Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Martin.
Krystal, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
K&K Co. was born out of a deeply personal experience. After an ectopic pregnancy in 2019 and later a life-threatening delivery complicated by severe preeclampsia, I became much more intentional about what I brought into my home and put on my body. I couldn’t find products that were both luxurious and made with clean, plant-based ingredients, so I started making them myself.
What began at my kitchen table quickly grew into something much bigger. Friends and family started requesting products, local markets turned into loyal customers, and before long, my husband, Al, joined me as my business partner. Together, we built K&K Co. around one simple mission: to create safe, high-quality self-care products that don’t force people to choose between clean ingredients and a luxury experience.
Today, K&K Co. has grown from a small handmade business into an experiential retail brand. We now operate The Workshop by K&K Co. inside Columbia Mall, where guests can create their own candles, perfumes, body butters, and body scrubs while making memories with the people they love. We’ve also expanded into corporate team-building experiences, private events, wholesale partnerships, and custom fragrance experiences.
Along the way, we’ve been fortunate to participate in the Pipeline Fellowship, where we were honored with the Member Inspiration Award, and we’ve been featured in several local publications. Those milestones have been meaningful, but what matters most is seeing our customers make K&K Co. part of their everyday rituals and biggest celebrations.
We’re still just getting started. Our vision is to continue building K&K Co. into a nationally recognized lifestyle brand where luxury, clean ingredients, and unforgettable experiences come together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many entrepreneurs, we’ve faced our share of challenges, from learning how to manufacture products at scale to navigating cash flow, hiring, and the constant balancing act of running a business while raising a family.
One of the biggest challenges has been changing people’s perception of what we do. Many people initially see us as “just a candle company,” when in reality we’re building an experience-driven brand centered around connection, creativity, and clean self-care. Educating customers on the value of handcrafted, plant-based products and immersive workshops has taken time, consistency, and a lot of storytelling.
Opening our retail location was another major leap. It required us to think beyond making products and become experts in customer experience, retail operations, event management, and team leadership. Every new stage of growth has required us to learn new skills.
But every obstacle has made us stronger. Instead of seeing challenges as setbacks, we’ve learned to view them as opportunities to improve our systems, strengthen our brand, and better serve our customers. Entrepreneurship isn’t about avoiding hard seasons—it’s about continuing to show up, adapt, and keep building even when the path isn’t easy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about K&K Co.?
K&K Co. is a luxury, plant-based self-care brand that creates handcrafted candles, perfumes, body care, and interactive fragrance experiences. While we began as a product-based business, we’ve evolved into an experience-first brand where people don’t just shop—they create memories.
Our signature offering is The Workshop by K&K Co., located inside Columbia Mall in Columbia, Missouri. Guests can create their own candles, perfumes, body butters, body scrubs, and seasonal experiences in a welcoming, hands-on environment. We also host birthday parties, date nights, team-building events, private celebrations, and corporate experiences, bringing people together through creativity.
What sets us apart is that we combine clean ingredients with luxury and personalization. Every product is handcrafted in small batches using thoughtfully selected, plant-based ingredients, and every workshop is designed to give guests something they can’t buy online: an experience they’ll remember.
One thing we’re especially proud of is building a brand that makes luxury feel approachable. Whether someone is purchasing their first candle, creating a custom fragrance with friends, or celebrating a milestone at one of our workshops, we want them to feel seen, welcomed, and inspired.
At the heart of K&K Co. is our belief that self-care is more than a product—it’s an experience. We hope readers know that when they support K&K Co., they’re supporting a family-owned business that’s committed to quality, community, and creating meaningful moments that bring people together.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are so many ways to work with K&K Co., and we love partnering with individuals, businesses, and organizations that value meaningful experiences.
You can visit us at The Workshop by K&K Co. inside Columbia Mall to shop our handcrafted products or book one of our interactive candle, perfume, body butter, or body scrub workshops. We also host birthday parties, bridal showers, date nights, team-building events, client appreciation events, and private celebrations.
For businesses, we offer corporate fragrance experiences, custom gifting, branded products, wholesale partnerships, and event activations designed to create memorable experiences for employees and clients alike.
The best way to support our brand is simply by sharing it. Shop small, attend a workshop, bring a friend, leave a review, or tell someone about your experience. Word-of-mouth has been one of the biggest reasons we’ve been able to grow, and we’re incredibly grateful for every person who chooses to support our family-owned business.
Whether you’re looking for a unique gift, planning your next event, or searching for a memorable experience, we’d love to welcome you into the K&K Co. community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kkco.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kankco.llc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KKCOLLC
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/krystal-martin-849680279
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kandkcobathhome
