EXPPRESS
Kristy Smith
Pat & Wayne Smith
Dane Smith
Diann & Dane Smith
Diann Smith
Jeff Smith
36 EXTOL : FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019
“Schools and churches always need specific
things and quantities,” said Kristy. “If we know
that church camp is coming soon and they’ll
need 200 pieces of whatever, we will go through
all our catalogues to find that and have it ready.
An advantage to being a long-time local business
is we know when the science fair projects are
coming, we know when the Turkey Bowl is, we
know when we’ll need hundreds of t-shirts at the
go. That prepares us for when parents all come
running in at the last minute looking for 400 skulls
for an anatomy dissection class.
“It’s about building those relationships with our
community,” Kristy added. “We genuinely want
to help our customers come up with what they
need, and we work with them to find solutions
that are either easier or cheaper. Our employees
love it when someone asks, ‘How I can I make this
happen?’ and we always make it happen.”
The Smiths’ Ben Franklin store offers many
classes through the year and will expand their
children’s classes and craft sections in the coming
months. Derby is always a huge seller for Ben
Franklin, too. Hats and fascinators rule the world
there, beginning in March. They will also add a new
men’s gift wear section in Ben’s Boutique soon.
The children’s activities are key, said Kristy. Not
only do the crafts provide a creative outlet and
time to craft with their parents or siblings, crafts
also work on a child’s dexterity and focus, and can
reduce anxiety levels.
“It’s those moments that you might think are
nothing, but years from now, you’ll treasure those
crafts you made with your children,” she said. “It’s
not the piece you made but the time you spent
together, literally crafting memories.”
Additionally, Kristy is not only a business owner
but also a busy mom and global manager for quality
for Zeochem in Louisville, where she works her
“other” full-time job. Zeochem, which creates
molecular sieves and specialty zeolites for chemical
and liquid absorption processes in manufacturing,
puts her chemistry degree to good use. But, working
with Ben Franklin brings out her creative side.
“When I’m at Zeochem, I’m looking at parts per
million down to .004 weights and percentages.
But when I’m at Ben Franklin, I can design the
floor layouts or create natural, free-form floral
designs. It’s the perfect stress relief,” she explained.
“My mother was an art major and my dad was an
engineer, so it’s the perfect blend of left brain-right
brain for me.”
What does she love most about her time at Ben
Franklin Crafts? “One of the best things about a craft
store is you’re connecting with people in moments
of their lives,” she said. “You’re quilting the afghan
for the new baby, you’re framing the diploma, you’re
making a funeral wreath for someone’s mom’s
grave. These are life moments and you connect
on a family level.”
But above all? “Family,” said Kristy. “It always
pulls you back to family.”