Meet Shina Hasan | Founder of send a PRAYER, a Stuffed Animal Care Package Co.

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

Hi Shina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It all started with a prayer, a love for stuffed animals aka “plushies” and an observation! I commit to doing a 21 day fast every January. That’s my time to clear the clutter and be intentional about seeking God for wisdom. You see when you are fasting, you can see things more clearly, you typically would not pay attention to otherwise. I began to notice praying hands emoji’s were present throughout social media, text messages, and inbox messages. When someone passes away, what do you see?…. Praying hands. Starting a new business….. Praying hands. Having a baby…. Praying hands. So this got me thinking… Are people actually praying for others, or are they just talking about something that they are going to do and never do it? This became my inspiration for “send a PRAYER”. What if we could put action behind our words and send a visual reminder that “Yes” we are praying for a friend, a loved one, co-worker and include a personalized note. So I combined the two and created something memorable for children and adults. The perfect gift that sends love and prayer in a box. After all, we all could use some PRAYER!!

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?
send a PRAYER is a stuffed animal care package co. that sends love and prayer in box! We’re about delivering lasting moments in a thoughtful way. We’re not just sending stuffed animals, we’re sending tangible reminders that someone is praying for you in this very moment. In a world when you don’t always know what to say, sending a PRAYER goes a long way. It uplifts your spirit.
I’m most proud and excited about how send a PRAYER is getting people to pray for others more than themselves! In a climate where so many people only care about themselves, we’re rewriting the narrative. When someone receives our bright yellow box with “Praying For You” printed on the outside of it, they immediately know someone is praying for them. What a thoughtful way to show you care.
I got to where I am today by being persistent. Even though, my husband and I received a lot of no’s in our businesses and made mistakes, it didn’t stop us. We knew it’s not how we start but how we finish. Quitting is not an option.
With send a PRAYER, doing more research was involved to overcome challenges. I noticed on several occasions while visiting different businesses that even though gifts were present, prayers were absent. When going through a difficult time prayer is what’s needed most in addition to the tangible. Our goal is to become more visible so people could see there are other gift options and build relationships with those businesses since we are an e-commerce store.
Lessons I’ve learned along the way are starting a business is not for the weak. Just because your website is live doesn’t mean people are running to your site to make a purchase. Also, you truly have to believe in your WHY and trust the process because your faith, and patience will be tested.
I want the world to know that send a PRAYER is not just sending stuffed animals, we’re sending a tangible reminder that someone is praying for you in this very moment! Prayers are powerful and they can be sent with love for various occasions and celebrations. By using our services, prayers can be sent all over the world. We pride ourselves on delivering every plushie with the spirit of excellence. Our motto is, when you can’t be present… send a PRAYER!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my bestie was visiting the area the first stop would be brunch at Morningbirds in Roswell; their shrimp and waffles are so delicious!! Next, we would do some shopping in and around Lenox and Perimeter Mall’s. I love a great find at TJMaxx and Nordstroms! After all the shopping we certainly have worked up an appetite. We would grab dinner at Chops Lobster Bar and enjoy their fried lobster. Since St. Regis’ patio is just across the courtyard we would head over there to meet some friends and enjoy a glass of wine and the scenery. The next day I’d schedule massages at Chateau Elan. We would definitely need one after all of the shopping! After that, we’d go home and take a nap and get ready to head to the Avalon in Alpharetta for dinner and dessert while listening to live music during Avalon Nights. They have many diverse food offerings and great outdoor spaces. Finally, we’d end the trip by going to Ponce City Market’s Rooftop Skyline Park, playing games and grabbing a light bite before catching dinner and a show at the City Winery at PCM. Lastly, we’d head to Change Church in Duluth on Sunday. The fellowship, the sermons and the worship are always amazing!

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?
Absolutely!! My wonderful husband Hasan! He has been such an amazing partner and support system to our business, send a PRAYER. Not only does he inspire me, we have been business partners for 17 years. Hasan amazes me with his work ethic and leadership ability, his keen negotiating skills are impeccable, and his ability to build lasting bridges with customers is one of the things that I love most about him. His tenure and tenacity is unmatched in everything that he does. He deserves this shout out because he is truly the wind beneath my wings.
I also have to give a huge shoutout to my mom! Without her there is no me. I come from a family of faith. One of things she has instilled in me is, trust the Lord with all thine heart and acknowledge Him and He will direct my path. He’s never failed me and He never will. I’m so thankful for my mom who continues to cover me in prayers and lead by example. I could not ask for a better mother and her unwavering support.
Lastly but certainly not least, shoutout to my family and friends. I’m a strong believer that people are in your life for reasons and sometimes seasons. The group of friends I have are absolutely amazing from the ones that have supported me from day one to the ones that have been added to my friends circle. I am so grateful for my family and friends. They’re my sounding board, my encouragers, and my prayer warriors. I’m blessed to have each and everyone of them in my life.

Website: https://sendaprayernow.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sendaprayernow/

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