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

Hi Erica, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
A strong positive attitude towards winning and networking whenever I could are great habits that I feel helped me succeed. Word of mouth has been my best marketing tool. A project I complete for someone else leads to more projects from their friends and I love that. Not only are my clients pleased but they’re willing to tell someone else about our services and that really means a lot to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m excited to keep growing as a business owner and working with so many other black owned brands! No, the journey has not been easy, like I mentioned, getting laid off from my job was devastating. I really enjoyed what I did, I spoke with everyone who came in the door. My supervisor had to tell me to stop coming in and that we were closed down. But getting laid off propelled me into entrepreneurship and I haven’t looked back since. I believed in myself and put together a plan and I want others to believe they can do the same.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The suns officially out in ATL right now and my fave spot is Fin & Feathers. So we’re going there for lunch or dinner, the food and drinks are really good, the ambiance is perfect for this season. I think everyone’s favorite breakfast spot is Toast on Lenox, the perfect spot for brunch. My friends and I like to try new things so for some entertainment we’ll book a sip & paint for a nice vibe or even an open mic night somewhere with a nice crowd. There’s plenty to do in the city, it’s good to stay spontaneous and live in the moment.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was working as an Admissions Counselor at Riverwood Behavior Health after getting my degree, and I loved my job. Unfortunately, they were bought out and had to lay everyone off. I thought to myself what could I do? When I was in high school, I worked for for the Tshirt man from New Orleans in South Dekalb Mall. Everyone knew him and he taught me everything I know about heat press. After getting laid off, I ordered a heat press from Amazon and started out making shirts for Fredrick Douglas High School class reunions. I also made shirts for my kids’ elementary school and from there I began making shirts, pants, stickers and banners and that’s how WPM started. Shout out to the Tshirt man, I learned a skill in high school that would launch my first business. Also would like to shout out my friend Kristin, she created a company called E-commerce Angels, helping small businesses with their operational strategies. She’s a dope artist, visionary, and project manager. We really tag team all of our projects and I really appreciate her always being down for the cause!

Website: beautyplug.shop

Instagram: @wpmatlanta

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