We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Valerie McKinney-Walker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Valerie , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Indulge is meaningful to me because when I started my first home-based business; I was also placed on disability for health reasons and I needed to make ends meet. Thinking after you have exhausted your family and friends, how can you get the word out beyond them to grow your business.
I started thinking about other people who may have started their own home-based business and that is their main source of income without a company’s health insurance plan. How can I be of service for those groups of people?
I started partnering with healthcare facilities and professionals in the area; such as Premier Health, Five Oaks, Dr. W. Peltier and Dr. T. Richmond to offer free healthcare screenings. At least people can have their basic (Blood pressure, A1C, Cholesterol, etc) checked and what resources are available.
I want home-based businesses to prosper, in order to do that, the community has to be aware of people within their own neighborhoods that may have products/services in which they are in need. of. As well as free healthcare screenings, in a comfortable setting because let’s be honest some if not most are scared of going to the doctors and hospitals.
These are the reasons why Indulge is meaningful to me. It is my passion and mission given to me by God… it’s my purpose!
Valerie , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am graduate from The Ohio State University with my BSN degree and the University of Phoenix with my MBA/HCM degree. I have been a small home-based business owner since 2007.
Indulge started in 2009, with the idea of providing women a “Whoosah ” day. Women tends to everyone else’s need and often times put themselves on the back burner and burn out. Indulge gives them an outing to just focus on them; however it’s not just for women, men needs a “Whoosah” as well.
The experience you will get at Indulge is like no other. We offer free massages, discounted glam services (lashes and brows), shopping with over 100 small/home based businesses, free health screenings, free fitness demonstrations, fashion shows, live concert, interactive stations (paint and sip), free informative workshops (financial, spiritual, business, etc), and the most amazing food court that you’ll ever find from gourmet, soul food to sweet treats. And, it’s all under one roof and it’s free for the community. It is The Ultimate One-Stop Shopping and Indulgence Experience! And, it occurs twice a year; first Saturday in May and the third Saturday in November.
I love seeing the repeat customers that looks forward to the event every time and they come looking for their favorite business to support and enjoy themselves.
I’m proud of the small/home-based businesses that trust the Indulge Event to showcase them and for some using it as a launch pad for growth of their business to store front reality. I really love seeing that!
Birthed from Indulge was VMW Enterprise which continues to assist the small/home-based businesses with marketing, branding, flyers/business cards designing and resources for further growth in their business. I enjoy providing social media marketing because your reach for consumers is endless.
Indulge is much more than an Expo, it’s an opportunity to successfully launch and/or maintain your small/home-based business, adding to the overall value in the economy within the community. While providing free healthcare screenings to maintain and strengthen your health and wellness. Indulge is for the growth of community financially and physically.
Indulge is the “New Mall”!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
How I built my audience on social media and how to build your audience on social media is … 1). Be consistent with your postings. Join social media groups related to your business and post in them, that broaden you audience. Post daily, sometimes three times a day.
2). Your post has to be attention grabbing to the eye and not to wordy, people don’t have time for that.
3). You have to invest in your business. Boost your posts which further broadens your audience to thousands of people.
4). Have a website or a social media page for your business that your audience can refer to. And, your personal page should mention your business and direct people that wants further information to the business page and/or website.
5). Use all social media platforms, not everyone is on Facebook. LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and etc. Meet your audience where they are at.
6). If planning an event it’s okay to be old school and to actually hand out flyers. Because you have to remember not everyone is on social media.
The key is to reach people where they are at and to think outside the box when promoting your business.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategies for growing clientele are … 1). Being transparent. If this is passion and mission people should be able to see and feel that through your postings, speaking and appearances.
2). Be consistent in offering the best service you can provide for your customers. Your only competitor is yourself.
3). Be open to receive feedback, suggestions and take criticism. Listen to your audience!
4). Be engaging and approachable.
5). Be humble, because in a blink of an eye it can all be taken away.
6). Making your clientele feel valued and special. If able to do that, they will start marketing for you by spreading via word of mouth. Word of mouth is a very powerful tool. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheIndulgeEvent.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theindulgeevent
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIndulgeEvent?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: Valerie McKinney-Walker BSN, MBA/HCM
- Twitter: @FromTheDeskofV
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theindulgeevent9047
Image Credits
TRD Media Source ~ William Henry Sr.