Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaterika Beasly.
Hi Shaterika, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
One day, I saw my mother create a fruit bouquet and jokingly, I stated, “We should make this a business.” I had no idea that I was manifesting my destiny. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 2015, I asked my mom to create a fruit bouquet and I set it in the teacher’s lounge. Everyone was bragging about how good it was. That created the idea to start selling them. We were 2 weeks away from Mother’s Day and I began to ask teachers if they wanted to purchase one. After posting on social media and collecting orders from the staff, I received about 35 orders. That’s when the “light” hit me and I created Shay’s Fruit Bouquets. I started by creating different things and posting it. Then it was the clients that helped me expand. They challenged me and started asking me to make other things like chocolate covered Oreos, cake pops, strawberries, and etc. I started to become more creative and realized this was my passion. In 2019, I stepped out on faith and resigned from education to pursue entrepreneurship full time.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If I could describe this journey in one word, it would be sacrifice. I sacrificed a lot. I put a lot of time, energy, passion, finances, love, and faith in my business. When you are striving for success and elevating you can start to feel a little lonely. You may lose friendships, miss events, and most of your time and energy goes into the business. The journey is like a roller coaster. You go up and down, but it becomes easier once you understand that every business has its slow season and peak season. You have to be prepared for those slow seasons and have a plan to overcome them. It’s important to know your worth and understand that quitting is never an option, instead choose innovation.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Shay’s Fruit Bouquets is a mother-and-daughter establishment that was created in 2015. Shay watched her mom create a fruit bouquet for a friend and then decided to turn it into a business. We are known for our beautiful and tasty fruit bouquets, but also our juicy and sweet chocolate covered strawberries, What set us apart is our customer service, innovation and our customized orders. We pride ourselves in ensuring every customer is happy and satisfied. We are constantly creating new treats to keep our customers intrigued and wanting to try the “new thing” on the menu. You can add any choice of wording on your fruit including your name that makes it more personalized and special for you or the recipient. Apart from fruit, we also create chocolate cover Oreos, rice Krispy treats, pretzels and etc. We have specialty strawberries such as stuff cheesecake, cookies and cream, fruity pebbles, turtle style, and much more. We also specialize in dessert tables for any occasion. If you are having a birthday party, wedding, bridal shower, etc. Shay’s Fruit Bouquets is who you should call for your sweet treats or dessert table. We are open to new ideas. If you have a vision, we want to help you bring it to life.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
We see ourselves expanding and having several storefronts in 5-10 years. In 2023 we are launching our new business adventure ” Sip and Dip Strawberries.” This is where we bring the party to you. If you are having a girls’ night, birthday party, bridal shower, or etc. We will teach you how to dip strawberries in a fun setting. This adventure could also be perfect for kid parties and a romantic date night. We are very excited about this new journey.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Shaysfruitbouquets
- Facebook: @shaysfruitbouquets
- Yelp: @Shay’s Fruit Bouquets
