We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kammika Lewis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kammika below.

Hi Kammika, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

My mother has 6 children, and we are a very close nit family. We celebrate everything together. During the Global Pandemic, we were socially distant and could not gather together to celebrate. This hurt us so bad. In November of 2020, for my mother’s birthday, we ordered her a custom, life size birthday card. It was displayed in her front yard for her to enjoy and all her neighbors and passerby to see. When it was finished, the company shared a photo, and I was floored; filled with so much joy and excitement. It was beautiful! Days following the display, I kept saying how nice it was and how it looks soooo easy to do. I kept telling my family that I could do that! I think they got tired of me, LOL!

During that time, Facetime was our best friend. We spent a lot of time on the phone. One evening, I was on the phone with two of my sisters and one of them randomly asked if I had this business, what would I name it? We toyed around with names and one of them suggested “Razzle Dazzle.” It was catchy. I found myself making up jingles and dancing to it, in the upcoming days. Little did I know, this was a plot. I was picking up my eyeglasses one day and one of my sister’s kept face timing me, although she knew I had errands to run. She sent me a text and said, pick up the Facetime, please,” so I did. When the call connected, it was a picture of my registered business name and tax identification number. I was in the middle of the store, crying. The next day, I had boxes on my porch, with my name on them and I hadn’t ordered anything. I opened them and it was my first set of letters and flair (balloons, presents, etc.). I cried again, LOL. I called them and praised them. There was no turning back- this is how it all began.

I began taking orders for Mother’s Day, Graduation and upcoming birthdays. I was excited and nervous at the same time. My
very first display was for my dad’s birthday, and it was awful! I felt so bad. It wasn’t as easy as I thought. I felt so discouraged and wanted to quit but I couldn’t, I began practicing in my backyard and things got better. I must say, practice makes perfect!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Kammika! I am a single parent to my only SONshine, Jaylin. He is 24 years old and my pride and joy! I also have a fur baby. He’s a Mini Goldendoodle named Dash. He’s so sweet. I am the owner of a small local business who commemorates customers’ big day with a fun and festive display. I create unique, beautiful arrangements capturing the occasion or theme. The displays are usually placed in the grass, but I’ve popped them everywhere from the beach to beautiful ballrooms.

I enjoy bringing smiles and joy to my clients. I never want to cause a burden for them. Although I am in the business to make money, I want them to be happy on their special day. I do understand that life happens in between our plans. I have offered deep discounts and even free displays, at times, just to help out. I have also donated displays for Memorial Services, Pop-Up Shops and Trunk-or Treat events. Sometimes it’s not all about the money; more of providing joy.

I began my journey in this industry because I was bored during the Global Pandemic. Unhappy that people could not come together and celebrate their loved ones, like they would normally do. We ordered my mom a Yard Card and she was so, so happy. The joy I felt seeing her face when she saw her card, I wanted others to experience the joy we both felt.

I am most proud of raising my son, alone. He lost his dad when he was four. And although it was unfortunate and challenging at times, we made it through it all. We have a bond like no other. I love him so much. I am also happy that I started a small business almost 3 years ago and we are still afloat. I would love to be around for many years to come.

I would love for my followers and potential clients to know that I am a fun-loving individual. I have a huge heart and live a simple life, outside of “carding’. In my spare time, I enjoy roller skating to old school music, traveling and sunbathing, whenever the opportunity presents itself. I love to take walks with my son and Dash and working in my yard. Music and shopping are my pasttimes. I love when my family comes up with unique ideas to have an impromptu get-together or finding a new restaurant to grab a bite to eat. Oh, how can I forget? I also have a 5-year-old nephew named Austin. He has also stolen my heart. I enjoy spending time with him, making homemade pizza and baking cookies. It reminds me so much of my son, when he was smaller and the times we shared together.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Because this decision to start a small business was sort of an impromptu decision, I did not want to use any of my wages from my main income, to fund the business. I came up with the idea to require my client to place orders at least 10 business days in advance. This required them to pay in full; allow time to receive the items for their individual displays and add to my growing inventory, once I was done with their Yard Card rental. I officially launched my business in May of 2021 with my first paying customer. By September of 2021, I had full inventory and each Yard Card displayed after that, was 100% profit.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I have been employed with the Department of Health and Human Services for 14 years. I really enjoyed servicing low-income families with short- and long-term care. However, over the past 3-4 years, management became toxic, and I grew unhappy in my current role. I was complacent and fearful, but I knew I deserved better. Because of Razzle Dazzle Yard Cards, it afforded me the opportunity to resign from a secure job until I was able to find another stable job.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/razzledazzleyardcards
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Kammika Lewis