We recently connected with Tamika Harris and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tamika thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

My fitness journey started after I gave birth to my last child as I wasn’t happy with my weight or how I looked in the mirror. I wasn’t always consistent, but it was always top of mind for me. That was in 2006. Between 2006 and 2013, I wasn’t truly dedicated but knew it was my passion. October of 2014 is when I put my passion into play and became a distributor with AdvoCare. AdvoCare is known for its supplements. I started it for extra income, but it became more than that. My mentor and personal trainer at the time inspired me so much. I wanted more and wanted a career out of it. Once I knew how to change my body, I wanted to help others accomplish their goals. People would always ask me to train them, so I decided to study and put my thoughts into action. In 2017 I became a personal trainer with ISSA – International Sports Sciences Association. Even though I was a personal trainer, I had my flaws, but I never gave up. About six months after receiving my certification, the AdvoCare business was starting to decline for me a little. Around the same time, I started heavily using all social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook. I fell in love with 1stphorm—one of the number one supplement organizations.

1st Phorm International is the premier supplement line in the industry. 1st Phorm is not some fly-by-night, gimmicky brand. 1st Phorm is an established industry-leading brand that is fed up with the crap the supplement industry has been pushing on the very people that support the industry;

I had the chance to become a 1stPhorm Legionnaire, and I said yes when the opportunity presented itself. Being a Legionnaire allowed me to help people get results with passion and effectiveness. I gave it my all because I was part of something big. I was getting results, meeting new friends and people started believing in me. I knew it was going to be something special.

I really started to focus on my business and put the idea of being an entrepreneur during the pandemic. It wasn’t as bad for me during the pandemic because most of my clients were online, or I would train them at my house. FitCakes Fitness allows you to work out in the comfort of your own home. That’s why I created my resistance band line; it was my lifesaver during the pandemic. At the time of the pandemic, you couldn’t go to the gym, and resistance bands were what I frequently used to build my body, and my customers jumped on board. We are back to normal, but the pandemic has taught me always to have a Plan B. As entrepreneurs, we must think about the big picture. Entrepreneurs in the fitness industry, we must think about the media. What if it goes away? How am I going to reach my people? How are they going to reach me? My advice would always be to have a Plan B, which may look different from others but do what works for you. Ensure newsletters and marketing materials like digital advertising, email marketing, and content production.

My resistance band was the first merchandise I purchased to start my brand in 2020. My bands were a huge seller and provided so much publicity for me, not to mention the audience I gained from the results of using my bands. I was happy with the accomplishment, but I wanted more. I wanted to provide a safe space for women of all shapes and sizes, especially curvy women like myself. I love fitness and fashion. One of my favorite types of clothing to wear is a jumpsuit. So, in 2022, I expanded my brand and designed a flattering fitness apparel line catering to women. My brand is a woman-led brand that caters to everyone. My brand supports all sizes. I designed a brand to make women feel fit, happy, and sexy. Many plus-size women would shy away from wearing a one-piece jumpsuit, and I wanted to change that mindset, so I did. I’m happy to say that over half of my customers are plus-size women who confidently hold their heads up when wearing my brand.

Tamika , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m the CEO of FitCakes Fitness. I’ve been in business for about five years now. I’m also an HR Professional, and I’ve been in that industry professionally for over twenty years. I’m a wife and mom of three; my youngest is graduating from high school this year, which is super exciting and scary all at once. Being an entrepreneur can be rewarding and stressful all at once, but you can’t give up, and you have to stay dedicated to your goals, and that’s what I did. I wanted to have my brand and worked hard to do so. I used my funds and made it happen; it’s all about sacrifice. I was disciplined. After all, I had to say no to many things because I knew I had a goal to make, and I wasn’t letting anything get in the way of exploring my dreams of becoming a business owner. In the fitness and fashion industry, there are so many different entrepreneurs, so I had to think differently as a new up-and-coming business owner. Not many female trainers had their own line of fitness jumpsuits. One thing that’s also different about my brand is its versatility. My jumpsuits can be worn at the gym, brunch with the girls, and even on date nights.
In lieu of my fitness apparel, I also have online meal plans and workout plans that you can do in the comfort of your own home and the gym. I always tell people never to give up. So many people think you must eat salads and veggies all day to lose weight, and that’s far from the truth. All carbs and sugar aren’t bad. It’s how much you consume that makes it bad. Portion control is vital. When my clients are having a bad day or week, for that matter, I tell them it’s ok. I’m a personal trainer with hiccups, but don’t stay in that rut. Being fit and healthy is a lifestyle; it starts with dedication. There’s also this thing called life; you must live it and give it your all. My clients know the plan I create for them will fit their lifestyle. Not one person is the same. If you have a bad day, try again tomorrow; don’t turn one bad day into a bad year. The biggest motivation is yourself; who will if you don’t believe in yourself? Many clients ask about surgery because it’s the easy way out. I’ve even been asked if I’ve had surgery, and the answer is no. I always say, “It’s built, not bought.”

I love hearing success stories from my clients; that’s why I do what I do. I love scrolling through social media, seeing my brand, and being tagged for publicity. Seeing the positive posts about their positive experience with my brand warms my heart.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

My merchandise is manufactured through Alibaba. Alibaba is a Chinese multinational technology company specializing in e-commerce, retail, Internet, and technology. Alibaba was founded in 1999. It provides consumer-to-consumer and business-to-business via Chinese global marketplaces. Before starting my brand, I researched the top manufacturing companies, and Alibaba was one of the top producers. I contacted a few different sales reps to see who would provide me with the best price and customer service experience. Once I found a sales rep that I was comfortable with, I provided my product logo and designs. I requested samples and was provided those samples within weeks. The initial order was so simple and easy. I ordered a small bulk because I wasn’t sure what to expect. Once I developed a relationship with the vendor, I was eager to pursue more avenues. In 2022, I developed my fitness apparel; the resistance bands were my first product in 2020. After receiving my initial large order, I was delighted with the time it took to get the product, and the material was spot on. My first jumpsuit, “Cheeky Chic,” received excellent reviews and is still a top seller. In 2023, I expanded and designed different designs and ran into hiccups. I wanted to try a different style, but my original vendor didn’t carry the style I wanted, so I tried someone different. By doing that, when I received my shipment, some of the pieces I had already paid for were missing. I wasn’t happy with the vendor and wasn’t happy with myself because I should have done more research about this new vendor. The material was up to my standards, just the experience overall. After that experience, I learned my lesson and continued with the original vendor.
As a business owner, it’s essential to research and ask questions. Most importantly, be patient because everything you may want for your business may not be feasible when you want it. I know that now, and it’s impacted my success. In the fall of 2023, I launched a new line with the same vendor, and the experience and product have been epic.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building an audience on social media can be tricky. It gets tricky and competitive because there are so many influencers in the fitness and fashion industry. I catered to women who are looking for accurate results. One of the hashtags that I use frequently is #builtnotbought. Initially, I was skeptical about using that hashtag because I didn’t want to offend others. However, my mindset was more focused on catering to women looking to achieve the curvy fit look without going under the knife. Following influencers and other brands that supported me was a huge success. Gaining support and followers, allowed my brand to expand because people who didn’t even know me shared my story, shared my products, and supported me unconditionally. That’s what success is all about helping others along the way. A few things that worked for me on social media included analyzing the various social media platforms. The two platforms I consistently use are Instagram and Facebook. I identified my audience as working moms, fit moms, curvy women, fit women, and fit and fashion. I was also creating good content showcasing my brands in the gym, at home, or just enjoying a fun day or night.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fitcakesfitness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_fitcakes
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamika.d.harris

Image Credits
Image Credits – Moon King