In honor of Black History Month, we are featuring three different Black-owned businesses in Chesapeake, VA, in a Small Business Spotlight. I asked these three business owners just three simple questions:
- What (or who) inspired you to start your business?
- What's an interesting fact about your business most people don't know?
- What advice would you give a young adult who wants to be a small business owner?
Read on to see what they had to say; their insights will inspire you.
Note: My questions will be in bold, and each enterpreneur's answers will follow.
Ke’Nyzjah Ferebee
Owner of Kayke!, who started her baking business at the age of 14
- What (or who) inspired you to start your business? I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur! I wouldn't say I had just one influence; I looked up to all kinds of business owners when I was little, and I just knew that entrepreneurship was something I would love to get involved with.
- What's an interesting fact about your business most people don't know? When I first started my business, I was also offering dishes of all kinds, including homemade fried rice, stew chicken, etc. However, I had more of a passion for baking than cooking, so I decided to specialize in just custom cakes and cupcakes.
- What advice would you give a young adult who wants to be a small business owner? My advice would be to believe in yourself! I know a ton of young people who are interested in entrepreneurship, but are scared of "failing", being "too young," etc. But if you truly believe in yourself, you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to.
| Whitney King Executive Director and lead Behavior Specialist of Destination Family Services located in Virginia Beach, and the co-owner of We Rock the Spectrum, a Sensory kid’s gym located in Chesapeake, Virginia |
- What (or who) inspired you to start your business? I was inspired to become a disability specialist while serving as a special education teacher. I recognized that families wanted to provide the best of everything for their children in every phase of their lives, but simply lacked the resources.
- What's an interesting fact about your business most people don't know? Destination Family Services has a membership program for families that want professionally guided family interventions to address conflicts and facilitate constructive conversations. We Rock the Spectrum also offers memberships for families that would like to prepay for visits and use the flexibility of a co-working site where their kids can play.
- What advice would you give a young adult who wants to be a small business owner? Remember why you started! Entrepreneurship can have challenges, but as a problem solver, that is what we signed up for.
Quinton Boykins
Owner of Hope Fit VA, along with his wife Sary Boykins
- What (or who) inspired you to start your business? The desire to show my kids that they don't have to do what everyone else does, in order to live a good life. I believe that success is not based on the size of my house or the type of car I drive. Success should be based on being able to spend time with the people you care about and being able to enjoy the simple things such as taking a 3 hour lunch break.
- What's an interesting fact about your business most people don't know? We were the very first facility in Hampton Roads to offer bungee fitness. We originally had planned to just open a personal training space, until my wife saw bungee fitness on Facebook.
- What advice would you give a young adult who wants to be a small business owner? Don't be afraid to try it out. Never allow fear to discourage you from stepping outside of the box. Money will come and go, no matter what it is you have or will do, but having the chance to change or add to history is priceless.
As you can see, the small business community in Chesapeake, VA is vibrant with Black-owned businesses run by entrepreneurs like Ke’Nyzjah Ferebee, Whitney King, and Quinton and Sary Boykins. Let their words and stories inspire you (and your kids) to think BIG and maybe start a small business if that is your dream too.
If you are a small business owner in Chesapeake, VA please claim your FREE business directory listing HERE.
