Meet Kam Ballard, founder of b.c.e Shoes, an online company that customizes shoes for the sororities and fraternities in the Divine 9.
Ballard says that she started the company to offset college costs for her children.
“I started this company as a way to pay for my children’s college education. I wanted to break the cycle of graduating from college with a mountain of student loan debt. It has evolved into something bigger than I ever could have imagined,” Ballard said.
She is a member of and a certified vendor for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is also an approved vendor for the following organizations within the Divine 9: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
b.c.e.’s products include a variety of shoes that can be worn in the board room or the ballroom. She has recently added an athletic shoe line.
Ballard’s goal is to provide stylish, comfortable, and affordable shoes. “I want to make shoes that cater to the seasoned professional, but also, keep them affordable where a Neo on the college campus is able to obtain them without breaking the bank.”
Ballard also believes in philanthropy. She has had several shoe drives where the proceeds are used to provide new genuine leather shoes for the ladies housed in homeless and domestic violence shelters. In the past, she has partnered with First Light Shelter, YWCA, and Jessie’s Place. Ballard understands that hard times can happen to anyone. “I was always taught to sow seeds. You may not reap the harvest, but your children or someone close to you will.”
The shoes can be purchased online at www.bceshoes.com. The shoes are custom-made when purchased. The average time frame is 45 business days.
