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

JOY, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

If I could go back in time, the one thing I would change is being less hesitant. I would also try to build a reliable team. The vision has always been clear, but having a team would have made it come to light more efficiently. If you want to grow, just take note in knowing that your growth is very much so dependent on who is able to excel in areas you may not have full knowledge. It’s perfectly ok not to have all the answers. One KEY POINT is LIFE is not a one man show, so neither should any area of your life nor your business. Perfect example, look at how your favorite retailer or company you shop with daily is set up.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Joy. I own a growing business called Be The Difference Clothing. This company was established in August of 2013. Most if not all designs are created to inspire and encourage the wearer and those who see the designs. Some designs are inspired by personal experiences and others from situations I see or hear. I distinctly remember the moment I decided to make t-shirts. I was driving home from an event when for the first time in my life I saw a person “stuck”. They were literally standing on the corner bent backwards just swaying a little. After I drove by it just hit me… I remember thinking, “What am I doing, I am no different than the next person who just says to themselves wow so sad.” I felt could no longer stomach being the passerby. It took guts and I battled fear of being rejected to create the Addiction Kills The Family design. I am at the point where my concern is in comfort and support. This company has many discussion pieces and light hearted playful themes that it can appeal to any age, race or understanding. I decided to expand the company by doing presentations and workshops. While it is fun seeing sales and brand growth, what benefit would it be if people did not fully understand the power each design holds. My hope is for lives to change, sparks to be lit, hearts to remember or believe in love. Last but not least, each person applying what was shared.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Recently I decided to JUMP. Take a leap of faith, Go all in. I deemed the year 2023 as the year of CATAPULT. If you follow my talk show Hello World on Youtube, you will understand what that is all about. It is the episode streamed on the January 1st 2023. I challenged myself and the chat to do the impossible in every area of their lives. In March, I decided to open the doors to custom printing for anyone. Whether you have one item or 100 items, Be The Difference Clothing can make it possible to print on your garment. It will not stop there, soon we will have the capability to provide embroidery, Ever since those changes were made, we have been able to provide services to businesses and our local community. The sky is definitely the limit and we will keep pushing forward.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

We do a lot of pop ups and one thing can be said… you will have great sale days and you will have bad sale days. Depending on the promoter, nature and time of day, it can make or break your projected profit. Just experiencing different personalities can be enough to fold in the towel. NOT for Be The Difference Clothing. We stick to the mission which is to inspire and help make our world a better place. That is enough to us keep moving. If you ever doubt your business, remember why you started. The hope is that will be enough to stay in it NEVER GIVE UP!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bethedifferencellc.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/btdllc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/btdllc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BetheDifferenceClothing
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@btdllc
• Coupon Code: BTDLLC

Image Credits
Joy W. and  Lyte Studios