We recently connected with Shaniqua Rivers and have shared our conversation below.
Shaniqua, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
I hope my legacy will be continuing to move even when the odds were against me – showing others you can still have it all. The key is working on your business as you would a 9-5, giving the same effort and time you give to maintain someone else’s organization.
Great! Appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
Who am I? I’m a divorced mother of three awesome kiddos, an Army Veteran, a college graduate, a corporate junkie, a writer, a singer, and a CREATOR.
In 2011, while progressing in my corporate career as an Accounts Payable guru, I decided to start a clothing line, Tantrum. Immediately after the first t-shirts were sold, I thought, “Bills or more shirts?” As a single mother of 3, the answer was clear. There went my dream.
Fast forward to 2021, and I’m printing and pressing t-shirts, joggers, and hoodies for my boyfriend’s youth football team – parents included. Suddenly, I realized I was able to fulfill my 10-year dream. I used the next 9 months to work on my craft while maintaining my 9-to-5. This included stocking up on heat transfer vinyl (htv) of all colors and styles, understanding heat settings and timing, understanding why polyester worked best with sublimation, and balancing business, family, friends, and career.
September 28, 2022, MyCo Print ‘n Press, LLC. was formed. I chose MyCo because I’d finally be working for “my company”. The mental, emotional, and financial investments I made finally showed up in that moment. I decided to start with t-shirts, adding whatever came to mind. A month later, I sponsored t-shirts for the Ultimate Women’s Expo (UWE) in Dallas, Texas in exchange for a premium booth. I set up my very plain booth with 2 of my t-shirt designs. That weekend, I met some of the most incredible business owners and authors, sold enough of my t-shirts to make a substantial profit, and built a positive relationship with the UWE.
From that event, I began working with prospective clients almost immediately, booking at other shopping expos locally and gaining new clients by word-of-mouth.
I believe emotional intelligence and determination sets me apart from others. I have always taken pride in understanding people individually, along with what they want and need. This time, I get to do it within my own organization from designing totes to feeding the homeless on early Saturday mornings.
My Dad always says, “Baby, when you say you’re going to do something, you do it – no matter how long it takes”, so I guess I can say I’m most proud of my drive. I work for my clients as I would work for myself. If there’s a need, I’m there to help meet it, understanding sometimes those needs are last-minute. My focus is always customer service because I know what it’s like to receive poor customer support. A call, text, or email can fix just about anything, so I ensure my clients understand that upfront, standing firm on a 24-hour response.
Ultimately, MyCo Print ‘n Press, LLC. is anyone’s dream to fulfill. If this journey has taught me anything, it’s to never give up when the vision is clear!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn, and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn is believing your biggest support will come from your inner circle. It can be a downer to say aloud, but the truth really shall set you free.
I saw quickly how those you’re closest to would support other businesses but not yours. This helped me to remove my heart from my sleeve and provide services for those who wanted/needed them.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
The initial capital to fund my business was really a piece-by-piece process. Talk about grassroots; I really “started from the bottom”. My boyfriend gifted me equipment, and I gradually purchased materials and additional equipment along the way with wages earned from my full-time place of employment. Currently, I’m in the process of applying for grants and a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan. They have so many options for funding your small business. It’s exciting to see!
Contact Info:
- Website: myco-catchyteesnthings.myshopify.com
- Instagram: mycopnp