We had the good fortune of connecting with Shandra Turner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shandra, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Wow! This is a great question! I spent the last 20 years working in corporate America in the same industry. With all that tenure, experience, and loyalty to an industry I was never able to get past a certain level as an African American female.

I have always had an entrepreneur mindset which stems from my mother who raised 3 kids as a single parent. My mother started a very successful home health care business in her late 20’s and then a soul food restaurant in her 40’s. She would have my siblings and me involved in the business and always made us earn anything we ever wanted, This taught me at an early age about entrepreneurship or AKA how to HUSTLE.

Although it took 20 years of corporate America sucking the life out of me – I finally realized it was a no-brainer to start my own business and do something I LOVE.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My thought is that people EAT with their eyes and it is all about the experience! I am always trying to elevate my client’s experience, I want them to feel BOUGIE, important, spoiled, deserving, and elevated!

I am so proud of the feedback I get from my clients (good and bad) when they experience one of my graze boxes or when they give it to someone!

This journey has been so much fun but not always easy – I think my worst obstacle is myself, I have to constantly remind myself to put self-doubt aside! Keep working hard – like I did for all those years in corporate America! Failure is not an option!

Along the way, I have learned to politely say “no” when I cannot fully commit and also you are not going to please everyone.

My brand is a whole VIBE and a BOUGIE one at that! We are purposeful in creating an Elevated snacking experience for any occasion.

We offer Graze boxes, party charcuterie trays, homemade BOUGIE spicy marmalade, Paw-cuterie (for the pups) and the new and popular Watermelon Cake! We want to take the thought out of “what to bring to the party”!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shout out my partner (who is my ride or die) and my circle – my circle of friends and family are the bomb.com (you know who you are).

My close circle of friends are very thoughtful in their encouragement of my endevours. I always surround myself with like-minded people that are constantly elevating themselves. OneTooMany Vending (Lilburn GA) The Curl Factor (coming soon) Wine Corner (Snellville GA)!

My family is full of entrepreneurs from my mother (selling soul food plates in her local community) to my cousins (selling gourmet sausages outside of the SEAHAWKS stadium for the last 30 years)!

Shameless plug – my other cousin (Bodied by Patrice) located in Atlantic Station!

Website: www.thebougiegrazer.com

Instagram: @TheBougieGrazer

Facebook: Bougie Grazer

Other: TicTok – The Bougie Grazer

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