We had the good fortune of connecting with Shymère Nwabukwu and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Shymère, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was empowered behind my passion for cooking. Cooking was that is my innate trait that I wanted to pursue but in healthier more refined approach. Overall, I knew my idea was to organize a catering service that accommodated the needs of vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians and to those who were looking to transition into healthier eating habits and or dieting. However, being that it is a catering business I knew I wanted to incorporate unique element of upscale dinning to my arsenal. I want to create unmatched dinning experience which allows the consumer(s) to have unforgettable ambience of entertainment, tablescaping, and an impressive menu of wholesome foods to select from.
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?
I would like to say that I have distinction to cater to vegans, pescatarians, vegetarians and those to who are looking to transition to healthier eating habits and/or better dieting options, all while creating a upscale dinning experience that accommodates sophisticated health conscious consumers. As far as the labeling this journey as easy, I will definitely say that it is demanding and rewarding at the same time. However, with help of mentors and colleagues they have been very instrumental in my business to honing and shaping my skills to know how to address issues and follow up with them to gain feedback to power through it all has been as true gem. Some of the lessons that I’m still learning is time management and effective marketing in today’s climate. These assets play an integral role to showcase and sell your business., you have to stay committed and stay the course to reach success. I would like encourage anyone who is looking to pursue their passion, dream or goals to be cognizant of what your spend the majority time doing. Ask yourself if its fulfilling or if it serves you. Ask yourself if you love it and could you spend time doing this even if it was lucrative or not. My story comes from a lineage of strong determined women in my life that has exhibited and instilled alpha females ideologies of independence, determination, hard work, sacrifice and grit. Listening to the conversations as a child, of my Mother, my Aunt and my Grandmother only strengthen my belief that I am to always go after anything that I so deeply desire in my heart, with the will power that only ceases at a favorable outcome.
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?
As a native of Atlanta I believe that my itinerary good time or favorite hangout place would be a bit bias to say the least, but I’ll give it a shot! For a festive night sans the club environment: The Blind Pig Palour , Rathburn’s, The St.Regis The Canopy at Birchwood The Mandarin Hide Garden & Gun Club Ormsby’s 101 Steak American Cut Atlanta Southern Art and Bourbon Bar Eleanor’s Leon’s Full Service Palor intercontinental Buckhead Atlanta Whisky Mistess State Farm Arena Mercedes Benz Stadium For a creative and unique experience: Castleberry Hill Art Stroll Hammond House High Museum of Art Trap Music Museum Center for Civil and Human Rights Krog St and the Beltiline Ponce City Market Sky View Atlanta That’s I have…how did I do? Lol!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely like to Shoutout my colleagues and friends that have given amazing support and encouragement to keep me motivated. First, I would like to thank God for keeping me during this unprecedented time to launch a new business, amen. Next, would be my loving husband that is my BIGGEST cheerleader towards encouraging my entrepreneurial endeavors Chinedu Nwabukwu thank you so VERY much! Ify Ifebi (owner of Vendor space) who made the recommendation to refer me to Shout Atlanta, thank you so much ma’am! Rayston and Malia Williams (business/digital content coaches) who sat with me countlessly days to ensure I had the tools and resources to target the right consumers to gain a strong following, I appreciate you both! Ariana Waller (marketing coach) who gave me insight to pursuing Southern Pesca with the intention to become lucrative and successful by the way of strategy and patience, thank you Ariana! Imane Alhallaq (co owner of family owned business and creative image advisor of Southern Pesca) thank you for creative and unique talents to orchestrate beautiful tablescapings and artistic input whenever necessary, I am very grateful. My uncle Todd, who has been my ear the entire time with recipes and homemade delights that I incorporate into my meals, thank you Unc! To my inspiration and the ladies of my life, my Grandmother “Coco” thank you passing down your cooking and entrepreneurial spirit, my Mother thank you passing down your determination and sacrifice, and my Aunt Sharon thank you for passing independence and hard work ethics, I appreciate you all unyieldingly. William Mack, my catering mentor (owner of Party Life Entertainment Catering) thank you for our spontaneous unscheduled phone calls to guide me towards the right steps to approaching my catering endeavors successful. Very much appreciated! Lastly, to all of my customers that were overwhelmingly excited as I was the day I launched Southern Pesca by pre-ordering, becoming regulars and even buying everything on the menu ..literally, lol! Thank you all to the moon and back! Words can’t express the gratitude that I have in my heart for you all thank you, sincerely.
Instagram: @Southern_pesca
Image Credits
Malia Williams