42 minute read
SHE HUSTLES TALKS
FEATURING:
* Momma & Me Food Therapy * Sarai Santi * Marisol Crespo * Magnolia’s Formalwear
Angel Bunce
ROCHESTER WOMAN ONLINE :: OCTOBER EDITION 2022 PLANNING FOR A SUCCESSFUL LIFE 157
YOU ARE ENOUGH. ANGEL BUNCE
BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO PHOTOS BY LUKE LAPORTA
Tell us about who Angel Bunce is, and how you started Flour City Insurance Company?
Growing up I was always told to plan for a successful life. Well, things didn’t always go as planned for me. I become a mother at 16 and growing into a successful business owner in my early thirties, didn’t come without challenges. Walking the stage to receive my diploma, with my two-year-old in the crowd cheering me on, set the foundation for my “I can achieve anything” attitude. Instead of college, I entered the workforce full-time in retail. I quickly gravitated to an office position which assisted in some muchneeded financial freedom for my little family. I even held a few positions within the healthcare industry before finding my true calling in Insurance Sales. I began my career with a very large well established Insurance Agency founded here in Rochester, NY. Although I loved it deeply, I became aware of the void for personalized service that big box organizations always struggled with. Not to mention, I’ve always pondered doing it myself on my own, so I put a plan together.
Walking away from my career in the spring of 2015, I used the skills and experience I’ve acquired over the years with local providers and in 2016, Flour City Insurance was born! It was a huge leap and I was terrified. Looking back at it all, my fear guided me to play it smart. I even decided to work part-time for a small used car dealership, which allowed me to see yet another angle of the necessity for better insurance services. Unfortunately (or fortunately), it distracted me from my overall goal and I decided to focus 100% of my time and effort on growing my new business.
As you can imagine, many doubted me. Heck, sometimes I doubted myself. I had people I expected to help push me forward, do nothing but drag me down to stifle my growth, purely for their gain. Trust me, I have seen it all. Beyond my sacrifices and hard work, I owe a great deal of my success to a select few that kept me afloat by reminding me that I’m capable of anything I put my mind to. I worked from home for a year but had a satellite office I could use to meet clients in the heart of downtown Rochester. In March of 2018, I signed an extended lease at 1260 Scottsville Rd Suite 202A. Although I still had a few financial fears, I have committed to not looking back. And a few months later I hired my first employee who worked tirelessly to help me sell insurance and expand my book of business. I strive every day to be better than yesterday! Keeping the mindset that I will do this!
What types of services do you specialize in?
Flour City Insurance Agency specializes in both personal and commercial insurance. Teaching people about insurance and making sure their needs are met is very important to me and the main reason I do what I do! We offer Auto, Life, Home, and Business insurance.
What makes Flour City different from other insurance agencies?
We treat our clients like our friends and family. We pride ourselves in providing top customer service.
What makes you hustle?
My kids are what makes me hustle. I want to leave them a legacy and to know you can do whatever you dream of regardless of what others say or think of them.
What has been the most challenging being a minority-owned woman’s business?
As a woman, we are stereotyped to be the one that has to put ourselves last. Especially being a mother where the expectations are we have to be available for school events, doctor appointments, socializing, etc. when comes to the kids. Having a work-life balance was the most challenging when I first started the business. The expectation of not only being a mother but a wife as well. Trying to maintain a two-income household as a new business owner and trying to get the business off the ground. I had to take on a full-time job for a year and so just to have a consistent income and sadly my business suffered.
How do you set yourself apart from your competition?
Flour City Insurance is a boutique insurance agency, I can shop around for the best prices for my clients. We treat our clients like our friends and family. You don’t have to call a 1-800 number to try and reach someone.
Why did you choose the name Flour City?
Before Rochester was known and Flower City, we were known as Flour City (in the 1800s Rochester NY became known as the Flour City, based on the numerous flour mills which were located along waterfalls on the Genesee)
What challenges do you feel minority businesses face?
I feel minority businesses don’t get the same opportunities at times. I feel like we have to work extra harder just to prove ourselves in a male-dominated industry.
What are the advantages/ disadvantages of being a womanowned business?
Advantage as a women-owned business we are now getting recognition in today’s modern world. More opportunities are opening up for us. I would say a disadvantage is harassment I get from men that’s acting as though they are shopping around for insurance quotes but awhile they are just using it as a way to ask out me on a date. Although I am flattered I take my business seriously. And it’s extremely inappropriate.
Have you found that clients are bothered, or that you have lost clients by you having tattoos? My sleeve tattoo was something I pondered for a long time before starting. I originally stated it as a half sleeve because I was worried others would view it as unprofessional and not want to do business with me. After completing the half sleeve I decided that if others wanted to judge me for my very personal tattoo, I didn’t want to do business with them anyway. So I went ahead and finished my entire arm! The meaning behind my sleeve tattoo is a reflection of each of my children. Their birth month flowers and times of birth is displayed along with the senentiy prayer to remind me of strength.
What are the secrets to your success?
I’m not sure there are any secrets to success, you wake up and give your best each day. You have to want it and you have to take the steps needed to get there. It’s not going to fall in your lap.
What do you want to achieve next both personally and professionally? I would say I would love to retire by
age 45. I would love for my business to be able to continue generating revenue without me being present. I want to grow my business to an enterprise level, so I can enjoy the fruits of my labor and enjoy life. I would love to move my family into our dream home!
with gender-related roadblocks in your career?
The most significant barrier in my industry is getting insurance carriers to work with small independent agencies. It’s not about what you know it’s about who you know in the industry. To acquire more resources events (due to covid shutdowns) and it took me a long time to regain my confidence to step back into them.
How do you manage a family and being a lady boss?
The balance of family and being the boss lady I am is one I think I still struggle with, my brain never wants to shut off. But I make the most of it and do what I can.
What do you think helped you the most to make a
career as a woman? What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful? What has helped me the most would be the support of my friends. There were a few that supported my decision in starting a new business. Some of them started a business around the same time as me which was inspiring.
What is one piece of advice you have received in your life that you want to pass on to our readers?
Life and business are not always what you know, it is who you know!
As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career? Have you been confronted
and to be an added value to my customers.
What has been one mistake as a business owner that you have made along the way and what did you learn from it?
I stopped attending networking
Do or did you have a woman leader as a mentor or are there specific women who inspired you and why?
I didn’t have any specific mentors but I was surrounded by several friends in the beginning that was also on the path to entrepreneurship and they provided guidance,
What plans do you have for Flour City Insurance Company?
My next goal for my business is to hire another producer within the next six months. My goal is to be semi-retired by the time I am 45. I would love to step away from my business and still make money for myself.
You are undoubtedly busy, how do you take care of yourself and maintain good mental health? I go to the gym, get my hair and nails take time for myself to get pampered, treat myself to facials, manicures, and pedicures, and just have some R&R when I can.
What is one thing people don’t know about you?
I want to learn to fly a plane! I always stop over at Paul Rd and watch the planes come in and out. I love watching the choppers land. It makes me wonder how did we figure out how to make a machine fly. It’s so fascinating to me.
LA-TEFIAH DAWSON
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
My name is La-Tefiah Dawson. I am 32 years old. I was born and raised in the city of Rochester. I graduated in 2008 from Imaging Information Technology at Edison Tech campus. I spent my early college and young adult years studying journalism and communication and working at various call centers. I rediscovered my passion for cooking and feeding others in 2013. During this time, I decided to enroll in the culinary program through REOC, which prompted me to move to Charlotte, North Carolina, in hopes of attending Johnson and Wales University to become a chef. Unexpected life events caused me to come back to Rochester. I worked where I was comfortable in call centers and doing customer service. Tragedy struck in 2014 when I lost my eldest sister while she was seven months pregnant.
Three years later, in 2017, I experienced early infant loss after giving birth to my firstborn son. After going through that and returning to work, I decided I wanted to own a catering company and use food as therapy; that’s when MommyandME was 1st conceived. Throughout this journey, God has blessed me with three more children, Ja’Miah (4yr), Jahaziel, who will be 2 in January, and Jeiel (6 months). During the day, I provide childcare and home school, and I love every minute of it. Being able to stay home with my children and provide a living for them has been
PHOTOS BY MURRAY YARAVITZ & OTHERS
the biggest reward.
What made you decide to open your own business, and what is Momma & Me Food Therapy?
MommyandMe Food Therapy is an up-and-coming catering company in the City of Rochester. We cater to the specific individual needs of each customer with a particular focus on inner-city youth and their families. We all know there never seems to be enough time in the day for nutritious food preparation.
That’s where MommyandMe Food Therapy comes into play.
We offer nutritionally sound meals which are made with fresh, handpicked ingredients which are home cooked with love. As convenient as fast food, the goal of my business is to be a ghost kitchen that provides a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that can be prepaid and picked up by ordering meals via phone, text, or online. We offer family-style meals, single orders, or holiday orders. I also provide meal prep and other packages, such as our PostPartum packages, at least five days a week.
Our postpartum packages are especially for moms because knowing firsthand that it is not easy juggling having a new baby and life and making sure that we still eat and not only eat but eat nutritiously is extremely important. We also have lunch packages for families who may be in a rush.
Our children are not being fed properly in school, so I am providing a healthy, budget-friendly option.
What makes you hustle?
Providing a life of endless possibilities for my children makes me hustle.
Leaving behind a legacy and making a mark in our city, doing the will of God, and spreading love.
What type of food is your specialty?
Soul food, country-style breakfast and brunch. Because I am self-taught, I enjoy learning and making a variety of cuisine and dishes.
The entrepreneurial journey is not an easy one. It requires determination, time, hard work and leadership. What motives you and keeps you going?
First, my Faith motivates me. With God ALL things are possible! If He has given me the vision, he will help me achieve it and so much more.
my life “work hard now to play harder later” my children are young now, so I would like to do the hard work and lay down a solid foundation so that in a few years I can enjoy them and enjoy life with them but not only that, to have something that they can calltheir own. I feel they will appreciate it on a different level because they have been with me every step of the way. 3rd My customer satisfaction!
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Not only seeing them happy and satisfied but seeing their soul smile as they taste and enjoy my cooking.
What’s the best business advice you have ever received and who was it from?
Take your feelings and emotions out of it is something I had to learn along the way.
How do you stay motivated and find new customers?
What works for me is people tasting my dishes at various events and Word of mouth. What I am working on doing is getting out of my comfort zone, creating content, and building my social media.
Why did you pick the food business? and how did you come up with the name Momma & Me Food Therapy?
I avoided it for long enough, but I can’t deny my gifts and the role I am supposed to play in my community.
What kind of person do you feel makes a successful female entrepreneur?
Confident, assertive, and strategic,
and new entrepreneur?
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. I pray every morning that I allow myself to be guided on the path set out for me and that I am obedient. Because I know there is no way that I can do it on my own, I sit back and see how I am doing it day after day, and it still amazes me.
If you could time travel back to day one of your startup and have 15min with your former self to communicate any lessons you’ve acquired with the intention of saving yourself mistakes and heart ache, what would you tell yourself?
Educate yourself, plan out every little detail, be organized, and be disciplined, especially with budgeting. Embrace the mistakes and make sure you learn from everyone.
What are your tips for growing your business?
Educate yourself, study the competition and connect with other business owners in your industry. Networking is key.
Did you start the business on your own, or did you have help?
If you had help, who is your biggest supporter?
I started the business alone. It began with a Grand idea (dream) that is the ultimate end goal, but in doing research, I realized I had to start small and build my way up.
What is the number one business goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
Secure a location to operate a ghost kitchen.
How have your priorities changed since you first started?
My business is my main priority, besides my children. When I first started, it was more of a hobby for me. I am now walking into this season where it is my primary focus, and I’m ready to give it 200%.
Where will we see you next?
Be on the lookout because you will hear the name MommyandMe all around the city. We will be putting on our first annual community holiday dinner on 11/13/22. Our sauce line and recipe book will be released at the top of the new year. 2023 will be our breakout year!
MENTION RWO FOR AN EXTRA 10% OFF!
SARAI SANTI
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. How did you get started in the field of esthetics?
I have been in the beauty industry for over 22 years. I obtained my cosmetology license at the age of 21. I have always had a passion for beauty. In my late 20’s I went back to school for my associate degree in business and worked in Human Resources for almost 10 years. I decided to go back to school for my esthetician license in 2015. As I started expanding my knowledge in skin care, the boom of microblading was just starting. There wasn’t as much information on the procedure as there is now. The trainings were very few and far between and the training that was offered, well the work was not up to par and very expensive. Me being a creative person I decided to invest in myself and research the procedure myself and teach myself how to microblade.
What made you decide to open your own business? Tell us a little about how that started.
Near the end of my HR career, I realized I was not happy with my job and I missed the creativity the beauty industry gave me. Still not sure which direction I wanted to go I started working in a high-end salon part-time while still working my full-time HR job and going to school at night to obtain my esthetician license.
Once I completed my esthetic License I came to a crossroads, either I was going to continue working corporate or I was going to take the leap of faith and work
PHOTOS BY MURRAY YARAVITZ
for myself. Me leaving the security and safety net of my full-time job was the first step in opening my own business.
What makes you hustle?
Hustling has always been a part of my life. Watching my mother work a full-time job and come home and take care of 4 kids and work her seamstress side job until 3 a.m. and my father who barely spoke English work two jobs just to make sure that we could live the American dream is one of many reasons
why I hustle. I pride myself to say that I have always been a hard worker. I do not take anything for granted and I won’t settle for less. Hustling to me is knowing that I will not be able to achieve my goals without putting in the work. But if you ask me today what makes me hustle it would have to be my two kids, now that my kids are getting older it humbles me to know that my kids look up to me, they have seen every struggle and every accomplishment. My hustling has created a better future for them. They know that with hustle and passion they can achieve their dreams.
What type of services do you provide and what do you feel sets you apart from your competition?
The services that I offer are Microblading, Microshading, PMU, Lip blush, eyeliner, and nano brows (brows done by machine) and I also provide PMU/Microblading Trainings.
I believe what sets me apart is that many of the microblading artists in Rochester, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Florida are successful today because they have taken my trainings and I was a stepping stone to launching them into their careers. I truly have a passion for empowering women in both training and doing the procedure. My attention to detail and an artistic eye are just a couple of things that set me apart from the rest in both training and microblading.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Regardless of your reason for making an appointment, whether it’s due to improper eyebrow maintenance when you were younger or if you overcame your battle with cancer, my favorite part of the process is when I reveal the finished job and see their reaction. I want them to see the beauty of their eyes and creating that perfect eyebrow for them lets me bring out that inner
beauty and ensures that they walk out holding their head high.
Tell us about being the co-founder of Beauty Mark Brows, and what this business entailed.
Beauty Mark Brows started because there was a need for microblading trainings. When I started microblading there really weren’t many trainings available in the area. The available training was expensive and far and the work from the trainers was not up to the level that I wanted to learn. There were not even many YouTube videos like there are today.
We took that need and created Beauty Mark Brows and traveled to areas that we saw a need for. I helped build BMB from the ground up. Behind the scene, I did research to see the regulations for each state and obtained the proper permits to train in that area. I dealt with customer service and answered any questions potential students may have and signed up new students for the courses. I booked the space for the trainings and made sure that all the training supplies got to the proper locations. I created the training manuals and curriculum. I traveled to many states and was the actual instructor for the trainings and after the trainings, I provided continuous support and guidance after completion of the course. had grown as an artist, instructor, and businesswoman and our direction on where we were going as a business were not matching up and it was time to go our separate ways.
What’s the best business advice you have ever received?
Owning a business is not easy and you will have your challenges and you will doubt yourself and ask yourself if you made the right choice. When that moment comes that you want to give up….Don’t because that just means that you are ready for your breakthrough and you are entering that next level in our business. You have to Stay true to yourself and know your worth and what you bring.
What do you think helped you the most to make a career as a woman? What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful?
I think what helped me the most to make a career as a woman is not to give up and surround myself with people and friends that make me strive to be better. The business world is always evolving regardless of what your business is and it is important to remember to keep on educating yourself on what is new in your business and keeping up and ahead of the trends is important.
Name one female leader that has inspired you and why.
There are so many female leaders that inspire me. Every woman has a story and when I read or hear a story of a strong female leader overcoming diversity and accomplishing greatness in their field it pushes me to overcome whatever obstacles I may be facing.
How do you find new clients? What has been your biggest success?
I obtain most of my clients through word of mouth and social media. My biggest success is doing what I love every day. Not many people can say that they love what they do and I do not take that for granted.
What kind of person do you feel makes a successful microblader?
“Once I completed my esthetics license I came to a crossroads, either I was going to continue working corporate or I was going to take the leap of faith and work for myself. “
The kind of person that makes a successful Microblader is a person that listens to their clients and takes their time and pays attention to details.
I feel that you need passion and dedication. I am constantly reading and researching new microblading products and techniques to perfect my work. I still practice my microblading technique daily to perfect my work and be a successful Microblader. You never stop learning.
As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?
As a female leader, the most significant barrier has been juggling being a single mother of two and keeping up with the demands of being a business owner.
You are undoubtedly busy, how do you take care of yourself and maintain good mental health? What do you do for fun?
For my mental health, I like to plan vacations and weekend trips it gives me something to forward to. Self-care is important, life and work can get hectic but it is important to stop and enjoy your family and loved ones.
What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date? I recently created my LLC and standing on my own and being the Sole owner of my business and seeing my vision become a reality is surreal.
What is the key to keeping long-term clientele, and having repeat business?
I still have clients that have supported me from day one. I believe the key to keeping my long-term clientele is listening to my clients, greeting them with a smile, and caring about my client. My long-term clients when come in it feel like I am catching up with an old friend. They trust my work and they can relax and update me on what’s new and exciting in their life.
What is the number one business goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
I have a lot of big plans coming up for 2023 that I am super excited about. Maybe some new services or expanding my location. You will just have to stay tuned to see.
What is one thing people don’t know about you?
One thing that people don’t know about me is that I am shy. I still get nervous about meeting new people.
What is your favorite service to provide and why?
I love brows and being able to give my clients brows by microblading is my favorite service because it is crazy how life-changing a pair of good brows are. For mature clients, it makes them look 10 years younger, for young clients suffering from Trichotillomania it gives them more confidence and a little less anxiety, for my clients suffering from Alopecia or cancer it gives them something back that was taken from them. There are many reasons why women get this procedure and me just being a part of their journey is amazing.
How long have you been training, and perfecting your techniques before opening your own business?
Before I opened my business I researched for about 6 months and I trained and practiced for about 3 months. I worked with friends and family in those first 3 months and then added microblading as one of my services and within the year microblading was the only service I offered because of the demand.
269 PARK AVE, ROCHESTER, NY, UNITED STATES, 14607
(585) 770-8795
SARAI@SARAISANTIBEAUTYBAR.COM
SPECIALIZES IN WILLS/PROBATE AND TRUST WORK, ALONG WITH REAL ESTATE AND NURSING HOME COLLECTIONS
1900 EMPIRE BLVD. #172 I WEBSTER, NY 14580 I (585)217-9390
MARISOL CRESPO LONCOA
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I’m a native New Yorker born and raised in the Bronx NY my parents are from Puerto Rico. I have been married for 35 years to my husband Rene and have 2 son’s Robert (33) and Daniel (32) and an adorable Shitzu/ Havanese named Rocky.
I came to Rochester in 1981 to attend RIT and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Travel and Tourism Management in 1986. At the time travel seemed like such a glamorous and exciting field. I worked in the travel industry for 33 years, the last 20-plus years as a Corporate Travel Consultant. Before the pandemic, I was working for a TMC as the VIP agent at Paychex. When my oldest son Robert decided he wanted to start a food truck business I was right there with him helping with the prep work, cooking, and administrative work. I managed the bookings and back office details involved with running the business while also working my full-time job.
I have always enjoyed cooking, feeding people, and bringing joy to people via food. While at work I felt joy in bringing in potluck meals and desserts to work.
What made you decide to open your own business? Tell us a little about how you started.
After the pandemic, I spent a lot of time at home cooking and baking. I tried new recipes which I always share with friends and family. I really enjoy baking, and for years during the Holiday I would back over 100 dozen cookies which I shared with family and friends. One day someone told me I should open a bakery, I was hesitant and resistant at first because I didn’t want it to become a job or so overwhelming that it would lose its joy. I was also scared that I wasn’t good enough and that there are so many talented bakers,
who would want to purchase desserts from me. However, after spending a year working from home but hardly working because the travel industry suffered such a blow due to Covid 19, travel was not returning back to normal, and I started to lose my desire to continue in the industry. It took me over a year to decide to retire from travel take the plunge and start my own thing. truck, but people were really enjoying what I made and I was reveling in the joy my baked goods were bringing to people.
What makes you hustle?
Being my own person, building my own business, and making something for myself makes me hustle. I’ve been a daughter, wife, and mother giving 100% of myself to others. Now I want to build something for myself! This is my hustle, I want to do this for myself.
What is Sweet Treats by Momma K’s?
Sweet Treats by Momma K is Love. It is my love of cooking, baking, and feeding others. It is joy, the joy it brings to others through my Sweet Treats.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Growing and improving my art is my favorite part of what I do.
Challenging myself by trying things I’ve never done. And making others smile and feel good from the joy my desserts bring them.
What is your specialty?
My specialty is Macarons and my favorite cookies to make. My signature cookies are the Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.
What’s the best business advice you have ever received?
The best business advice I’ve received is there is nothing you can’t fix.
What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful?
Overcoming my own fears! Telling myself I can do this and stick with it. Doing one thing at a time.
What have you found to be the most successful promotion for Momma K’s?
I have found that social media is a huge tool for growing my business. I use Instagram all the time to promote desserts and events.
How do you find new customers?
Most new customers have come by sharing my product and doing vendor events.
Where did you learn how to bake, and who was the first person who inspired you?
Growing up my grandmother, mother and other close relative were phenomenal cooks, but they were not bakers. Most of our cakes or desserts in the Bronx came from Valencia Bakery which is a popular bakery that is still around. I used to love walking into Valencia Bakery, the smell of sugar, and admiring all the beautiful cakes on display. My dad had a big sweet tooth, but we grew up with Entenmanns cakes or some dessert from the local bodega. Once I was off on my own I started making box mix desserts, and after I got married and had kids I would follow recipes and would be happy when something would actually turn out. I am a self-taught baker and a graduate of Youtube University, and like they say you only get better with practice.
What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
Being fairly new I am Thankful and appreciate all my supporters and all the repeat customers. This year I am blessed to have consistent weekly wholesale orders. I’ve catered weddings, graduations and corporate events. I was also one of the dessert caterers for a Chocolate Gala with Sweet Treats by Momma K.
What do you do for fun?
For fun I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy traveling.
What have you found to be the biggest challenge being an entrepreneur?
My biggest challenge is time and space.
What is the key to having repeat business?
I feel the key to repeat business is #1 having a quality product, being trustworthy, and staying humble.
What is the number one business goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
The number one business goal I plan to accomplish within the next year is to expand into a bigger kitchen. Being a home-baker I have very limited space to work with and it’s a constant challenge to be able to produce what I want to produce in the space I am currently working with. I would also like to be able to grow to the point where I can hire an assistant.
Where will we see you next?
I have several events lined up through the end of the year and if you visit the mini-makers event on 12/14th at the “Roc Holiday Village” you will find Sweet Treats by Momma k. I will be participating in Rochester Woman’s Online Magazine events
as well as Salco Events Christmas Extravaganza on 12/11th.
What is one thing people don’t know about you?
I have two things, first is I don’t like to talk about myself and I don’t like to brag about myself.
Second- I have always wanted to own my own business and almost started my own travel agency back in the early 2000s but 911 happened and with all the changes in the travel industry I realized it was not the right time.
MAGNOLIA’S FORMALWEAR
Tell us about Magnolia’s Formal wear, and how and why it was created.
Magnolias Formal Wear is located in Evans Mills, NY. Magnolias has over 700 gowns that you can rent or purchase for any occasion.
Magnolias Formal Wear was created because the owners moved in a town next to the military base. Owner Adam Cobb, is a retired Army Veteran and he knew their was a need in our community to help with the military balls. Owner Shannon Thweatt former Miss Plus America 2019, has been in the pageant world since 2017 and always had a passions for helping others.
What sets you apart from other formal wear stores?
What sets Magnolia’s apart from other stores is that we allow renting. It takes the pressure off of buying an expensive gown and having it sit in their closets after or having to try to resale it. The customer picks up their gowns 3 days prior to the event and drops them off 3 days after the event.
What range of styles do you stock?
Magnolias carries lots of gowns ranging from size 0-24, children’s gowns, and bridal. Each gown is different and unique. We have several designer gowns.
Who inspired you to start your own business?
Several people helped inspired Magnolia’s. Both owners helped inspired each other to help make our dreams come true. Also a very good friend, Bonnie, not only helps us start our business, but she is also the person who suggested for us to start our formal wear business.
Who are your top 3 favorite designers to carry and why?
Sydney’s Closet, Jovani, Sherry Hill. I love that these designers are size exclusive!
What would you say is the biggest difference between you and other formalwear shops in the area?
We are the only place locally that rents our gowns. We also accept dresses in exchange for a gift card that can be used for future purchases. We are also partnered with several organizations where we can donate gowns for those in need.
What makes you hustle as a female
entrepreneur? My family and our customers.I have always loved being able to help others and have their “Cinderella Moment”.
What are the Top 5 questions asked by women looking to purchase formalwear in 2022?
1.*How many dresses do you have in your shop?
2. *Do you carry plus size?
3. *What are the differences between the styles of dresses that you carry?
4. *I don’t know my size... how do I know what size I am?
5. * Do you offer a military discount?
What has been the hardest challenge you have faced as a female entrepreneur?
The hardest thing I have had to face
s trying to let our clients know that we are here. It’s very hard running a ship out of your home and not having a store front. I feel like people miss out on some great deals just because we aren’t well known yet.
So, what are the most important things to carry in your boutique?
Gowns sizes 16 and up! It’s important to make sure everyone feels beautiful and that we carry sizes for everyone
What do you want to achieve next?
I hope to bring back pageants! I plan to have a pageant system where everyone is welcome. I will have prelims and a state pageant at the end of the year.
What are your tips for growing a company?
We have expanded our business by also doing craft fair where we have started doing glitter tattoos and fairy hair. We have used these fairs to also market our formal wear business as expanding into birthday parties
Did you have a strategy or plan in place prior to starting your business?
What tips would you suggest to now have over 1,000 gowns.
The best advice we can give someone to start their own business would be to pace yourself within your financial means and sell your brand.
Who inspired you to own your own business and why?
Being in the pageant world I was giving an opportunity that I couldn’t passed up from a fellow business owner and friend. She is who helped inspired us to start our business.
Where will we see Magnolia’s Formalwear next?
In the future we hope to have our own store front and will start hosting our own pageants
Magnolia’s Formal Wear magnoliasformalwear@ yahoo.com
Name your number one formalwear MUST-HAVE item.
Our amazing seamstress! She is a must have for our shop and we could not do this without her someone looking to start their own business/boutique? Our network strategy is the key to our business. We started with 400 gowns and through networking we
START ORDERING ONLINE EXCLUSIVELY AS OF NOV. 15TH
WWW.BEESNATCHED.COM
JULIE OLDFIELD
Tell us about yourself and your background?
I have a Masters degree in Social Work and I am currently employed as a senior caseworker with Monroe County.
What makes you hustle?
I try my hardest to ensure my photography is unique and captures all sides of Rochester.
What made you decide to go into photography, and what is your favorite thing to photograph?
I started out in photography has a hobby to give me something fun to do. My favorite thing to photograph is portraiture, cityscapes, as well as documenting various groups in Rochester who are trying to bring about social change. I photograph while I volunteer with Recovery All Ways (they help those struggling with addiction and homelessness). I have recently started photographing wildlife.
What would you say is the most rewarding part of owning your own photography business?
Getting to know and work with a large variety of people. Each situation is challenging and different. No two assignments are alike.
What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
Photography can be full of unknowns and no one has all the answers. It is constantly evolving.
How did you get good at photography?
A lot of practice and studying the work of other photographers.
Who inspires you?
People who work hard to make a difference in the lives of others.
Do you use social media alot to promote your business? What is your favorite platform?
I do use Facebook and Instagram. It is hard to pick a favorite because both have the ability to reach a lot of people.
What has been your biggest hurdle to try and overcome since opening your business?
I really enjoy the art side of photography and I need to continue to develop skills in obtaining new clients.
What has been the best compliment you have ever received?
The I have a good eye to see things a lot of people might overlook.
What skills do you feel you posses that will make clients want to use your services?
I listen to their vision on how they would like their photos and try to fulfill that.
Tell us one thing most people don’t know about you.
I have a sense of adventure and like to take risks in exploring new places to photograph.
What gear do you use, and what lens is your favorite?
I have two Canon full-frame digital cameras. My favorite lens if the 70-200mm lens.
What kind of tools do you use for post-processing? What’s your workflow like?
I import photos to Adobe Lightroom and then make final adjustments with exposure in Photoshop.
What so you do other than photography for your career?
I am a social worker. That is my has been my career since my early 20’s.
Out of all your photos, which one is your favorite? Why?
I took a photo of a man handing a meal to another man who was living in a tent. It was taken on a very cold January day. It is my favorite because it really shows the giving spirit in the Rochester area.
Whose work has influenced you most?
I really enjoy looking at documentary photography, especially photography focusing on urban life. I have books by Camilo Jose Vergara and Boogie. They both are amazing street photographers.
would give to a photographer just starting out?
Practice and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
What is next for you?
I hope to continue to engage in portraiture and wedding photography, as well as documentary work .
