Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney Tate. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Courtney with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Growing up in a single mother household, my two sisters and I watched our Mom work hard to provide everything we could ever need. Without a doubt, single parent households require so much from the sole provider. She was honest with us, and always made sure we knew what a dollar meant.
From a very young age, she instilled a hard, work ethic, morals, and respect into us, setting us up for success in life.
Still to this day, I call and ask for business advice from time to time. I’m so very grateful to have a mother that taught me how to work hard for the things I want in life.
When you want something bad enough, you will put in whatever work required to make it happen. That’s something I learned by the example she set when I was a kid, and something I still apply to my life today.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Courtney Tate. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. My husband and I, Steve Tate, have two beautiful boys Hudson (5) and Harper (4). We currently live in La Vernia, TX- which is where BSK is located.
My “Why” for BSK begins with my boys. They are truly my everything. If you are a mom, you know how difficult it can be to wear multiple different hats. When my boys were super little, they used to love to match. I myself love to shop and it was always hard to find the cutest stuff for my two babies. So, that’s when the idea came… Why don’t I make a business for affordable kids clothing? Then, I had the idea to offer all things custom for everyone in the family. I did a soft launch and sold out over night. That’s when BSK Patch Bar was born. We love to let our customers sit and design their custom, one of a kind items.
Our boutique is open Tuesday – Saturday, but our online store is open 24/7 and we are always available to help you design your bag online, too!
And that’s where my “Why” began. I started this journey to make my kids happy and proud of their mama.
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?
Persistence, Organization, and Communication
Persistence – Anything worth having won’t come easy. It’s hard to not get discouraged sometimes, whether it’s naysayers or yourself in your own head. Stick with it! Don’t give up, keep working hard towards your goals.
Organization – It’s sooo important to keep yourself organized and on task. When starting a business, or are managing one, you have so many things to get done. Make sure to keep yourself on pace for success. Organization is the only way to not get lost, and to ensure you meet important deadlines.
Communication – When running a business, communication is KEY! Communication of expectations, quality of goods, and customer needs are vital. Communication with other Managers and staff members to ensure everyone is on the same page and that the quality of goods is controlled is non negotiable. Some hard conversations won’t be fun, but they’re very necessary!
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Id like to genuinely thank, Meredith Rauschuber, a fellow boutique owner, who changed the trajectory of my life. Without her, I could not have imagined the success of BSK. She has given such great guidance and wisdom that has helped me through the difficult storms and challenges. I couldn’t have made it through this past year and a half without her help and love. I think when you start a small business it’s almost impossible to not have a go- to-person. It has been a blessing to be able to get under her wing and not only see my business glow but help support each other in the process. Grateful is an understatement!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.backstreetkids.org
- Instagram: Backstreet.kids
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backstreetkidslv?mibextid=LQQJ4d
