We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tameca Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tameca, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I initially established Villas10 as a means of creative expression. A family member who was preparing for college requested my assistance in decorating her dorm room. While browsing through retail websites, I noticed a limited selection of dorm-friendly furnishings and accessories. Recognizing this design issue, I promptly grabbed pen and paper to brainstorm the necessary items to complete the space. After extensive research, it became evident that there was a market for specialized design services and the opportunity to create and sell products.

My curiosity opened doors to numerous opportunities. As I delved into product design, I swiftly acquired knowledge about the intricate process of product development and bringing it to market. Beta testing revealed a demand for dorm decor, but also highlighted the cyclical nature of the business, with the peak season being the summer months. During the off-season, I took the time to reflect on the long-term sustainability of my company and consider what lay ahead.

During this period of “downtime,” I decided to revamp the Villas10 brand by focusing on custom home builds behind the scenes and accepting every project that came my way for residential exposure and experience. This required a step back to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses as a business owner. The book that greatly assisted me in this journey was “The Business Boutique” by Christy Wright. It provided a comprehensive guide to formalizing Villas10, allowing me to determine the values that were important to me: maintaining a work-life balance, keeping my corporate job while building an inspiring and value-driven business.

By keeping my principles at the forefront, I supported my decision-making process. Each month, I set three goals for my business, such as opening a business checking account, launching a website, or interviewing someone who was already doing what I aspired to do. As time passed, I implemented more and more action items into my business operations.

Today, my focus lies on key revenue-generating tasks and building a team to support the day-to-day functions, enabling me to work on my business rather than solely in it. Every day is making a decisions to dream and act.

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?

Tameca, a Greenville, SC native, was raised with a strong belief in the power of dreaming. As a first generation college graduate, she spent the past 15+ years, dedicating her career to corporate America, working for prestigious Fortune 500 companies within global organizations. In these roles, Tameca has excelled in leading Human Resources Strategies, effectively leveraging the vital asset of human capital to drive organizational success. Her experience in the corporate world has instilled in her an entrepreneurial mindset, which she now applies as a business owner.

Drawing upon her corporate background, Tameca is committed to building a company that creates opportunities within her own community. Villas10 is the embodiment of this vision, offering exceptional interior design services to clients seeking a refined southern living experience. As a luxury interior design firm, Villas10 specializes in designing new construction, remodels, and furnishing solutions for both residential and commercial spaces.

At Villas10, we take pride in our timeless style, refreshed aesthetics, and attention to detail. Our team approaches each project with a personal touch, treating it as if it were their own. Our primary focus is on ensuring that clients’ budgets and functional requirements are prioritized, while also maintaining a streamlined approach that realistically implements their design preferences.

We deliberately seek out ideal clients who are cooperative, relatable, and engaging, as we have found that these individuals align closely with our values. Authenticity, family, attainability, and community are the pillars upon which Villas10 stands, driving our commitment to delivering exceptional designs that enhance our clients’ living, working, and recreational spaces.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building a social media audience is undoubtedly a challenging endeavor. However, I have come to realize the tremendous power of organic relationship building. Just as in the corporate world, cultivating the right connections can yield positive outcomes.

When I first started my Villas10 social media account, I made it a priority to identify my target audience. I delved deep into understanding their preferences, interests, favorite activities, and the places they frequented. This allowed me to speak their language effectively. However, I soon discovered that executing a daily marketing strategy that didn’t feel authentic to me was difficult.

This disconnect between my social media presence and my true self prompted me to question why it didn’t feel right. After some soul-searching, I realized that I had been playing it safe by primarily offering dorm services to college students instead of focusing on residential design.

Once I approached my social media platform with a clear understanding of my personal values and business principles, it became easier for me to pinpoint my “why” and “how.” I dedicated one year to showing up as my authentic self, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of my life, such as building a custom home, rebranding Villas10, and juggling the responsibilities of being a wife and mother alongside my work. Staying true to my DNA naturally attracted a community of followers who were genuinely interested in what I had to offer.

Most importantly, I prioritized building genuine connections. I made it a point to respond to every inquiry I received, thereby building trust with my followers. I often emphasize that having a massive following is not necessary for success. With just under 5,000 followers, my business continues to thrive primarily through word-of-mouth referrals. The support and encouragement from my followers keep me motivated, even during times when I may feel overwhelmed and silent on social media.

I utilize Instagram as a means to foster connection and community. I strive to educate my followers, hoping to convert them into clients, while also inspiring others to dream big and showcasing my processes one story at a time. Each Instagram photo and reel serves as a portfolio for Villas10, and I am intentional about the content I post and how I present it. I invest in high-quality photos because they set us apart from the competition.

Authenticity truly matters when it comes to social media presence. If your social media doesn’t feel genuine, it’s crucial to take a pause and ask yourself the tough questions to realign your approach.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Currently, we are in the midst of a pivot. Our original plan was to open a studio space in Greenville, but circumstances beyond our control have forced us to put the launch on hold. As a result, we have had to adjust our timeline and push back the opening date. While it’s disappointing, I have learned the importance of adapting to unforeseen challenges.

Instead of dwelling on the setback, we are utilizing this time to update our processes and revamp our website. We are committed to ensuring that our backend infrastructure is robust and capable of supporting future growth opportunities. Although it is not the ideal situation, I have embraced the concept of pivoting when necessary, recognizing that sometimes we need to adjust our plans to align with the circumstances we face.

I am choosing to trust that better things are coming and that our studio space will open when all the pieces fall into place. In the meantime, we are focusing on preparing ourselves for the future, confident that our patience and perseverance will pay off in due time.

Contact Info:

• Website: villas10.com
• Instagram: villasten
• Facebook: facebook.com/villas10
• Linkedin: villas10
• Twitter: linkedin.com/villas10
• Youtube: @villas10

Image Credits
Rachel Clarke – Rachel May Photography https://rachel-may.com/