Meet Erica Alcox: Geechie Gurl, Educator and Advisor

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

Hi Erica, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
The legacy I leave behind will be one where people know they can have access to the resources they need to take care of their households. So many suffer from anxiety, depression and self doubt because they may feel they can’t reach their idea of success. Also, the abundance of bad information or dishonest “experts” that rob them makes it difficult for them to even consider trying to find someone like myself. They don’t know where to turn or who to trust.
I respect learning curves and budgets. While I do not believe in excuses and crutches that breed and feed a victim mindset, I do believe in compassionate accommodations WITH accountability.

My legacy is kindness and compassion with a heavy dose of audacity to help people be and do whatever they aspire to be and do regardless of their circumstances.

I want people to remember me for being that person who they knew would match their efforts in helping themselves. They will say I always led with love and a genuine desire to truly see them become their own champion no matter what challenges they are experiencing. I do what I can with what I have and if I ever get my hands on a grant and a building, that legacy will be magnified.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Chile, that’s a loaded question for me! Why? Because I enjoy using ALL of my talents and skills. I’ve been criticized harshly for being “all over the place” by fellow entrepreneurs and that hurts but so does gas after I’ve eaten something with a lot of dairy. I know to avoid both. I choose to concern myself with the satisfaction my clients report in their feedback when they say how I made their learning experience smooth. I made the discomfort of doing something different bearable. That’s why I keep going as a consultant, life coach, educator, strategist…whatever you want to label it as. Now I won’t sit here and say it has been easy or hard. That’s subjective. When I look back at what I considered hard, I chuckle because clearly I’m still standing and I won, so I will say my main brand Geechie Gurl, established in May of 2010, on the floor of my apartment next to my then 4 yr old son’s missing sock is an extraordinary expedition through how I interpret my interactions with customers, clients, fellow biz owners and yes even the people who subscribe to being negative towards me and my businesses. I’ve become more protective of my boundaries and certainly respect the boundaries of others meaning I don’t put too much effort into changing people’s minds. I simply want to stimulate their thought process and let them come to their own conclusion of what they feel they need and want. Free will will always reign supreme.

If someone wants more fulfillment out of their life, I simply ask how can I help you get there? What do you need?
If someone wants to continue on a road to destruction and toxicity, I respect their boundaries and simply let them know I don’t have a thing to offer that would be of any assistance…including my presence. I respect my boundaries as well.

This is real talk especially after the past year and a half of life changing so abruptly. I put more effort into maintaining my peace and I do my best to infuse that into my brands.

Geechie Gurl is just the tip of the iceberg. At my core, I am an educator and a facilitator so every last one of my brands allows me to serve customers and clients in an impactful way.

Of course there are billions of coaches, yet I’m the one that has a message that resonates a little deeper than the cliche feel good message that fades after a trend gets old. It might be our 1:1 session, my Lowcountry Table you attend and swap energy with others, my book you read, the journal you are interacting with or the tshirt and mug set that communicates your stance of protecting your peace. It’s whatever you need it to be for you.

A billion food companies have great recipes and products. Charleston Crunch Company is delicious because of the love it’s founded on. It was born in my classroom where trained young people with learning differences, behavioral challenges and criminal backgrounds to learn the industry, strengthen their leadership skills, gain industry certifications and know their life has value. That makes for a person who feels more confident about themselves and that positivity winds up in your food. That’s a win win if you ask me!
I’m excited about my growth. Any public school teacher can tell you it’s a hard decision to leave the classroom and the first time I did leave was because I had to protect my peace after I uncovered wrongdoing by an administrator and they made the workplace unbearable. This time is because I’ve outgrown the public school classroom and see where I can bring an ever greater value to adult learners in need of classes to help them accomplish short and long term goals. I’m training my son through his business Skull Bomb Creatives to carry on that legacy because I see that desire to use his gifts to reach others who are nontraditional learners like him. He doesn’t even know he has this business or customers yet because it’s a surprise for his 16th birthday. He just thinks I’ve been paying him for a few designs here and there while helping me work in MY business. Nope. Your business credit and brand are growing right under your nose while you learn your business. That’s the method to my madness.
All in all, my brand and my story go back to my “why”. Erica Alcox and anything I touch is most definitely for Da Culture. Any segment of people I can empathize with and provide tools, solutions, and recreational items/services for will know they are being served from a place of sincerity.
Whether it’s facilitating a certification class for you and your team so you can safely serve your food to the community, helping you build and brand your own business, or providing some apparel choices that capture your personality and values, I serve YOU…and I get a kick out of celebrating you! I know I call my people my Cuzns but I have been embraced as an honorary social media Auntie and that truly embodies the whole feel of Geechie Gurl and every business I create.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Now this is a tough one because I am not a complicated person. I find delight in the simplest things like most GenXers do, so this will be boring to most. When it comes to eating and drinking, that’s all me. Geechie Gurl’s Lowcountry Table will always be my suggestion, recommendation, and requirement. It’s my love language. My people request my cooking anyway, so it’s a given. I’m already mandated to have my Chucktown Chewies ready. What is understood needs no explanation. I live my businesses in real life.

If I get tired of cooking, it will be Hibachi or some sort of seafood for sure.
My friends and I do explore supply and craft stores if we do go outside. I told you we are simple people plus I’ve made my home an oasis so there’s really no need to go out for anything. We have so many obligations on a daily basis, that it actually feels good just to sit down. I connect with people like I used to back in college days on the campus of South Carolina State University so hosting people like I used to do when I lived “off the yard” is nostalgic even if it’s me parking my CrunchBus in a parking lot, pulling out the lawn chair and snacks while letting the playlist roll from the speakers. Food, fun and fellowship is all we need.



Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I truly want to Shout Out the strangers who have become my Cuzns. These are the people who gave me a chance to show them I provide the value they needed. They didn’t get distracted by the messenger who doesn’t wear makeup or the latest fashion and focused on the message. They looked beyond the number of followers I don’t have, the absence of a blue verified checkmark and fancy flyers with elaborate graphics and LISTENED TO or READ what I was teaching. People don’t really do that as much these. Your whole motivational Easter speech can be a memory as fast as a person’s thumb can scroll or swipe you into the abyss.
In this day and age of having less than 10 seconds to grab someone’s attention, I didn’t want to sacrifice the integrity or quality of my content for the sake of following a trend or trying to learn a viral dance. My knees said nope and my conscience said “Aht Aht! Stay authentic!”

When I wrote my book “You Smell Like Outside”, I was blown away and continue to be rendered speechless at the stories that fill my inbox from people who are finding the courage to do the very things that frightened them, but improves their quality of life. I am forever grateful. Me and my “lil ashy mistakes” are serving the world a healthy plate of peace and joy. That is amazing to me! So much so that I had to do a 3rd edition and completing an “unprofessional” audiobook as we speak! It was requested so I shall deliver.

So to the Cuzns who repeatedly click on my links, book my services, purchase my products, and give testimonials to their friends to do the same, I HONOR AND THANK YOU! You’ve been having my back for 11 years as of May 2021 and you’re the reason that I’m still committed to putting my all into bringing even more resources to help you manifest great things for your household. We will put our best moisturized foot forward together!

Website: GeechieGurl.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/geechiegurltm

Linkedin: EAlcox

Twitter: Twitter.com/geechiegurltm

Facebook: Facebook.com/GeechieGurl

Youtube: Youtube.com/geechiegurltm

Other: Skullbombcreatives.com