Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoinette Jackson.
Hi Antoinette, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2017, I was working as a HIM Tech at a pain clinic in the Med Center, and I knew pulling medical charts was not something that I wanted to do for a lifetime. I had begun to really think about what I wanted to do for a career, and the only thing that I was certain of is that I knew that it involved children. While doing some of my daily duties at work, there was someone talking about attending a wedding where children were not allowed at the reception, and I thought to myself “I would watch all those kids, and the parents can go have fun.” My immediate next thought was, ” I bet people would pay for this service. So, I did what any normal person would do, and that was to devise a business plan on the clock. While planning my new business, I looked for another job within the school district as a LifeSkills Paraprofessional. Eventually, I began working at a school in Fort Bend ISD, which I knew would help me with my new business idea. I wanted parents to feel comfortable with who they were leaving their children with regardless of learning abilities. After strategizing for months and taking some of my paychecks to fund my business, a high school friend and fellow band member gave me a referral. I was hired for a two-day private dinner for David Imonitie, who is a successful entrepreneur. I entertained the kids with arts crafts, games, music, and so much more. Once I realized that this did not feel like work and I enjoyed working for myself, I knew it was worth pursuing. I put everything into action to get this thing going, and I had no limits to what needed to be done to let people know that this service exists. I made connections of the most talented event planners in Houston, who have used our services at beautiful events. We have done corporate party/conferences events for some Fortune 500 companies by connecting with hotels, worked with some Non-profit organizations and amazing families who want their event to go off without a hitch.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all. Starting a business is more than just thinking of a name and starting a social media page. I wanted to be legitimate while trying to make a name for myself. Marketing isn’t always easy, so I have to continuously think of fresh ideas to get my services pushed into the eyes of those who host events. There is also a season throughout the year where booking is slow. This is what eventually led me to do more than just weddings and push into corporate events.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Sunshine Event Nannies isn’t a service that just babysit your kids, but I like to think of it as an entertainment service for children. We do more than just arts and crafts. We have a variety of activities that include Xbox, Karaoke, TikTok, TVs/Movie projectors, Snacks, goodie bags & more. We want your kids to have so much fun that when parents come to check on them, the kids are so involved with entertainment they won’t want to leave. We set up stations so that kids can rotate to each table to get a chance to do all the activities that the host has selected for them.
I am most proud of the fact that I have an eye for what kids love to do. I love to see the kids’ faces change once they see what all is set up for them. I’m always on the lookout to add inventory to what we already have.
My biggest goal is to make sure we have something to do the entire time so kids stay engaged with my team and I. Happy kids means happy parents, which could ultimately lead to more business.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My husband and kids are what makes me the happiest. I love seeing them happy. Just simply knowing my kids feel loved and are healthy gives me joy. My husband and I have 4 beautiful kids that range from ages 13yrs – 1yr old, and they all have different personalities which help me with the business, as some of the kids I encounter remind of those big personalities I live with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sunshineeventnannies.square.site/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/SunshineEventNannies
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SunshineEventNannies/
