We recently connected with Sheree Lambert and have shared our conversation below.

Sheree, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

During my first interview I talked about the eye opening introduction with the female I met whilst waiting on my sister to pick me up at the San Antonio airport. This was my first time ever speaking to someone who is a victim of Domestic Violence. From her summary of when the abuse started to her now escaping to San Antonio, from her Abuser, my curiosity heightened and I wanted to know just how prevalent Domestic Violence was, what demographic, the ethnicity, economic group etc. The data deflated me and I had no idea how ignorant I was to this real world…people are facing some sad-silent-self sacrificial lives at the hands of Domestic Violence.

Throughout my entire 2 week “birthcation” (my birthday & vacation), I could not stop thinking about what I had learnt via the data, I then started to look at: what help is out there? I wanted to help…but how? I surely can’t do this alone so how do I agitate support? So after my “birthcation” I started to put pen to paper. I wrote down many thoughts, repeated them to myself, played impact scenarios in my mind, had wholesome discussions with myself…and yes, my self answered every question my self had…I was not crazy, I was just uber excited. For almost 6 months I was at it…at one point there was only a silhouette on my bed because I had notepads, pens, markers, pencils, notebooks and 11×7 papers on my bed, so the silhouette was my “sleep spot” and my easel was close to the bed.

I started to wonder if there are other people out there like me who upon realizing how many Domestic Violence victims are out there, had the same jaw dropping reaction as I did. I went into straight curious-concerning mode coupled with 5-Why Analysis…when did the abuse start? were their signs that this person is abusive? did the aggressive behavior/underperformance/seeming lack of interest etc on the job, which basically disables ones productivity, is that as a result of the abuse their facing? This definitely retards your physical and mental so when you think of how long someone has been in a job, years of experience, yet is still not competent, this lead me back to closed door discussions I had with a few ladies back when I was working at an Alumina Refinery. I had an OMG moment because adding those sessions with my San Antonio airport meeting and scouring through data online…even though I was empathetic to those fellow coworkers, I realized this data is a world crisis!

I now wanted to collectively agitate support and pride by putting numbers out there for each state and each Caribbean island. For example, the state with the highest Domestic Violence cases last year is Oklahoma, once every 5 days someone died at the hands of domestic violence, as stated on google. How many know this? What has been the trend in your state or Caribbean island? Barbados has a 21% increase…do we understand we are raising children who, uncomfortable fact, are the next set of abusers? How long are we going to “mind our own business” or “mind the business that pays us”….our Human Capital IS our business! The Economic development and “moral rejuvenation” highly depends on how safe our family unit is. The Country, State, Neighborhood, Village, School, Church, Workplace is impacted and through my Domestic Violence Collection, I want to agitate the “human in us” to “speak up” and speak out”. On March 13, 2024, the National Domestic Violence Hotline answered it’s 7 millionth call at 11am, Their 1st call was on February 21,1996, kudos to CEO Katie Ray-Jones and the Team….and just imagine how many calls were NOT made!

So I came up with state and Caribbean island specific merch/memorabilia…walking champions of the cause, non-verbal. A yoga student might see someone in class with a mat speaking up against domestic violence and may find this class a safe space and maybe, from which help can be provided.

To actually launch, I had to figure out the best print on demand option, researching the array of products, did they have what I needed, what are their shipping methods, delivery reputation, their taxes. If I chose not to go the print on demand route, that would mean I would have to have inventory upfront, handle my own shipping, consider warehousing, $$$$ that I didn’t have…so kudos to the masterminds behind the print on demand concept! I appreciate it and I’m sure there are many other small businesses who share this sentiment!

Sheree, 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?

I have 20 years Lean Manufacturing expertise where I am skillful in Problem Solving, 5S, Standardized Work, Process Management…finding simple cost effective solutions, for every Industry/business, whether there are 3 employees, or 300.A proud Mother of 3, a Volunteer, Travel Arrangement Specialist…I am a simple girl who wants to agitate support for the fight against Domestic Violence and help in guiding victims to people and places where they can get the requisite help for themselves and their families. I am proud that I am fierce and fearless in this fight. It’s a fight that change the direction the world is heading, in a positive way. If we can collectively work at bringing an Abuser out of abuse stage, the abuse by her/him will stop. Then we need to collectively work at the child who was introduced to abusive behavior…domino effects can also be beautiful.

My brand is all about fighting against domestic violence by agitating pride and support. If you are proud of your home state, your homeland, you should want to join in on any and every effort there is that is aimed at making your home state or homeland better, safer and more productive. Simple, that’s the world we should be working at each and every day.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In going into business I thought the people you hang with, share a drink with, are your family etc would support your business by actually making purchases…was I wrong!!!!!! I started asking, do they want to see me succeed? Do they believe in me? (ironically, I’m the kind of friend that if you’re selling something and I have zero use for it, I’ll still buy it.) Then I read it somewhere also and I had a good laugh about that and then encouraged myself to NEVER give up or give in or be distracted by that. When someone DM’s me and says I have you’re cup on my desk and you don’t understand just how much of a motivation this is, I know i am playing my part in “enhancing the welfare of the whole human race”. I am so unbelievably focused!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I am still in the process of building my social media audience. I’ve researched Domestic Violence Organizations, Companies who have partnered with Domestic Violence projects, gathering data also joining different social media groups which has lead me to giving advice and guiding victims to different resources.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.caribbeanapparel.net/collections/sheree-collection
• Instagram: @purpledivasheree
• Twitter: @purpledivasher
• Youtube: PurpleDivaSheree
• Other: Tiktok: @purpledivasheree