We were lucky to catch up with Ebony Hamlet recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ebony, thanks for joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

My job as a venue Owner is to book events. Needless to say I was extremely happy to land the Fulton County District Attorney’s two day leadership conference. The event took place August 11-12, 2021. On August 12, 2021, I got a letter from my landlord demanding immediate possession of my two suites, because the event took up too much parking. Want to know who was in attendance and parking their cars? Cops from all the surrounding municipalities. Yes, you read that right. Cops! I am having my livelihood threatened over cops parking in parking spaces. I have a letter from Madam Willis to verify my account of what happened. As a result, I have been fighting them for the last year and a half in court. It’s hard enough being a minority woman owned small business and trying to thrive. It’s hard opening your doors a month before COVID and learning to navigate through those choppy waters. It’s even harder when you have to pay high attorney fees upwards of $35K for something so trivial as parking. This should have been an open and shut case, because my lease doesn’t limit me in terms of parking. It is a frivolous charge that is costing me valuable resources. I never in a million years thought a highlight in my professional career would quickly turn into a nightmare. When this happened I felt as though I was on an island by myself. I didn’t know how to tell my family or friends. Some still don’t know. Reading this article will be eye opening for them. It’s the embarrassing side of entrepreneurship that no one talks about. What happens when your landlord sues you and tries to bully you? What happens when they stop doing the basic work that they are responsible for handling? As a Black woman, you find a way or make one. So, there you have it, this is the most unexpected and saddest problem I have faced in my business. It is still not resolved, I am currently in litigation. However, I am from Memphis and we are built to handle the grit and grind.

Ebony, 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?

I began planning this business after not being able to find a venue that checked all my boxes.  When searching for the perfect location to host my family reunion, it proved to be challenging. It was impossible to find a clean space, with great amenities, plenty of parking, and at a great price point.  I also wanted a venue that would allow me to use my own vendors. After my reunion a couple of my elders pulled me aside at brunch and told me what a wonderful job I had done.  They advised me to consider doing it on a larger scale. That message resonated with me and I began to put it on my vision board. I wanted to create what was missing in the marketplace.

I added my flare to the standard way private event halls were decorated and operated.  The stars aligned and it became a hit. From weddings, to baby showers, and brand promotions, we have done it all.  And the rest is history…..

I think it’s important to share our timeline:
November 29, 2019- I purchased the ESS program on Black Friday.
December 2019- I  became a sponge and did nothing but study. I made it my job to look for a space
January 2020- I found my space and signed my lease
February 1, 2020- Space In Time opened its doors
March 19, 2020 – Our Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an executive order closing all venues.
September 1, 2020 – Space In Time expands in size during the pandemic.
June 6, 2021 – I am able to meet my Mentor in person to thank him. I also told him that I was really close to securing my second location.
July 15, 2021 – I get the keys to my second location.

What problems do you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others.?

Clients can avoid wedding room flips and room changes at the Space In Time District.
What is a room flip? This occurs when a couple books one room for their wedding events.  The venue is first set up for the ceremony.  Once the ceremony is over, the guests are asked to go to a certain area for “Cocktail Hour”.  There guests indulge in pricey drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the couples dime while the Planners team works aimlessly to change the layout and feel of the venue for the reception. The average room flip can take an hour, but can go up to 90 minutes if extra time is needed for photos. Having your ceremony and reception in the same venue can be a real headache.  The Planner/Coordinator is rushed unnecessarily.  Brides think it’s a great way to maximize their budget but it creates chaos and a stressful day for everyone working behind the scenes. May we present to you a solution! Book Space In Time District!
What makes us stand out from other venues?  We have not one, but TWO venues in the same plaza just 10 feet away from each other.  You can have the ceremony in Suite I and the reception in Suite II.

What are you most proud of? I am most proud of the relationships we have built over the last three years with our preferred vendors. My team is impeccable. We have aligned ourselves with professionals that truly care about the Clients experience. They go above and beyond to make every event a success.

What are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc?
Our motto at Space In Time District is to make life eventful! We believe in transparent business practices to maximize each client’s experience. If planning anything from intimate to large-scale events, our inventory includes all the essential party items like chairs, tables, speakers, and tablecloths. Clients simply bring their creative flare to our thoughtfully curated /blank canvas venues. Host memorable, custom events at a fair market price!

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

On June 28, 2019 three days before I was scheduled to leave for my birthday vacation. I was laid off from my corporate job of ten years. This was a blessing. They gave me a $20K severance. This is the money companies give good employees to walk away and not sue them. This basically means they paid me to leave. They gave me the seed money to start my business. Shout out to PRTH! The good news is I never had to touch that money. I always had good credit and was a saver. I had been putting money to the side for years to start my business. This was the perfect time to put that plan in motion. I never had to use my cash. Instead I used my good personal credit to secure lines of credit and zero percent interest credit cards. I used those to pay for the business expenses. Space In Time quickly became profitable and paid off its debt in a timely manner.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I believe the most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been repeat Clients. Repeat customers are consumers who use your services again and again. They are also considered loyal customers. We tend to book the wedding, then the baby shower, then the kids first birthday. Along with increasing sales, our repeat customers advertise our business with word-of-mouth advertising. This by far has been the best way to increase our customer base. The more purchases a customer makes the more likely they are to refer you to their friends and family. Our Clients are comfortable making a positive referral because they experienced excellent customer service.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.spaceintimeatl.com
• Instagram: @spaceintimeatl & @spaceintimeii
• Facebook: [email protected]
• Linkedin: [email protected]
• Twitter: [email protected]
• Youtube: [email protected]
• Yelp: [email protected]

Image Credits
Drone Jones Media