We had the good fortune of connecting with Shavodka Dennis and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Shavodka, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My dream has always been to become a nurse and owning my own healthcare agency. My passion is to care for others, and I knew becoming a nurse would give me that opportunity. I had my first child when I was 18 years old, and my dreams of becoming a nurse was put on hold. I attempted several times to go back to school to fulfill my dreams, but I always had to put that to the side for my children. Finally in 2012 I got accepted into nursing school and stepped out on faith trusting that God would lead me and provide for me, and he did just that. Into 2014 I graduated from nursing school with honors, married my first high school crush and moved to Atlanta all in one year. My next goal was to open a business. I did all kinds of research on the process of opening a healthcare agency and I got so discouraged because it was so much. So once again I pushed that dream to the side. One day I was out looking for uniform scrubs and realized there were no scrub stores in my area; I had to drive many miles away just to find one. I love scrubs and know exactly what type of scrubs I was looking for. I got to the store and looked all around and couldn’t find anything I liked. As I was drove home, I begin pondering the idea of opening my own store both online and in person. With the support of my husband, I did just that. I stepped out on faith once again trusting that God would be my guide and put everything and everyone in place. Even though my dream was to open a healthcare agency, God’s plan for me is even better. The beginning has been a little rocky, but I have faith that the work and sacrifices I have made will not be in vain, and God will see me through.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The name of my business is Wonderfully Made Scrubs & More. That name is very dear to me, because it came from one of my favorite bible verses that my mama taught me as a child. Psalm 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. This bible verse stuck with me throughout my life and has always been my motivation at some of my lowest times, so when I begin to think of names for the business that verse came to my mind. I wanted the world to know that we are all “Wonderfully Made”! About my business Wonderfully Made Scrubs & More is a Nurse-Owned and Black Woman-Owned uniform scrub store providing good quality scrubs to nursing communities and many professions beyond. I sell scrubs online at wonderfullymadescrubs.org and I have a small shop in Conyers Georgia where people have the opportunity to call and schedule a visit that will be catered to their style, brand, size, colors and etc.. I launched my business in August 0f 2021, the beginning has been a little rough, and I have started to get a little discouraged, but I know God didn’t bring me this far to quit. My husband keeps me motivated and going every day. I talked to one of my mentors online the other day and he said something that really was motivational to me he said, “In order to sell to hundreds you have to present your products to thousands” and that’s exactly my plan. I am learning to step outside my comfort zone, because I won’t succeed being stuck in one place. I want the world to know that Wonderfully Made Scrubs & More value their support and if you need good quality scrubs, please look no farther We Have You Covered! I want to thank everyone who has supported us thus far and thank you in advance for everyone that will support in the future! Many Blessings to All!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We will start on a Friday night we will hit up The Azure Lounge in Conyers, Georgia. My husband and I absolutely love this place. The owners the Cotton’s are wonderful people, and the food and vibe are awesome. On Saturday we will do breakfast at Nana’s Chicken & Waffles in Conyers as well, there fried chicken is off the chain and their beignets are so good. On Saturday we can visit the Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta and just enjoy the downtown scenery. Sunday we can take a tour of downtown Covington to show where movies like “My Cousin Vinny” Tyler Perry’s “The Family That Preys” and “In the Heat of The Night” just to name a few, were filmed and eat at “The Mystic Grill”. It is so many places to visit throughout Atlanta and Metro Atlanta.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my husband Brian Dennis, I want to thank you for always supporting me in everything I do no matter what it is. I want to thank my children for motivating me to be better, and I want them to know that everything that I do is for them. “If Mama Can Do It, You Can Too”! To My Daddy, My Sister Dreka, My Brother Carl, My Brother Chucky and ALL my family and friends that have supported me and continue to support me, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. To My Mama Nancy in heaven, I pray I have made you proud!!
Website: wonderfullymadescrubs.org
Instagram: instagram/wonderfullymadescrubs
Facebook: Wonderfully Made Scrubs & More
Yelp: Wonderfully Made Scrubs & More
Other: Tik Tok: @wonderfullymadescrubs