Day: March 30, 2023

She’s Making Herstory: Meet Stacy Garcia

Posted in Pretty HerstoryLeave a comment

 As an internationally renowned designer, Stacy Garcia has partnered with some of the world’s leading manufacturers and retailers to create products that span from floor to ceiling. Her designs have been featured on QVC where her style is accessible to nearly everyone, while her exclusive draperies, rugs, wall coverings, furniture, and accessories adorn the rooms of some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts including Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton. With shopstacygarcia.com, Stacy has entered the world of Ecommerce, enabling anyone to own beautiful pieces curated by Stacy and her design team.

A respected leader in the world of design, Stacy Garcia is a successful entrepreneur with multiple companies established under her umbrella including Stacy Garcia Inc., a licensing and design house, producing fashion and interior products under the Stacy Garcia family of brands. Her partners include York Wallcoverings, TileBar, Karastan Rugs, and Bernhardt Furniture. LebaTex, Stacy’s first business venture is a distinctive textile company that provides high-performance fabrics to the hospitality and commercial industries. Known for her modern eclectic style, inventive use of color, and remarkable pattern design skills, Stacy Garcia is a sought-after name in the hospitality, home décor, and lifestyle industries.

What inspired your start in entrepreneurship?

I still remember the moment in High School when one of my art teachers invited a tile designer to speak with us and my mind was opened to the possibility that I could make a living off of creating tile or patterns. That seed inspired my decision to study Surface Pattern Design at Syracuse University and Central St. Martins in London, England and learned how to design everything from tile to carpet, wallcoverings, textiles, even dishes! From there, entrepreneurship was the logical next step so I could own my designs!

Tell us about Stacy Garcia.com? 

StacyGarcia.com or Stacy Garcia Inc., is a licensing and design house, producing fashion and interior products under the Stacy Garcia family of brands (Stacy Garcia Commercial, Stacy Garcia | New York, Stacy Garcia Home, Stay by Stacy Garcia, and Shop Stacy Garcia). I founded Stacy Garcia Inc. in 2004; becoming my second successful company. My first company is LebaTex, a distinctive textile company that provides high performance fabrics to the hospitality and commercial industries. 

What can customers expect when shopping StacyGarcia.com? 

With a variety of brands, customers can find exactly what they are looking for, which in my opinion is something that sparks joy and that will become a long-lasting aesthetic. We pride ourselves at Stacy Garcia on creating beautiful quality products that will bring customers joy. Whether the customer is buying for their home, a hotel, or their business they will be sure to find something they love. 

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

There are so many highlights, but one of the most memorable is when I launched my first collection on QVC. This collection called “Stay” by Stacy Garcia, included soft home furnishings inspired by travel and luxury hotels. Part of this opportunity included being on LIVE TV in front of 18 million households! That adrenaline was both nerve wracking and some of the most FUN I have experienced in my career. I got to meet Jonathan and Drew Scott, who are VERY tall in real life, and get pampered in hair and makeup. It was one of those moments that make you feel like a celebrity and make you realize that you are truly GROWING as you step outside of your comfort zone. 

If you could tribute your success to any in your life who would it be?

I get this question often, and my answer is the same- there is no way I could attribute my success to just one person. As a professional licensor I live by the motto “Inspiration through Collaboration” the best ideas are often brought to pass by multiple people contributing. We have a village for a reason, we get pieces and truths from so many individuals. My parents instilled the truth that I can do something I LOVE for life, and they encouraged me to find my passion. I will always appreciate Martha Tillim, who took the time to teach me the basics such as how to greet a customer, how to introduce yourself and how to qualify them. I still use these skills everyday as I build my company. I have had so many mentors guiding my way it’s hard to name them all.

What message do you hope women take away from your platform?

The catalyst to change from being an employee to being my own boss was the pregnancy of my first son. When life seems hard and unknown, I believe there is always a solution to CREATE the life you dream about. I want to be known for creating growth and space for others to shine. Becoming an entrepreneur was a way I did that for my children so they had significant space in my life and so I was there to see them shine. It wasn’t always smooth, but by keeping the mentality that you can pivot and learn no matter life’s circumstances is something that has proven to lead me to GROWTH and success.

What is your go-to quote for motivation?

“Jump and build your wings on the way down.” This was a quote I found in a journal given to me by my best friend before I started my first company. The words became a mantra and I took that first leap. (Authority Magazine Feature) 

 What does being a woman making Herstory mean to you?

I love the words “Herstory”. Women, this is your story. We are the creators of our stories, we can find passion and something like creating patterns and make a living. We can be a mom and an entrepreneur. If entrepreneurship isn’t the life for you, that’s GREAT it’s your story. Your space is something you always have control over, find the things in life that will bring you joy. If there isn’t enough joy, add to or get rid of things that are detracting from it. It means a great deal that I had the courage in my 20s to make my leap. I am excited to continue being the author of my story and to help others in my space create the story they dream about.

Social Media Handles: @stacygarciainc — FB, IG and TikTok

Website: https://stacygarciainc.com/

Hip-Hop and Spoken Word Artist ShySpeaks

Posted in Pretty Cover StoriesLeave a comment

ShySpeaks is an American hip-hop and spoken word artist from Dallas, TX. With her soulful voice, thoughtful lyrics, and dynamic stage presence, Shy converts audiences into instant fans! Simply put, ShySpeaks is a renaissance! As evident in her mission, “…to treat the words artist, advocate, and activist as one and the same”, the female lyricist is expanding her catalog of inspirational music and poetry to showcase a fresh, universal sound.

Recently Shy has been seen on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas TV show, featured on a Columbia Records album release entitled, Let the Trap Say Amen by Zaytoven & Lecrae, and giving opening performances alongside Ludacris, Tye Tribbet, and Jeezy, with her live band. She has been featured on various projects, college platforms, and press outlets; not to mention she is a 5x Spoken Word Artist of the Year Awardee. She’s on a mission to bring balance to urban culture through music, lyricism, and the power of her voice, stay tuned!

If you could describe your passion in one sentence what would it be?

My passions are at the intersection of art, business, faith, and culture; I endeavor to reinfuse inspiration into the world around me by spreading positivity and healthy systems for life & business. 

When did you realize you had a heart for assisting in the development of the next generation of artists?

About 7 years into my artistic journey, I’d networked with enough creatives to see that many of them were not sustaining or excelling because they lacked an innate passion for business organization. But I understand that passion can be cultivated, so I started helping any artist that asked me for help with their systems & structure; free of charge. 

What message do you hope your fans take away from your platform?

That hope exists inside each of us, it just needs to be cultivated to the point that it overflows into our communities and creates positive change in the culture. 

Tell us about your recently developed boot camp for indie artists.

Automatic Booking Bootcamp teaches indie artists how to streamline their booking process into 5 min workflow! In just 3 hours, an artist will gain the tools to be more organized and less overwhelmed with all the tedious tasks needed to take a booking form inquiry to execute a contract. Once my signature IABA System is installed, it is rinsed and repeated, allowing the artist to generate bookings on auto-pilot. 

You recently hosted your first annual festival, what is the inspiration behind this event and what can attendees expect this year?

Yes! I like to say that, Civilized Fest, is “where Civics and Culture collide”. I started the event as a way to create a platform that keeps the necessary conversations alive about the work still ahead of us regarding racial equity and our civic duty to help heal our world and yet also celebrates all that we’ve triumphed on. The goal is to create a more civic-minded community by bathing attendees in conscious civilized concerts & conversations and connecting them to local resources.  

What can we expect next from ShySpeaks?

A new music project is on the horizon, too, themed around the idea of being “Civilized”. I plan to build a library of training geared at helping indie artists embrace the business of creativity by easily implementing systems & structure. Also, prepare to hear more from me as a co-host on the soon-to-come, Minding My Creative Business podcast! 

What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles?

A woman who embarks on a beautiful grind of servicing the world by drawing on the inner beauty that she possesses within. 

Connect with ShySpeaks:

Website: ShySpeaks.com

All Social media @shyspeaks

She’s Pretty and Black Owned: Meet Tayler Jones

Posted in Pretty and Black OwnedLeave a comment

Tayler is a professional actor, director, and teaching artist who makes self-care more accessible as the founder and Head Beauty in Charge of Beauty of Detroit Box. She has taught drama and improv to youth for over six years and is currently teaching in and outside of the public school system. Both as a performer and teaching artist, she uses the mediums of theatre for social change and community-based performance to give voice to underserved and underheard individuals and communities. 

Tayler earned her Master of Fine Arts in Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young from Eastern Michigan University. She completed her acting training with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wayne State University and Moscow Art Theatre School. She has led intergenerational storytelling and improv workshops for youth and seniors as an Associate Artist. She has also devised original works, directed youth artists, and performed in theatre pieces that span social topics like housing inequity, pregnancy loss, social isolation, homelessness, pressures students face on social media and in the classroom, and injustices in our educational system. 

Knowing how emotionally and physically taxing it can be as an educator, artist, and advocate when you’re trying to make an impact in the community you serve, led her to reevaluate her burnout, by taking a more preventative and holistic approach. She realized that beautifying Detroit began with her. In order for her to show up for her students and family, she needed to show up for herself first. She makes practicing self-care easy with thoughtfully curated self-care boxes that delivers a themed set of self-care essentials, making it a more convenient and cost-effective way to embrace the beauty of the present moment, reconnect with yourself, discover quality goods, and support small businesses.

What inspired the start of The “Beauty of Detroit Box “? 

My answer is two-fold. For many of us, lockdown forced us to be still, take time to self-reflect, examine ourselves, our habits, and beliefs, as well as rethink what we cherish and value. The pandemic was a pivotal moment for me because I was graduating from a dark industry, the theatre industry. Have taught for a number of years in and outside of the public school system through various youth-driven theatre companies, most of our courses went online or got canceled due to depleted funding/participation. I needed to supplement the income I would be making from performing professionally and lecturing. I reflected on how my graduation, just like many moments of celebration for others, felt like a huge letdown. Not only did I not hear my name called to walk across the stage, but my friends and family assured me that my gifts were “on the way.” Given the scarcity of the essentials (looking at you, toilet paper) and shipping delays, I considered this a prime opportunity to support small businesses in metro Detroit.

Taking a daily inventory of my new normal and the reality of my habits magnified where I was most disconnected from myself and those around me. I didn’t always feel like I was showing up as my best self, and sometimes I felt depressed. To combat the monotony of daily living in a pandemic, burnout, and stress with working from home, I wanted to make self-care more of a priority, easily accessible, and celebrate everyday moments. The struggle changed when I gave myself grace, was intentional about self-care, and began to romanticize my life. Plus my love languages are quality time and gift-giving, and I wanted to share that sense of connection to self and community with others.

What has been the biggest challenge of running a brand like “Beauty of Detroit Box “?

My biggest challenge has been gaining visibility and building an audience. We also spend a great deal of time and thought on curating aesthetically pleasing and quality boxes, so sometimes it can be a challenge to determine what products we should include based on our criteria for beauty and excellence for that seasons theme. I am so grateful for our customers and subscribers who are genuinely excited by the unique and useful goods inside, are repeat fans, and refer our boxes to the special people in their life. We plan to continue to diversify our curated collection and increase our marketing efforts even more. 

 How does “Beauty of Detroit Box” impact the community?

This is my labor of love for the people, small businesses, and the city that has shaped me. Sometimes we need to be reminded that Detroit is iconic and that there is still beauty here, that is why we source items from the majority of small businesses in the city. We are also changing the narrative around self-care and ultimately transforming our communities. We make our self-care packages unique, accessible, and convenient for you to be the best version of yourself. When we have compassion for ourselves and are able to explore and understand our own feelings and needs, we have more empathy for others. It makes our community stronger and our quality of life so much better, but it starts with us. We have to be the change we want to see. Whether you have roots in Detroit/MI or not (although we are all connected through arts, culture, the auto industry, etc.), we can all relate to needing to combat burnout and cope with mental health challenges, as well as more time for self-care and connection.

 We are not a gift basket or generic beauty box with toxic items you can just get off a shelf, in fact we are a lot more than that – we offer a variety of unique and useful quality made goods that are natural and one-of-a-kind from all around Michigan. Each season’s box features an inspirational theme, bath and body items, on-trend accessories, cozy home goods, and Detroit pride to nurture and celebrate the beauty in you. Subscribers enjoy beautifully packaged self-care essentials and resources that inspire a positive mindset, confidence, and well-being. We give them permission to pause, as well as the ease and reliability of self-care from the comfort of home. Our gift boxes have been a thoughtful and unique way to show up for someone when you want to connect, show appreciation, or can’t physically be there. I love being a part of their special moments and being there when they need it most. We also value community engagement and love meeting our customers where they are. We are constantly told that Beauty of Detroit Box makes a difference, whether it’s customers excitement over finding the perfect gift or how much their gift recipient enjoyed it, business/product discovery, or sharing helpful self-care and mindset tips on our social media.

Where do you hope to see your brand in the next 3-5 years?

I would love for Beauty of Detroit Box to be a household name, as everyone’s go-to gifting concierge from social to corporate, as well as a hub for mental health support and community conversations. I look forward to doing more community outreach and beautification projects in the various neighborhoods across Michigan and beyond. I would also love to provide self-care essentials and resources to underserved communities, college fairs, mental health summits, and more.

 What advice do you have for the next generation of entrepreneurs?

I would tell them to do it scared; no risk, no reward. Don’t lead with fear, but love. When you have an, “if not me then who” attitude, you step into a leadership role and work to execute your dream. Many businesses start by becoming the solution to a problem that wasn’t easily accessible, a gap in the market. Being purpose-driven, being bold enough to go after your great big idea, and having a heart of service allow more abundance to surround you. You’ll need a supportive community of like-minded people to be inspired by and learn from, so be resourceful, and know who or where to go when you need support.

What does being “Pretty and Black Owned” mean to you? 

It’s the embodiment of celebrating yourself. It’s being a reflection of grace, class, and hustle. It’s unapologetically shining your light (your beautiful gift to the world) and sparking a light in the next woman. It’s being an inviting/friendly face in a crowd and a trusted name in the community. It means having an eye for the best of the best and seeing the best of it in others. I love being pretty and black-owned because I am the standard, not an exception to the rule. I am excellent and uphold the rich history of black ownership, especially in a majority-black city. It’s knowing that black dollars don’t circulate in communities that look like ours unless we are diligent and intentional about who we spend them with. One of the shared values, is quality, and respect. It’s knowing and owning who you are and putting the next person on. I love being a reflection of my beautiful, innovative, and resilient city, as well as helping the community discover a treasure trove of local majority women-owned businesses from hidden gems to nationally known ones. Being Pretty and Black Owned is a way of life; it’s being dedicated to showing up for yourself and your community!

Connect Online by visiting their website

https://www.mybeautyofdetroitbox.com/

Facebook: Beauty of Detroit Box