We recently connected with Tuere Neeley and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tuere thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?
The most important lesson or experience that has helped me as a business owner came from when I was employed as a state government worker, during a time when our economy was in a recession and some of the most wealthy people relied on government assistance to make ends meet. Listening to their stories, learning about the industry or field they worked in for in some cases decades, made me realize its necessary to have supplemental income and to budget & plan for financial success.
Tuere, 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?
My name is Tuere and I like to stay busy. I enjoy reading, cooking, exercising, spending time with family and supporting colleagues and friends. I like to learn new things and am optimistic about what life has in store for us on a daily basis. Diamond Services, LLC provides multiples services to its clients. We offer commercial and residential cleaning services, consulting to small businesses, ground transportation and tax preparation. I came up with the idea after a lay-off from state government in late 2013, obtained certifications customer service and business management & began contract work on a roadside assistance platform in 2014, which led to other opportunities becoming available to me.
Most industries I specialize in are seasonal, which allows down time for training, relaxation or exploring a new endeavor or focusing on other company attributes. Having slow periods in business can be problematic however, that time is used yo get feedback from current clients and/or seek new clients & opportunities. I’m most proud to still be in business for 11 years.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
For about four years, I worked as an independent contractor from home, which allowed me to save money to cover the transportation costs of the company. Networking at events helped my business grow, enabling me to acquire more clients and offer additional services to existing ones.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
After the pandemic in 2020, I had to rebrand and find creative ways to attract clients. I maintained my networking efforts and attended events to present my company’s services. I also participated in community events and raffled off some of our services for free.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: 1000diamondservices_
- Facebook: Diamond Services LLC