Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Antoinette Barkley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Antoinette, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?
Well, for me, I’ve been in many positions where I’ve been hired as a manager and at the same time, I lost those positions because they felt it was no longer needed because they didn’t want to pay me what I was worth.
So many of times I had to leave jobs just because I had to stand up for myself and not be done any type of way.
So the important lesson for me was sometimes people don’t value you.
That’s why I make it my business for my employees to grow in my company. I value the time they put in always.
Antoinette, 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?
Hi, my name is Antoinette Barkley. I own a non medical home care agency in akron ohio
Where we offer 24 hour home care ,
Companionship
Med reminder
Meal prep
Light house keeping and deep cleaning services
Private transportation services
Laundry services
Our company is there as much as we can be for are clients and there family
Giving them great care always.
And making them priority showing them that you don’t have to do this alone. We are here to help you every step of the way.
I think what sets me apart from other companies is that I actually show up. When no one else can I’m there working right beside my employees If they need me showing them that it is teamwork and we can get through this and you are not alone.
And that is one of the things that my client love about me and my company that they can depend on me regardless, if someone calls off or not. I am going to make sure that I am there for them.
What I’m most proud of is that I’m able to give the best care possible. And I’m able to keep people home and people can depend on me and my company
I’ve been in business 4 1/2 years and I have not had a dis satisfied customer. And that speaks value. I take pride in what I do
And I take pride in my staff I could not do this without them. They are the backbones to my company and I greatly appreciate them
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
Yes, my side hustle turned into my business. I was doing private duty 5 years before I started my business
I just remember work in a nursing home taking care of clients doing my job the right way always being patient and kind and loving so when it was time for families to take their loved ones home. They always ask me would I be willing to do private duty. So I was able to build my client tale so before I started my business I was already taking care of clients so 2021 I decided to start Antoinette’s Senior Care LLC and I am blessed to say I had 4 clients already when I opened my door . So that’s why it’s important to treat people with kindness. You never know what doors will open for you and I can say that I am still in business now by word-of-mouth because I was able to treat people the right way and give them the proper care so when it comes to needing more clients my clients do the work. By telling someone about the care they had and that what keeps my doors open
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
I am able to keep in touch with my clients. Because I become family to them. And there loved ones and these families still keep me in business. Even if their families have passed on we still keep in touch, I still check on them
.
Because my business means that much to me and the people that I take care of. I am forever grateful for my families.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.antoinetteseniorcare.com
- Facebook: Antoinette’s Senior Care LLC
- Yelp: Antoinette’s Senior Care LLC
Image Credits
Myself Antoinette Barkley for flyers
photo of myself photographer Sarah Elizabeth Maverick