We were lucky to catch up with Kristen Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kristen, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I had an idea when I cam out with my own line of lashes called Eyelash4Me-2 I had no idea as a new business onwer how to get my business out there. I came up with an idea to throw an Eyelash Party women can come get their lashes done and spread the word. As, I was marketing it online for potential customers. I started getting calls from other business owners asking to join me I was like sure need a drink vendors and food for the customers. LOL had no idea i was unkownly putting together a popup shop. The main headline was my business but all the other business owners was making money selling their products. They asked me to do more of them so i was like okay. I started my very first one G&E Popup Shop. It standed for Glamerious and Elegance. I made the flyer off of Canva In just had to figure out what parking lot to set up in. I drove to different businesses spitching my self and vision to the owners. Then i found one that was supportive of us. Next, To launch it I marketed and advertised on facebook and Instagram. I was posting online in like more than 50 different popup shop groups. I would drive to different grocery stores stand out side hand out flyers. Walk door to door telling people in the area. I immedatly was getting call backs of people wanting to sign up as vendors,I was so dedicated to it I was taking calls at work. We had over 35 small buisness owners in attendace from adults to kids ready to sell their customized clothing and jewlwery. We had a live DJ playing clean fun music. The public came out and stopped by after we had our tents setup. They were buying from the business owners and it was the most exciting sight ever. After being reported on by some hater we was shut down. I just could not give up so then Cascade Popup Shop was born. I have had over 1200 different business owners attend Cascade Popup Shop as vendors. They would setup with their table, tents, and chair. We was ther for 2 years networking together, selling our products, and having a good time. This one was better than the last. It was so pack. I had begun doing it every Saturday so bsuiness owners can pick the days they wated to vend wih us. Over the next several 2 years we have been featured in 2 ,magazines. Business owners have flew into Atlanta just to attend Cascade Popup Shop it was sucessful every Saturday! My goal was to create a marketplace parking lot wher n the community can shop hidden gem business owers.

Kristen, 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?

Im orginally from New Orleans,LA. and I came down with my family to exscape hurricane Katrina. I always thought eyelashes was always a fun look. Theyhelp bring out your alter ego side. You get to feel fierceas it inhases your makeup look adding its own look. Women would buy them out the hair store but they all looked the same to me. I started handmaking mink lashes because I wanted woman to feel indiviually different by having different options. Eyelash4me-2 was created. I am also a radio host for hits 92.3 atl where I interview business owners to help them reach a larger audiance. I Am now the owNer of Build A Brand Popup Shop formally Cascade popup shop. I love being an event planner it is fun and exciting events for small business owners to sell their products. I provide a fun opening parking lot where home based business can come out and present their brand to the public we have some of the best vendors from handmaking candles to have some of the best foods. I solve the business question of “how do i get my new business out there? It is very hard starting out you do not know anybody or have business connections to get into stores. So i provide places that allow these amazinig business owners to come out to their location and feel good networking, selling business items, and even children selling as business owners. What make my busnisness stand out is that I run well organized events, with security to keep everyone safe, my dj who plays clean music. I bond with and have conversations with the business owners to find out more information from their brand. I support by buying with them and being active with them we are all together on a saturday!!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I have build up a good reputation within my popup shop market by being honest. I feel that is most important when you are running a business. If you have information that can help the next person share it. Be honest and give people back their money for closed or cancelled events. I also do check up to business owners that have attended my events to See if there is aything I can do to assist them. Another helper was showing pure kindess and understanding. This allows others to see and feel I do care. And they spread the world about how my event planning and Build A Brand Popup Shop. I also believe in going live and letting others that have a small business to come out and share them wih the public.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I funded my business by working. I would use funds from my paychecks to buy business supplies, poster, banners etc. Its okay to use your job to financially start your business until the business can py for itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/build-a-brand-pop-up-shop-tickets-392890886217
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildabrandpopupshop