AffirmMePlease! Foluke Houston-Gaddis

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Foluke Houston-Gaddis

Saving lives and saving souls. It is often said the power of life and death lies in the tongue, so it’s imperative that one be mindful of what is spoken from one’s mouth.

Germantown, TN, resident Foluke Houston Gaddis, along with her husband, Rodney, has launched a new line for verbal fashion designed to empower others through affirmation. “I am a person who has discovered my purpose: to positively impact others with my gift. I can accomplish this while using my skills from my Human Resources background and my business venture, AffirmMePlease,” she says.

AffirmMePlease, Foluke says, is a manifestation of her aspirations. She says since she was a little girl, she has always written down her thoughts and spoken about them. “I was raised by two parents who were Christian and Spiritual leaders who raised my siblings and me to believe in God and pray and ask God for His provision and His power. I wrote down so much that my mother told me to stop writing so much and leaving it around my house,” Foluke laughs. Forty-one years of affirming herself and believing in the power of provision that is assigned to her through the word of God has ultimately produced AffirmMePlease.

Foluke says she has affirmed herself through some very tough situations, illnesses, and difficulties. During the Covid 19 pandemic, she says things really came to a head. “During the pandemic, I, like many other people, felt the psychological and negative impact of Covid. Being isolated really accelerated and amplified solitude and depression. I really used biblical affirmations during that time to encourage myself. I had them everywhere in my house, on my bathroom mirrors, on my workstations, and in other places. I also listened to them at night before going to bed to assist with getting myself out of that season of hopelessness. I also entered a 40-day fast and only digested God’s words, sermons, and affirmations. While I was going through the fast, God put it on my heart to share my affirmations with others. I wasn’t obedient, but God kept pulling at me. When I came out of the fast, I was transformed. I stepped out on faith and began sharing my vision with the world via social media.”

During the pandemic, I, like many other people, felt the psychological and negative impact of Covid. Being isolated really accelerated and amplified solitude and depression. I really used biblical affirmations during that time to encourage myself.

She was scared in the beginning, mainly due to the fear of what others would ask her. Still, Foluke pressed on, and as of today, AffirmMePlease enjoys the company of 40,000 social media followers. “Having that level of support confirms that there is definitely a need for this type of content,” Foluke says. She posted her content nonstop for two years, and soon, God shared the next step for AffirmMePlease with Foluke. “I listened to a message shared with a pastor, Dharius Daniels, and he said “You’re asking God for an increase, but He isn’t going to just pop money in your pocket; God is going to give you an idea”. That made my spidey senses go off, and I realized what God was trying to tell me,” she says.

Today, AffirmMePlease is transitioning from being a social hub of global followers to being a lifestyle brand. “As a lifestyle brand, we meet our customers where they are. We take a holistic approach to infusing our customers and followers with positivity and inspiration. We are launching our apparel, drinkware, digital, ebooks, journals, affirmation flashcards for kids, and more. We also will continue to post daily content and have created a private playlist for Spotify,” she says.

When asked what she loves most about her company, Foluke says she loves to hear feedback from clients who have experienced AffirmMePlease. I consider my brand a haven for hope, and others do as well. So many people have reached out and asked me to continue to post our affirmations. I smile because that’s my “why”. We have a tool to encourage each other, affirm ourselves, and understand that we have an inert ability to bring ourselves from dark places. I suffer from seasonal depression, and during those times when my perception of my self-image is low, being able to create affirmations brings me hope and uplifts my spirits,” Foluke says.

As a lifestyle brand, we meet our customers where they are. We take a holistic approach to infusing our customers and followers with positivity and inspiration.

Foluke and her team of creatives have created unique and one-of-a-kind designs. Their messages are intentional and often have a ripple effect with their messages. “There are so many apparel brands available, but we wanted to be unique,” she says. Additionally, AffirmMePlease strives to reach others, even those who may not be wearing their brand but simply walking by someone who is. The impact of the message is the same.

Moving forward, Foluke shares she will continue to respond to what God has told her to do with AffirmMePlease. “We will continue to provide products and offer our clients experiences. We are an inclusive brand, and our products are for everybody,” she says.

Before AffirmMePlease officially launched, the appetite for their products was apparent. “Before launching, we gave away a free affirmation devotional for those who subscribed to their website. In only a few weeks, over 200 people signed up to receive the journal. If that is any inclination of what we want to experience, who knows what is to come? We are expecting a steady increase in sales and a passionate customer base,” she says.

While based in Germantown, TN, AffirmMePlease does ship nationwide. Moving forward, Foluke says one of her goals is to create partnerships with nonprofits that support underrepresented communities so that they can provide sponsorships and products. “That is another way we can stay close to our mission and values,” she says. To learn more about AffimMePlease, please visit their website.

www.AffirmMePlease.com