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

Keniysha J., thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

My very first paid client was a former classmate of mine from high school who reached out to me to design and decorate her baby shower. She had previously seen my work from me designing and decorating my very own baby shower that I had posted on my social media page and wanted to hire me to execute hers. It was a very exciting time for me to have my very first paid client and one who gave me full creative freedom to design and decorate her baby shower with my expertise. On the day of the event, I was very nervous but excited to be able to tap into my creative gifts. Once she walked through the venue she was in awe and very happy as to what I had created for her special day. From that first initial booking, I was able to obtain other clients from that one baby shower who were guests attending.

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?

I started my entrepreneurship journey in 2016 in my hometown Pensacola, Florida, where at the time, I worked in corporate banking. I found my passion for planning and design shortly after giving birth to my daughter Serenity who I also named my business, I had planned and designed my own baby shower and from there, a few months later, I gained my first paid client. A year later, I had enough savings and clientele to become a full-time entrepreneur with the help of my debt-free formula that I created to push me out of corporate for good. For three years, I had the opportunity to build great relationships with many other creatives in my hometown and surrounding areas. My husband and I decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia, in the spring of 2019 for more opportunities for his schooling and for business, which was a great move. Serenity’s Lavish Events is a Luxury Event and Wedding planning company that is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and is also available for travel worldwide. Our services include wedding and event design, event organization, management, and floral design. We are all about translation and transformation. Our specialty is creating an upscale ambiance with our distinctive approach, creating a fusion of beauty and romance. What sets us apart from the others is our dedication to our clients to bring their dream into reality with ease. It’s all about Your Dream. Your Day. Your Serenity.

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

Shortly after moving to Atlanta, Georgia at the end of the year 2019, I was diagnosed with Stage three breast cancer. Once I received the news I thought my career was over and I would be unable to continue to run my business efficiently. In the midst of going through chemotherapy, I found the strength to continue to run my business and still deliver exceptional service to my clients. In 2020 my health took a downhill spiral and my family and I returned to our hometown of Pensacola, Florida to seek help from family and to continue my healing journey. The cancer metastasized to my brain and I had to undergo brain surgery to remove the tumor and also had to undergo surgery to have a double mastectomy. For a year I took a step down from working to recover and heal amongst my family in Florida. At the end of 2021, my cancer went into remission and I became cancer free and returned back to Atlanta, Georgia. I was so happy and excited to return with a new brand and an amazing clientele base that adores my strength and resilience to show up through all the obstacles I had to face.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source I’ve found to gain new clients have been social media mainly Instagram and google listing. Showing our design aesthetics through creative reels and gaining clients’ reviews so that any potential clients who may run across our business can see how our clients have enjoyed their experience with us and stress-free guidance. Through these social media platforms and listings at times we have run ads to showcase our business to a larger audience. Which has been successful as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.serenityslavishevents.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/serenityslavishevents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenityslavishevents/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keniysha-watts-9a240b167?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BJx2a%2BG0xQFeeKNLDu%2F2%2B9A%3D%3D

Image Credits
Union Productions