Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Shantell Byrd Martin . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Shantell, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Naming my business was definitely challenging. I wanted to be original however, that can be scary (and hard) to do, but it’s essential when naming your business. Trying to think of something that was catchy, memorable, and reflective of the products and services that would be offered while, also making people excited about my business was the goal. The process started with a brainstorming session. The stage was set. I got comfortable in a distraction-free space where thoughts could flow freely. I also gathered the necessary materials for the brainstorming session. There is no right or wrong way to write these ideas down, you can use pen and paper, your phone, or computer word apps. I went old-school with using a pen and paper. I wrote down everything that came to mind. No filter, no judgment—just making sure I took down all my ideas. Now that I had my list of names, it’s time to test the names. I used my family and friends to help me gauge the initial reactions. Then, I made the necessary changes to ensure that my name was well-received. I also did some background research before making the final choice. Shantellum was founded in the fall of 2015. In 2019, Shantellum®️became a nationally registered trademark. As well as, spring boarding the launch of their non-profit organization, Hey Love Social in 2023. Hey Love Social is now a nationally recognized 501c3.

Dr. Shantell, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

A creative problem solver who enjoys thinking outside the box…that’s Shantell. I’m not afraid to take risks and try new things, which has driven me to some of my greatest successes. Being a good listener and allowing constructive criticism to push me toward my goals is a superpower. In short, I’m someone who is always looking for ways to be innovative and improve. I’m most proud of my can-do attitude and positive outlook on life. These attributes led me back to the classroom. Fall of 2021, I received my Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology. This has granted me the ability to coach and mentor a countless number of people and businessses.
One of my most recent achievements happened on June 1, 2024. The Exhale Expo was planned, designed and curated my me. I was able to secure Hey Love Social’s first corporate sponsorship and raise money to start funding service grants. The grants will empower women to start or expand their businesses. Additionally, I debuted my newest book Mind Over Me-Change Your Mindset And Change Your Life.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When a business pivots, it changes some aspects of its core products or services. Businesses may pivot to better meet customer demand, shift their target audience to boost sales, or a combination of all these things. Our most recent pivot happened at the beginning of this year. Shantellum did a complete rebranding and restructuring. We had to remind our customer base that we were a complete lifestyle brand with products and services. This pivot allowed us to leverage our life coaching services to attract quality clientele to our business and increase brand awareness. This was the perfect way to celebrate 5 years as a registered ®️ trademark. Remember that while the changes you make should be long-term, you don’t need to change everything about your business. You likely just need to find a few ways to adjust your products or services, operations, and marketing to make it work.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

While most small businesses see their core clients as a source of revenue and profits, a properly managed client base provides even more benefits. Sustaining a healthy clientele gives you a focus group of people to test new products and services. Your clients will be able to provide invaluable feedback regarding your services and the quality of your products, helping you make smarter business decisions. The first thing, I would focus on is customer service. Providing great customer service should be at the forefront of your client base building strategy. Not only does a reputation for providing excellent customer experiences attract clients to your business, those satisfied clients will have more incentive to stay with your company and buy more services. Secondly, I would build relationships with other businesses. This could be a great way to expand your customer base by partnering with businesses that offer complementary services. Finally, listening to your clients feedback will help you to provide greater customer experiences. Create surveys that will help your clients assess the effectiveness of your products and/or services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shantellum.com
• Instagram: @Shantellum
• Facebook: @Shantellum1
• Twitter: @Shantellum
• Other: TikTok @Shantellum

  Hey Love Social- www.heylovesocial.com
  Facebook-HeyLoveSocail
  Instagram-@heylovesocial
  TikTok-@heylovesocial

Image Credits

Not Applicable