Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sheneka Davis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sheneka , so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
This is the perfect question for me. Considering that I have a Masters in Counseling, I am very big on Self Care. Taking out time for me to even though I have heavy loads to carry is a part of my Mental Health Portfolio. I am very in tune with my emotions and if I’m not at my very best, I cannot be effective in my daily roles I have to fill. My self care regimen consists of traveling, meditating, exercising and taking the time out of my day to just breath. The impact that it has had on effectiveness is I’m always Happy, Loving, and pouring encouragement and motivation into others.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I started my brand years ago, so I have had the opportunity over the years to grow into a more Professional Business Woman. I did not start my business with the mindset that I was going to make every effort to please and or accommodate my customers. Early on in my career, I had customers that would come into my brick and mortar location and say things like, she is high, she needs to lower her prices, and noone is going to buy this. The defensive me at that time did not mind asking those customers to leave my store. After being in my first location for 6 years, I had to strategize.
Strategizing smartly had me look at not only my location , but the demographics in my location. You have to start asking yourself, what type of clients do I want to attract. As a business owner, its a hard decision to make because you may have to leave some races out and diversifying your business is so important!
Also how you respond to those individuals that you are not able to accomodate is extremely important as well because you never want a customer to walk away feeling empty, or feeling like you don’t care about their needs. In order to champion this, I started connecting with other business owners and I found out what they offered so I could at least refer those clients that I could not service.
I also changed my name! The name change was more inviting. It made people look at me different. It enticed them to come in and browse comfortably. When people see the word Fettish, they automatically think, (Adult) Store and that is not what I was.
Back to demographics. There was a moment where I experienced Burnout. 85% of my clientele looked like me. I was always frustrated because I had to give out alot of discounts. My prices were one set price, but by the time they checked out, I always gave a discount. I forced myself to appease to a group of people that had a reputation of always wanting something for nothing.
I secretly set aside a budget that had discounts labeled on it because I was so tired of having to justify my price. Everyday when I went to work, I knew how much I could afford to lose in order to stay afloat. The most challenging part of this plan was when you had only 2 customers and both of those customers felt entitled to 25% off and now you have given away 50% of your profit for the day! Epic Fail.
I often complained to my friends and they would say stop giving discounts but guess what, they never included themselves.
As it stands today, I operate under Phancee Enterprises because we offer a variety of services. We offer Custom Apparel, Accessories, Tumblers, Jewelry and clothing. We also offer a Party bus which allows people to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, bridal showers, or any other event that they need transportation for.
Today I am a better, bolder, happier and more knowledgeable individual and the impact of my greatness is reflecting in my day to day life and business.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Persistency, Resilience, and Determined! Regardless of how tough it has gotten, I never quit! If a door won’t open, I build one. I don’t stop. I’m innovative and creative, I will find a way. You should too.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I reset. If there is ever a time that I feel overwhelmed, and depleted, I take a step back. I know my limits and I will not mentally max myself out in order to win.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iamphancee.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamphancee?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamphancee?mibextid=LQQJ4d
