Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Urishama Coward. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Urishama, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
I went to pick my oldest daughter up from high school one day and she told me that a few adults in her school were looking for someone to make a few shirts for them and she thought about me. I told my daughter to pass my information to her teacher and we can chat. The teacher did contact me a couple of days later and wanted a customized Alpha Kappa Alpha “AKA” shirt made for her sorror. she had no file or any idea for the custom t-shirt but was hoping to get two shirts done within the week. She doubted that she provided me with enough notice to complete the order. I reassured her to continue to plan her cruise & I would have her order processed and completed within the next 2-4 days.
I was so excited for my first official order, I was smiling and hollering in the car the entire trip down the street, “Let’s Go!!!” My four children were just as excited for me, they chimed in with “Let’s Go Cut and Dry Creations LLC! Let’s Go!” I got to work on my computer and produced two “AKA” images on two different color shirts in a couple of hours, I was very nervous and so I sent the final image to the customer. She loved the t-shirts for her sorror based off the images I provided her. I dropped the order off to the client and she was even more ecstatic when she saw the t-shirts in person. I also received a $10 tip on the order as a Thank you.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hello, I would first like to Thank you for the feature & opportunity to tell my story about my small black business, sharing our products and services with those who didn’t know we existed – until now with the virtual level capacity of technology, and for highlighting my small and consistent “hidden gem” based business located in Ann Arbor, Michigan – Cut and Dry Creations LLC.
My name is Uri Coward, my friends call me Uri. I first started with my business idea and research in 2018 to sell pre-printed & custom sublimation and vinyl t-shirts. Along with socks, dog tanks, apparel for the family/sporting apparel, headbands, notebooks, mugs, etc. It was my senior year as an undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan University & along my journey, I gracefully accepted induction and participation to collaborate with three honor societies. I was honored to serve for one year on board of one society. Shout out to all my Eta Sigma Gamma, National Society of Leadership and Success, and Honor Society members! I have to give credit where it is due because I have had an awesome journey to get to where I am today… I can tell you this journey has just begun (finally finishing community college & completing my time as a transfer to the University – I knew I could be even greater, and bigger role model for my four kids.
Clearly, I simply hit a moment that working as a busy mom, avid-self adopted classroom mom for all my kids starting at birth, a Certified Medical Assistant, Substitute teacher, Administrative Assistant I, Secretary, Office cleaner, and now my here I am June 2020 about to receive my last degree as having completed my Health Administration degree. I forgot to add my baseline disclosure of my journey to total at least more than $60,000 in debt from school/trade school loans – soon as I finish my last final in my 2020 semester. I knew I didn’t want to struggle any farther, I wanted to use all my degrees and certifications I proudly have worked hard for and sought, & I had to make it work as a single mom of 4 growing kiddos since COVID 2019 made its entrance. So, I decided once I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration blazing through my wild wild west of trials and tribulations along the way, my research and goals ready – I decided I would birth, own, open and operate, legalize, and not turn back on my one of my lifelong dreams to become a black small business owner & entrepreneur! I would be the sole owner & manager of Cut and Dry Creations LLC located in Ann Arbor, Michigan since June 2020.
Let me tell you, starting a business during COVID, having four kids going to class from home & on four different devices at once, finances low, food scarce, and I had contracted COVID the first year in November. I knew I had to keep praying and I established my business first being legal, set up an online business on Instagram to get virtual presence, & post photos and videos for customer outreach. I also wanted to watch more positive interesting things online. With paying for additional business classes/business expenses, substrate and vinyl materials/purchasing all packaging, and business taxes it can be/become a lot on a first-time black business owner. I didn’t have anyone to directly help me and show me how to run my business and about paying business taxes among other entrepreneur things either. However, with many sleepless nights – I am excited to be alive and in business as a small black & successful business surviving COVID. I can also tell you that some businesses that opened the same week as mine are not in business now. This opportunity allows abundance for my family & I and seeing my business mark its third year still open for business this upcoming June 2023 makes me more than ecstatic for Cut and Dry Creations LLC’s new journey.
How did you build your audience on social media?
When I first started my business, I was excited to get on social media and tell the world all about Cut and Dry Creations LLC. I first started with an Instagram page. Then, I moved onto developing a facebook page, Tik Tok, and managing my own website. I had zero followers and was following no one when I first started. Now, after having an online presence for more than a year plus – I am happy to report I have about 648 authentic followers! Let me tell you; obtaining an online presence is very rewarding & not for those faint at heart.
Next, I educated myself on the difference of a FB page verus opening FB a group. The last thing I wanted was to be online and have no presence or no followers. I joined groups and followed others that “fit” my industry. In addition, I would likes to friend/follow online other creators,groups, social mentors, and inventors. I continued to post daily. I take pictures and video of the work I do and show everyone online. At one point, I was asked my someone to run their FB group and do LIVE videos weekly. The next thing I know, I was going LIVE weekly, posting daily in the group & my own FB page. This opportunity lasted for a year and a half until the young lady closed her group. That opportunity, gave me the additional platform to gain an audience additionally with learning how to schedule content, post, take into account of others’ schedules, and maximize my social media presence.
Lastly, I then started doing the same things in my group/page. I like to ask my clients what they want to see. I like to show my mistakes in business occasionally too (misprint on socks or wrong color tone). No business is perfect and I like to show my clients my business is no exception. I also like to show the current orders I’m working on too.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In my opinion, my pivotal point came when I was finishing up my undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University. I knew I was finally amongst the elite (being an EMU soon-to-be graduate and I had to make a decision for graduation plans). I had a few options – I could get a job at one of my intern opportunities, work for a local non-profit, or open my own business. I understand these options aren’t for everyone but this is just for me. After thinking things through for months and doing my own research – I decided to open my own business after graduation.
My choice is not something many would’ve chose. However, I am not your average woman. I had to change my roles from a student and taking orders from my Instructors and professors into a legal business woman entering the industry fresh off COVID’s grand reopening to the world. I first did a lot of research about the industry I was going to be in (Retail) and then I had to figure out how to go about the process. Once I did that, my new process was to change my mindset. One can not enter a new field and not have the thought process to mimic their actions. Meaning, you have to change your mindset as a consumer into a producer to serve your new pivotal point audience with confidence & professionalism.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cutanddrycreationsllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutanddrycreationsllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Uri.TheCraftyMentor
- Other: Tik Tok: Cut and Dry Creations LLC