray

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kara Quackenbush and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kara, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
At Kid Hooray, our goal is to create a world where kids to feel supported, loved and encouraged to be their best selves. Most times this “world” starts within the four walls of their home – i.e. their bedrooms, play rooms, school spaces, etc. We’re passionate about helping families create spaces that celebrate the magic and wonder of childhood. Our décor is not just about making a room look pretty – it’s about making a space that sparks joy, encourages creativity, and fosters a sense of belonging.

Whether it’s a colorful rainbow wall hanging or one of our personalized name signs, we want kids to see THEIR interests and THEIR passions in THEIR spaces! By supporting them in these small ways we hope to create confident, self-assured kids that can go out into world living as happy, safe and compassionate adults within their communities.
On a larger scale we are working hard to create a healthier planet. Since we started our business in 2021 we’ve worked hard to be a brand that emphasizes sustainability and making smart choices for the environment. Some ways we’re doing this include:

• Plastic free packaging
• Opting for recyclable packaging materials – using paper tape for our packaging
• Sourcing natural materials – using vegan friendly 100% cotton yarn vs. synthetic/acrylic yarn
• Reducing the amount of waste within our operations
• Giving back in a way to benefit our environment

We felt all of these changes were positive steps in the right direction, but we wanted to do something more proactive. About a year into our business, we partnered with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit dedicated to global reforestation. With every product, sold we donate one tree to be planted. At the beginning of each month, we tally up how many products we sold from the previous month and donate trees to a specific region. In the past we’ve donated to forest fire recovery, specifically helping restore the forests destroyed by the Yosemite wildfires last summer, local areas within the Appalachian Basin and even to the category that says “plant trees where they’re needed most!”.

Our dedication to environmental conservation is something we hope to instill within our own children and we believe the best way to do that is by leading by example!

What should our readers know about your business?
Something that most people don’t know about me is that I had a successful business before Kid Hooray and I actually walked away from it. I made custom name crayons and specialized in using various glitters and confettis in them. Unfortunately, it was not a conducive business while having young children at home. I worked many late nights and early mornings with little profit – I mean, you can only charge so much for a crayon, right?! At that point I told myself maybe I could revisit owning a business when my children were older and in school full time.

While I was pregnant with my 3rd baby, I was dreaming up a nursery on Pinterest and kept seeing wire name signs in so many of the images I was saving. I felt confident that I could create one myself, as I’d dabbled in calligraphy in the past, and ended up finding a DIY tutorial on how to make them. After my first one, I quickly made others and realized all the possibilities with them.

These wire creations were the perfect mix between something my kids and I both liked – a statement piece that was whimsical, colorful and fun, but not too “cheesy” or generic either. By incorporating personalization and one-of-a-kind details into each piece, I was able create spaces that my kids liked too!

Although things fell into place quite organically while starting Kid Hooray, doesn’t mean it hasn’t come without challenges – the biggest being balancing a business and a family. I want to grow a successful brand, but not at the cost of missing out on memories with my kids. One thing I’m trying to remind myself of is there are seasons for everything. There’s a time to push forward and a time to pull back. We’re expecting our 4th baby this summer and I’m going to be entering a new season again. It’s a constant ebb and flow of pushing and pulling and just trying to ride the wave!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you’re visiting Pittsburgh going to the Dusquesne Incline is an absolute must! It gives you the best view of the city and all the bridges. Fun Fact – we actually have more bridges than Venice, Italy! One of our favorite things to do is walk around the city and see all the old houses. Pittsburgh was a huge steel town in the early 1900s and it brought a lot of wealth to the area, Other popular tourist attractions are the Botanic Gardens and the fountain at Point State Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
While I’m the solopreneur of Kid Hooray, I’ve surely not gotten to where I’m at on my own! I’ve been lucky enough to have the best cheerleaders next to me. My husband is always quick to lend a helping hand; whether it’s dropping off orders at the post office, answering financial questions or even just spending an extra few hours hanging with the kids on the weekend so I can catch up on work. My family has always been a huge encouragement, especially my parents. Growing up, I got to see firsthand what it looked like to own a business from my Dad. While his was not a creative endeavor – he’s an engineer – he taught me about grit, how to work smart and striving to be your best.

Website: www.kidhooray.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidhooray

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kidhooray

Image Credits
“dreamer” photo – Kristen Sellentin other photos – Kid Hooray