Some businesses open their doors and quietly hope people walk in.
Others open with glitter on the walls, orange creamsicle in the air, and an eight-year-old running the register.
That’s Kimfetti.
If you’ve walked through downtown Gallatin lately, you’ve probably heard it called “the pink store.” And honestly, that fits. It’s bright. It’s joyful. It’s impossible to ignore.
But behind the pink paint and party packages is something deeper. A long-held dream. A family effort. And a student who helped put words to the heart behind it.
On this episode of A Good Pour, I sat down with Good Work Project intern Alyssa Trias and Kim Baker to talk about how Kimfetti became what it is today.
Let’s start at the beginning.
Why Alyssa Said Yes
Alyssa is a student at Liberty Creek. She didn’t come in with years of marketing strategy experience. She came in curious.
She told me she’s always been fascinated by business. Owning one someday is her goal. Marketing felt like a skill she needed, even though she admitted she felt clueless at the start.
That’s exactly why I loved having her in the program.
Growth happens when you’re willing to try something new.
When it came time to choose a Good Work Project, she picked Kimfetti. Partly because I suggested it. Mostly because it felt like a perfect personality match.
Kimfetti is cheerful. Welcoming. Intentional about making people feel seen and loved.
Alyssa said that’s how she wants people to feel every day.
That alignment matters.
The Dream Behind Kimfetti
Kim Baker has always loved to host.
She grew up as an only child. Birthdays were celebrated big. Guests were considered carefully. Hospitality wasn’t a strategy. It was a way of life.
As an adult, she started planning parties for her stepson and eventually for friends. What began as a joke, “Can I pay you to plan mine?” turned into real work.
Then life shifted. She stepped into her role at the chamber. Events were still part of her job, but creativity had guardrails.
The dream never left.
When a downtown retail space became available, something clicked. After a few visits and one bold moment of “Give me the lease,” Kimfetti became official.
Paint covered the walls. Glitter found its way into the hallway. A signature scent filled the air.
Three months in, they’ve hosted nearly ten parties and are already booking into 2026.
Not bad for the pink store.
It’s a Family Effort
One of my favorite parts of this story is that Kimfetti isn’t a solo act.
Kim and her husband Ryan have always worked well together. She’s the visionary. He’s the numbers and systems person. He’s already building procedure guides for employees they don’t even have yet.
That balance matters in a startup.
And then there’s Ann, their eight-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
Ann is fully trained on the POS system. She handles cash. She trains adults. She helps review party packages because she is the target audience.
That’s what I call built-in market research.
When customers walk in, Ann greets them. She shares sales. She takes pride in her store.
It’s not pretend ownership. It’s real.
What Alyssa Learned About Marketing
When Alyssa began working through our Marketing Machine framework, something shifted.
At first, she thought about the kids. The seven-to-twelve-year-olds who would have their parties there.
Then she realized something important.
You’re not only marketing to the child.
You’re marketing to:
- The mom booking the party
- The dad paying for it
- The grandparents who want to shop
- The aunt looking for a gift
- The family visiting downtown
Marketing isn’t one ad. It’s the full experience.
It’s the scent when you walk in.
The color on the walls.
The energy at the register.
The way a brand makes you feel.
When we reached the “How You Tell the World” section of the strategy, Alyssa focused on Kim’s story.
Because the story is what gives the business weight.
Kim isn’t selling decorations. She’s helping parents create moments their kids will remember. She’s recreating the feeling she had growing up. Celebration. Intention. Joy.
That’s what we needed to communicate.
Showing Up in the Right Places
One of the most interesting marketing moments came from a simple question at the register.
Kim has been tracking where customers come from. A small tally on a notepad.
Wilson County. Franklin. Visitors staying nearby.
One couple said they asked ChatGPT what to do within a certain distance of their hotel. It told them to visit downtown Gallatin.
That’s a wake-up call for every small business owner.
Search behavior is changing.
We’re building:
- A website that clearly communicates the brand
- Optimized content so AI tools can understand what Kimfetti offers
- A custom GPT for Kim and her team with their strategy built in
- YouTube transcripts that help with visibility
YouTube is the second largest search engine. When a transcript mentions Kimfetti, it gets indexed quickly. That matters for a new business without years of site authority.
Marketing today is connected. It’s layered. And it requires intention.
The Confetti on the Kitchen Floor
Before opening, Kim had doubts. Every business owner does.
Ann found old Kimfetti business cards from years ago and taped them all over the house. On the chandelier. On the fridge. On the mirror.
One is still taped to the kitchen floor.
She said, “I just thought we needed to think of confetti.”
That’s branding at its most human level.
Keeping your dream in front of you. Even if it’s taped to the floor.
What Alyssa Learned About AI
Like most students, Alyssa used AI casually at first. Quick answers. Simple questions.
During this internship, she learned something different.
AI works best when you:
- Give it strong background information
- Upload clear source material
- Guide it with thoughtful prompts
- Use it as support, not a replacement
She discovered tools like NotebookLM and learned how to build custom GPTs.
Her words stuck with me. AI can amplify a good idea. It shouldn’t replace the human behind it.
Humans created AI. We still bring the creativity.
What Happens Next
Alyssa doesn’t have her entire future mapped out yet.
She does know this. She wants to own a business someday. She wants to create a workplace that feels like family. She wants to encourage people and make an impact that stretches beyond one building.
Marketing will be part of that story, no matter what direction she takes.
And Kimfetti?
It’s just getting started.
If you’re in Gallatin, stop by the pink store. Breathe in the orange creamsicle. Notice the glitter in the hallway. Watch Ann run the register.
And remember this.
Good work often starts with a simple idea.
Then someone says yes.
Let’s keep doing work that makes people feel seen and celebrated.