Meet Dylan Kendall | Small Biz Owner. Foster Mom. Vegan. Volunteer. Teacher.

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

Hi Dylan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I believe in play. I think we all know how it feels to dance with each other, to sing in our cars, to join in colorful, vibrant cultural celebrations. This is the power of play and, while frequently excluded in conversations and support around human development, the power of play, whether acknowledged or ignored, is critical to both healthy communities and healthy human emotional well-being.

I started two companies which center on play and that was my thought process for both.

In 2005, I noticed a lot of young people living in the shadows of Hollywood Blvd. After spending many nights with them on the streets, talking with them, I took away a concept which I believed could help them develop self-determination and break the cycle of poverty. Through my conversations with these young adults, I learned that they were all interested in the arts as a dream, a career, a hobby — acting, fashion, music, dance, writing, drawing. Armed with that information and, with literally no one in my corner, I heavy lifted and created the only free arts-based educational agency in the nation to use arts, music, fashion and other aesthetic endeavors to disrupt homelessness for good.

In 2008, after my foster son became a father, I pivoted. To be honest, working as intensely as I did with homeless young adults, taking on their trauma and then having challenges under my own roof with a new baby and a teenage dad, I stepped down from the school and thought to myself – ok, what is the most ridiculous and fun thing I could possibly do next?

I returned to a bowl with feet which I made in my own ceramics studio in my 20s. I recalled how these early footed bowls made everyone smile and feel joy. I made a few hundred at a local factory, sent pics to several design blogs and within weeks had $80,000 in purchase orders including a distributor from Australia. Turns out my pet rock had “legs!” and people around the world were excited to bring play home. From there we created the tag line – Happy Homes make Happy People and soon added what I believe to be true today – Happy People will Change the World.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

First I want to start by noting that I started two different businesses – the one I currently run in consumer goods – Dylan Kendall LLC – and Hollywood Arts, the school I founded for young adults living on the streets. Both are really an extension of me and my life philosophy. I’ve always pushed against convention and nothing makes me shiver more than hearing “but this is the way we’ve always done it”.

When I got the idea to build Hollywood Arts and started to shop it to others, I often heard “homeless kids don’t need water colors” but I knew that this simplistic response had no bearing on the value our mission would bring to our homeless students. I persisted, I went around the naysayers and I found the believers. I also invested early on in marketing over programs. Sounds backward? Many thought so but I knew that programs alone would give us a few good years, maybe. Marketing could expand our audience of donors and students which would elevate us fast, keeping the agency financially solvent and healthy long term. I had a lot of confidence in the concept so I knew this approach would work.

When I built Dylan Kendall LLC, the consumer brand I currently run, I had no idea how to manufacture internationally. Again, I persisted finding myself facing gender-based discrimination every step of the way from factories to funders. In 2010 e-commerce was fledgling, as was the public conversation about women as founders. I was definitely building the airplane as I was flying, as many founders, except that in my case I had the additional challenge of gross turbulence in the form of male patronizing. I think all female founders will understand this in any sector – technology to consumer goods.

In 2012 I was so frustrated being called “honey” that I created a fake male employee. I gave him a very masculine sounding name and enjoyed the freedom I had using Steve to answer emails. Any woman reading this will recognize the incredible freedom of typing as a man. Thankfully as entrepreneurialism has become mainstream so have conversations about racism and sexism in the space. I love reading the success stories of more women building and growing companies. I’m proud to have walked so others can run.

I have heard also that people didn’t understand my shift from the nonprofit space to the private sector selling a bowl with feet. I know that my company isn’t about a widget, its about happiness. During the early months of Covid, customers flooded my inbox asking me to make more product. I really understood then that humans need joy. Email after email asked for my bowls with feet saying that while the world was so confusing during lockdown, bowls with feet gave them joy, a sense of happiness in their home. That means a lot to me.

Starting your own business is not easy and I did it twice. Only those who have swam in this water truly understand the amount of self-discipline, creative thinking and fast learning required and I would say even more 15 years ago than now as other entrepreneurs have created more tools to help start-ups. I stand in awe of people who have the capacity to envision different worlds and the courage to walk through the fire to bring their vision to life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of the many reasons I love living in Los Angeles is the city’s vegan-friendliness. Watching all the new chefs bring vegan cooking to our city is a joy even more so with all the different ethnic cuisines now being veganized!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Adeena Bleich and David Jarrett. Both have taught me much, supported me through my failures, and been by my side for my successes. Thanks for asking!

Website: https://dylankendall.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylan_kendall/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylankendall/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dylankendall

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dylanjeankendall/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanKendall/videos

Other: https://www.instagram.com/dylankendallshop/