Member Profile: Shantel Gadsden
| Name | Shantel Gadsden |
| Name of your business: | Pink Verbena Domestics |
| When did you open your business? | August 2014 |
| What services do you offer? | Pink Verbena Domestics is a home services referral agency that offers residential and commercial cleaning services as well as a number of other home services in non-medical care giving and personal concierge services. |
| Why did you start the business? | After over-working as an Executive Level Manager in Retail, I found myself at a personal and professional cross roads. I've always knew I was an entrepreneur, yet was reluctant to leave the security of working for big, national brands. When my career took a peculiar turn, I seized that moment and viewed it as an opportunity to create my own dreams, to create my own career path. |
| How many people are in your company? | Currently I am my company's sole employee. |
| What has been the biggest surprise, good or bad, since you started? | The biggest surprise I've encountered has got to be the enormous amount of helpful resources there are for a hard working entrepreneur. One only has to diligently seek it out. |
| What is the toughest part of running your business? | For me, the most difficult part of running my own business, outside of the day to day administrative operations, is trusting your vision. Trusting that the brand you're trying to establish is viable and can compete with other better known names in this industry. |
| What is the best part of running your business? | I love the fact that I can create my own work day. That isn't to say that I can sleep in. Quite the contrary. Yet, I can start my day from my desk at home and schedule meetings and calls to best fit my life. |
| Is there anything that you would have done differently? | If there is one thing I would have done differently it would have been to start my business sooner. |
| What is the most important thing you will be adding, doing, changing in the next year for your business? | Collaborating with area small business, creating a network where other entrepreneurs can draw upon each others' business experience to learn valuable lessons. |
| Where do you see your business in 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years? | In 2 years, I hope to see my business be a leader in the home services referral industry. A company whose progressive business model integrates cutting edge technology to drive the culture of small business forward. |
| What advice could you give others and please don't hold back! | After you've devoted time to craft your vision, after you've dedicated the bulk of your energy to start your enterprise...TRUST your vision! Do not doubt yourself. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to other businesses for advice, resources and/or mentorship. |
| How do you use MyHouseCleaningBiz.com to help you with your business? | There are countless resources on MyHouseCleaningBiz.com. I have found the training literature, message boards and videos to BEYOND helpful. I cannot wait to use the app for assessing accounts. |
| School - high school, college, technical school: | I graduated from New Jersey City University and hold a B.A. |
| What are some of your prior jobs or businesses? | I served as a speech writer for the Secretary of State of New Jersey. I've worked as an Executive with Target Stores and as a Regional Manager with Trader Joe's Grocery Stores. |
| Is there a specific person or event in your life that made you decide to go into business for yourself? | I cannot name one specific person or event that led me to go into business for myself, just the desire to earn more than a decent paycheck. I want to create something from the ground up and make it an industry contender. |
| Web Site: | http://www.pinkverbenadomestics.com/ |
| Email Address: | Shantel@pinkverbenadomestics. |
| Your Social Network links (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc): | Twitter: @Pink_Verbena |
