Featuring Featuring
My My Alter Ego Alter Ego
Closet Closet
w/ Tatiana Matthews w/ Tatiana Matthews
Balancing Life Balancing Life
w/ Larendra McDonald w/ Larendra McDonald
Stay in the Stay in the Know with Know with
Business Business
ARE YOUR ARE YOUR MARKETING MARKETING SKILLS SKILLS WORKING? WORKING?
Q2 2024 Q2 2024
DIAMOND DIAMOND EELITE LITE
FEATURED
DiamondEliteMagazine'sgoalis DiamondEliteMagazine'sgoalis ttoboosttheexposureandsalesof oboosttheexposureandsalesof entrepreneursandprofessionals. entrepreneursandprofessionals.
Webelievenetworking, Webelievenetworking, collaborationandwordofmouth collaborationandwordofmouth arethebiggestessentialswhenit arethebiggestessentialswhenit comestobusiness. comestobusiness.
Astheyearscontinue,weplanto Astheyearscontinue,weplanto tthriveinsuccessandhelpexpand hriveinsuccessandhelpexpand tthesmallbusinesseswhohave hesmallbusinesseswhohave contributedalongtheway. contributedalongtheway.
Besuretotakeaphotoofthead Besuretotakeaphotoofthead iinsideandcontactthebusiness nsideandcontactthebusiness ownerorprofessionalregardinga ownerorprofessionalregardinga productorserviceifinterested. productorserviceifinterested. TTellthemwesentyou! ellthemwesentyou!
Bath and Body Marketing SKills Balance & Change My Alter Ego Closet Stay In the Know pg.6 pg.10 pg.14 pg.16 pg.21
Norma’s
Abrandfora Abrandfora companyislikea companyislikea reputationfora reputationfora person.Youearn person.Youearn reputationby reputationby ttryingtodohard ryingtodohard tthingswell. hingswell.
-JeffBezos -JeffBezos
NORMA'S BATH & BODY
he Body Bakery
orma’s Bath Norma's Bath nd Body was established in 004. Two words to describe e inception of Norma’s Bath nd Body: “faith” and “love ” hose two words are most ing as we were established in ebruary 2004 This year we lebrate Nineteen years of usiness! it's a lot of work, but t rewarding!
orma’s Bath and Body literally arted by faith. As cliché as it ay sound, I literally stepped ut on faith and started the usiness I was working in retail nd after sustaining an cident, I left my job That was eap of faith in itself I began afting, doing research and arted making soap. There as a gift in my hands that eveloped into not only making ap but also other products ch as creamy lotions, bath lts, and gift baskets
Norma’s Bath and Body is a love story too. At the time, my fiancé, Stanley, who is my husband today, encouraged me to start my business Stanley encouraged me to start selling Norma’s Bath and Body products on eBay! I did and now I am selling online, in person and throughout the United States Try one of our soaps today; they come in all shapes of sizes.
Norma's Bath and Body is the handmade body bakery huge variety of products to choose from Welcome wholesale accounts as well Some of Norma's favorite fragrances are Birthday cake, Cotton Candy, Lavender, Blackberry, Cranberry and Lemongrass normasbath.etsy.com Pinterest.com/normasbath nstagram.com/normasbathandbody
normasbathandbody@gmail.com
Spring SpringisintheAir isintheAir
GARLICBUTTERSHRIMP &ASPARAGUS
INGREDIENTS
2 TBSP EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, DIVIDED
2 BUNCHES ASPARAGUS (ABOUT 1 1/2 LB. TOTAL)
KOSHER SALT
6 TBSP. UNSALTED BUTTER
5 CLOVES GARLIC, FINELY CHOPPED
1 TSP. ONION POWDER
PINCH OF CRUSHED RED PEPPER FLAKES
1 1/2 LB MEDIUM SHRIMP, PEELED, DE-VEINED ZEST OF 1 LEMON
JUICE OF 1/2 LEMON
CHOPPED FRESH PARSLEY, FOR SERVING
STEP 1 - IN A LARGE SKILLET OVER MEDIUMHIGH HEAT, HEAT 1 TABLESPOON OIL ADD ASPARAGUS; SEASON WITH 1/2 TEASPOON SALT. COOK, STIRRING OCCASIONALLY, UNTIL ASPARAGUS ARE TENDER BUT STILL CRISP, 8 TO 10 MINUTES. TRANSFER TO A PLATE.
STEP 2 - IN SAME SKILLET OVER MEDIUM HEAT, COOK BUTTER, GARLIC, ONION POWDER, RED PEPPER, AND REMAINING 1 TABLESPOON OIL UNTIL BUTTER IS MELTED. ADD SHRIMP; SEASON WITH 1/2 TEASPOON SALT COOK UNTIL SHRIMP ARE PINK AND COOKED THROUGH, 1 TO 2 MINUTES PER SIDE REMOVE FROM HEAT AND STIR IN ASPARAGUS. ADD LEMON ZEST, LEMON JUICE, AND PARSLEY AND TOSS TO COMBINE
Recipes Recipes
“Don’tsitdown “Don’tsitdown andwaitforthe andwaitforthe opportunitiesto opportunitiesto come.Getupand come.Getupand makethem.” makethem.”
--MadamC.J.Walker MadamC.J.Walker
MARKETING SKILLS AreYour
WORKING?
Provide Better Content: When good marketers create effective content, it delivers results by increasing audience value, audience engagement, leads and sales. Some of the important components for creating good content are using a documented content marketing strategy, creating better content than the competitors, finding the best way to promote the content and giving the audience the content they want.
Understand social media marketing:
Successful social media marketing stems from understanding how different social networks function, applying goals to different networks and knowing which networks to focus on. It also stems from using the right tactics to achieve those goals, understanding which networks your audience uses most and what content inspires your audience to engage. Good marketers gain experience and skills with multiple types of social media platforms.
Engage in visual marketing: Customers may engage with marketing more if it contains visual content like images, info-graphics, videos and animations. These visual assets can be the most important part of content depending on the target demographic and their preferences. Good marketers often take the time and initiative to learn how they can make their campaigns more successful by developing graphic design, photography or videography skills.
“If you don’t build “If you don’t build your dream, your dream, someone else will someone else will hire you to help hire you to help them build theirs.” them build theirs.”
MEET
Kookie Kookie
KookieRichardsonisanauthor,speaker,Minister,andaLife Coach.SheismarriedwithfourbeautifulchildreninMississippi. Shestartedasmallbusinessboutiquebutin2016shestarted takingitmoreseriouslyandnameditDestinee'sFashionafterher youngestdaughter.Destinee'sFashionstartedtomakesure otherscanhavethebestproductsatalowprice.Overthelast threeyears,thebusinesshasgrownbyaddingmoreselectionsto thecompanysuchasbodyproducts,lipglosses,andmore.A percentageoftheordersaredonatedtogivebacktothe communityandhomeless.Growingupshedidn'thavemuchbut sheisgratefulandappreciativeforeverythingherparentswere abletodoforher.Thisisabigparttowhyshegivestothosein need.
AsaMinisterandaLifeCoach,KookieRichardsonstartedBalance andChangeLLC,whichshehelpsothersrefocusandrepurpose theirlivesaswellashelpingthemseethemselvesasGoddoes. SheisverypassionateaboutherloveforGod.Shehasasaying forherlife"Neverbelieveyourcircumstancesaremorepowerful thanGod'sgrace".HerLifeCoachingsessionstartat$25for studentsand$75forothers.Herconsultationsarefreefor15 minutes.KookieRichardsonhasbeenfeaturedonB.O.VirtueChristianWomeninMinistry/BusinessMagazineandWalkinginto HerMinistries-Sister2SisterCheckIn.
Tatiana Matthews was born and raised in Michigan. She’s a mother and full timeentrepreneur.MyAlterEgoClosetishernewestbusiness.Itbeganasa small business operating from the basement of her home. Since then she has successfully flourished from the basement to a warehouse and now a physicallocation.
www.MyAlterEgoCloset.com
www.MyAlterEgoCloset.com
On December 18, 2022, they officially opened their brick-and-mortar location. The story behind My Alter Ego Closet began when Matthews tragically lost her oldest child in a car accident in May of 2020. The loss of her daughter took her into a deep depression, in which she only found happinessindressingupandmakeup.
Whenshewasdressedup,itwaslikeablockagefrompainandawaytocope with her depression. She felt good, and looked good. When people would see her dressed up, conversations changed from “Sorry for your loss” to “Youlookcute;wheredidyougetthatfrom?”Thiswasherwaytosomewhat controlling those unwanted conversations. It was just something about gettingdressedupthatmaskedthefeeling.
Whendressedup,Ifeltbacktomyself.Peoplesawtheoldmeagain;people saw,myalterego.Aswomenwegetlostinourdailystandardactivitiesthat we sometimes lose ourselves while taking care of others and making uncomfortablesituationsfeelcomfortable.
AbouttheBusiness:
At My Alter Ego Closet, we desire to create a unique experience with each customer. Our goal is to have each customer feeling rejuvenated and fashionable.Wealsoaimtogiveothersanundeniablereasontostareaswe strutinourMyAlterEgoClosetattire.Wemakeiteasynottobebasicwhile embracingawaytoobtainself-care.
My Alter Ego Closet is not your average boutique. It was designed to replicate a woman’s luxury walk-in closet. Upon entry, customers are asked to remove their shoes, however they supply disposable slippers while shopping. They have a fabulous shoe room, chandeliers, and a wine station offering complimentary spirits (21+). Online booking reserves 45 minute private shopping slots. When a shopping slot is booked the store is closed foryouanduptothreeguests.
Challenges:
Onemajorchallengethathasbeenfacedonmyjourneyisfindingateamtogrowwith her.
“I wish that I would have looked more into the administrative task and building my team so that I don’t have to wear so many hats. I feel that having a team is essential forgrowth,”Matthewsstated.
Besidethecloset,MatthewshastwoactiveFacebookgroupsthatareallaboutwomen empowerment and feeling fabulous. One is titled Beauties in Business. This group is currently at six thousand members and growing. Within this group you can learn all thingsmakeupfrombeginnertoadvanced,aswellaspromoteyourbusinessandview othersmallbusinesses.
The next group is titled Rich Aunties who brunch GR. In this group, they meet once a monthforsomefungirltime.Theyhavebeenestablishedforovertwoyearsnowand alwayslookingforotherladiestojoin.
GivingBack&SoundAdvice:
Onewaytheygivebackisbyofferingthreemonthcontractstoothersmallbusinesses whodesirealittlemoreexposure;withthisprogramtheyplacetheiritemsinthestore forthreemonths,andtheykeeptheirprofitinsales.
“TheadvicethatIwouldgivetoanaspiringentrepreneuristobuildyourteam.Having astrongknowledgeableteamisessential.Makesuretheyhaveapassionforwhatever hat they are wearing. Get out and network, attend as many events that you can, so whenpeopleseeyoutheyknowexactlywhoyouare.Alwaysdeliverqualityproducts. This way your customers know that they can trust your product and will more than likelyreferotherstoyou,”saysMatthews.
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“We entrepreneurs are loners, “We entrepreneurs are loners, vagabonds, troublemakers. vagabonds, troublemakers. Success is simply a matter of Success is simply a matter of finding and surrounding ourselves finding and surrounding ourselves with those open-minded and with those open-minded and clever souls who can take our clever souls who can take our insanity and put it to good use.” insanity and put it to good use.”
-Anita Roddick -Anita Roddick
Stay in the know Stay in the know Stay in the know
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Business
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Accept all popular payment types.
Did you know that different age groups prefer to pay in different ways? Make it easy for all of your customers to purchase from you by allowing them to pay for their items or services in the way they prefer, whether that’s via credit card, debit card, mobile wallet, cash, check, or even gift card. Giving your customers more payment option helps provide a seamless shopping experience and increases the likelihood that they’ll return.
Launch a loyalty program.
Most business owners intuitively understand the value of loyalty programs. With the right setup, you can generate a steady stream of repeat business from satisfied customers. The main hurdle is getting started.
Mitigate the effects of inflation.
While inflation continues to impact the economy, small businesses can use certain strategies to help minimize its effects on their operation, aside from raising prices. For example, increasing employee retention and cutting unnecessary expenses can help mitigate cost pressures.
“Dreams do not come true “Dreams do not come true just because you dream them. just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work things happen. It’s hard work that creates change.” that creates change.”
-Shonda Rhimes -Shonda Rhimes
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