We were lucky to catch up with JENNY JAMES recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi JENNY, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Growing up, my family struggled with financial instability, emotional and mental health difficulties, and substance abuse. While these challenges shaped much of my upbringing, they also gave me a strong sense of determination and taught me the importance of perseverance, compassion, and finding strength even in the toughest of circumstances. By the time I turned 18, I lived in over ten different homes; sometimes living with friends and their families. It’s this troubled life that has shaped the resilient woman that I am today. I always wanted more for myself, and with my grandmother as a positive role model, I knew there was a better life and future to foresee, but it was only I who would be responsible for creating that.
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?
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I understood early on that I needed to be the driving force for the change I envisioned in my life. My journey is a true testament to resilience, determination, and a commitment to creating positive change for myself and the legacy I strive to leave. Despite facing financial constraints and being on my own straight out of high school, I entered the world of Finance right after graduating, starting in an entry-level position, all while also working an overnight shift in Abercrombie & Fitch. The ability to break down barriers became my motto in life, because without this mindset, I would’ve never achieved and overcame as much as I have and continue to do so. My career in Finance became a saga of triumphs, marked by promotions, recognitions, and the achievement of various investment licenses. Climbing the corporate ladder, I reached the prestigious position of Vice President at the age of 27, continuing my ascent in the international banking sector. Simultaneously, I pursued my education with unwavering dedication, earning my Associates Degree in Financial Services, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, and working towards an MBA—all while being a devoted mom, running a business, and maintaining a full-time job.
My contributions in the banking industry included leadership roles, recognition in leadership programs, and accolades. As the Chair and COO of multiple Employee Resource Groups, I championed diversity and inclusion among Caribbean and Hispanic ethnic groups. My accomplishments were highlighted in Yahoo! Finance’s list of the World’s 100 Ethnic Minority Role Models – this was indeed an incredible achievement I will always reflect upon.
My success is not confined to professional achievements; I have been an active contributor to my community, serving as a mentor to high school teenagers. My commitment to giving back stems from a desire to provide the younger generation with the tools and resources I lacked growing up in a troubled home, and in underserved communities.
Driven by a passion for wellness and a focus on what truly matters, my husband and I wanted to do something that not only brought a sense of fulfilment to us beyond our corporate careers, but also allowed for the ability to set a business foundation and legacy for our family. It was in 2018 that we founded One Stop Hop Party Rentals Inc.
One Stop Hop Party Rentals Inc. is a premier event rentals company serving the New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut areas. One Stop Hop takes pride in offering a diverse and curated selection of rental options, ranging from quality bounce houses and kids’ play areas to custom-designed backdrops, wood rentals, marquees, and everything in-between.
Leaving corporate in 2022 with the support of my husband, created what I view as a transformed life for myself. I was to focus on my mental health, our growing business and my son, who required more of my time and presence. I can wholeheartedly and humbly say I take great pride in the role I play as a mompreneur. For me, being a mompreneur encompasses an endless attempt to seamlessly balance the joys and challenges of motherhood with the demands of running a successful business. It involves wearing multiple hats throughout the day, whether it’s nurturing my 15 year old son’s growth, football commitments and games, his achievements or managing One Stop Hop Party Rentals’ operations, administration, event prepping, client relationships… you get the idea. As a mompreneur, I find endless inspiration in my son’s accomplishments, using his dedication and drive as fuel for my own entrepreneurial journey. It means creating a supportive environment at home and in the workplace, where both my family and business can thrive. Ultimately, being a mompreneur means embracing the beautiful chaos of parenthood and entrepreneurship, finding strength and purpose in the delicate dance between raising a child and building a legacy. Through the trials and lessons with the business, I can honestly say I love the life I live.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) Client Centricity – In my journey from banking to running an event rentals business, one skill that has profoundly shaped my success is client centricity. During my time in banking, I honed my ability to understand and prioritize client needs, which has proven invaluable in my current venture. In the party rentals industry, creating memorable experiences for clients is paramount. By focusing on their unique visions and requirements, I’ve been able to build strong relationships that not only foster trust but also encourage repeat business. My banking background taught me the importance of listening and responding to client feedback, which I’ve carried over into my business. This commitment to client satisfaction has really helped me cultivate a loyal customer base. Clients return not just for our quality and diverse rentals, but because they feel valued and understood. It’s rewarding to see that the skills I developed in banking have become a cornerstone of my business, driving growth and ensuring that each event we support is a resounding success. My advice is, if you don’t have customer service knowledge, GET IT because this is absolutely imperative for any business to be successful, doesn’t matter the field. With so much information and resources at our fingertips, we can all get it right. My tip – in the world of AI, if you’re struggling in providing a client with a diplomatic and polite reply/communication, don’t be shy to use ChatGPT to help you out! It’s a blessing having such services so easily available to us, plus it’s free! A strong focus on client satisfaction can create loyal customers who not only return but also refer others to your business. Plus, developing your skills will empower you to tackle challenges more confidently.
2) My ability to break barriers – In the highly competitive and super saturated landscape of the party rentals business, my ability to break barriers and push forward has been crucial to my success. The industry over the last years since Covid, has continued to get incredibly saturated, yet I thrive on challenges and focusing on MY Why. My resilience allows me to remain focused on my goals, continually pushing myself to innovate and grow, rather than getting distracted by what others are doing. This mindset is deeply rooted in my experiences in the banking sector, as a young Latina who had to always fight harder for the roles I was going for or well qualified for, because of my gender, age and ethnicity. This was also further shaped by my rough upbringing. Those early challenges taught me the importance of perseverance and the power of carving my own path. I learned to embrace discomfort and view obstacles as opportunities for growth. This perspective has become a cornerstone of my approach to business.
In a market where it’s easy to get lost in the noise, I prioritize my unique vision and values. By staying true to myself and my mission, I consistently challenge the status quo and this really drives my passion for what I do. My advice would be to embrace resilience – understand that challenges are part of the journey. Stay determined and view setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. Your ability to bounce back will set you apart.
3) Financial Management: Keeping a close eye on budgets, costs, and pricing strategies to ensure profitability while offering competitive rates. This may seem straight forward, but hear me out here – this stems back to my earlier mention on how saturated the business is. With saturation, comes competition. As much as everyone may preach ‘community over competition’, there are many vendors charging pennies to the actual value or market rates for rentals, and other event industry related services. ‘They’ think this is the way to win, this is the way to steal other businesses clients. Through this, I’ve stood not just my ground, but my confidence in knowing that my price is the price and it’s set to reflect the quality of our services and the value we provide. My advice would be, while this may seem like a quick way to gain business, it can be detrimental to your brand and long-term success. Resist the urge to undercut competitors to secure clients. This approach can lead to a cycle of low pricing that diminishes your brand’s perceived value. Instead, focus on building a reputation for quality and reliability. Clients who prioritize cost over quality may not be the ideal long-term customers.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
In the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been learning to set boundaries—both in my client relationships and in my personal life. As the owner of a party rentals company, I’ve come to recognize the importance of knowing when to walk away from a prospect client and their event if it doesn’t align with our values or if I sense it could be detrimental to our business and personal well-being. I’ve learned that not all money is good money, and prioritizing the right partnerships is essential for long-term success. Additionally, for the first time since starting my business, I’ve successfully implemented boundaries that allow me to fully disconnect in the evenings. This has been transformative. While there are times when exceptions are necessary, creating this separation between work and personal life has significantly improved my mental state and has allowed me to better balance family time and personal well-being.
I understand that this is still a work in progress, but I truly believe that slow progress is better than none at all. Each step I take toward maintaining these boundaries reinforces my commitment to both my business and my personal life. I can genuinely say that I now see and feel the positive impact of these changes, and it has made a world of difference in how I approach my work and life overall.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.onestophop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestophop_partyrentals
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneStopHopPartyRentals/
Image Credits
Photographers to credit for all images shared – https://www.instagram.com/geritorres.photo https://www.instagram.com/amanda_kristyy https://www.instagram.com/klavallee.photography https://www.instagram.com/beemedia1 https://www.instagram.com/delvastudio
