Meet Justin Walker & Quintin Shirley: Owners of Darla Rae’s Sea Moss & Premium Juice

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Walker & Quintin Shirley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin Walker & Quintin Shirley, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Our balance has changed drastically. We knew starting a business would require a shift in priorities; oftentimes sacrificing time spent with friends and family. In addition to working full time jobs, time management is crucial to keep the business moving without jeopardizing current income.

Balance is a tough but necessary discipline to have in general. Our partnership works in a way that supports the workload of the business in addition to personal life. Realistically, theres never enough time in the day. Therefore, you have to create time to grow your success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We come from different backgrounds yet are inspired by similar goals to support our community. We began our journey into entrepreneurship August 2020 by researching the benefits of fruits and vegetables commonly found in local retail stores.
Although readily available, we found that most consumers preferred a nutrient packed, on-the-go beverage with a refreshing taste. After months of experimenting with sweet & bitter flavors, we created our niche by introducing Wildcrafted Sea Moss; a signature staple of Darla Rae’s Sea Moss & Premium Juice.

Our business is unique in that we have a diverse background in experience and upbringing:

Justin Walker is a Los Angeles, CA native with a background in sales & technology. A graduate of Morehouse College (10’), he is an active member in the Atlanta Black Tech community and supports several organizations such as the New Georgia Voter Project, Georgia55 Project & the Salesforce & Morehouse College Partnership Program. When it comes to entrepreneurship, he believes that financial independence is key to influencing the community.

Quintin Shirley is from the southern roots of Toccoa, GA with a background in in business administration and sales. Quintin attended the University of West Georgia and is an avid supporter of groups aiding to invest in minority communities. He is the son of Darla Rae Arthur and is a vital part of Darla Rae’s networking & outreach strategy.

We have experienced many growing pains as a start up. However, we have had a tremendous amount of support and guidance from other black owned businesses. One of the lessons we have learned along the way is the power of patience & timing. Not all opportunities are profitable and not all propositions lead to opportunities.

For anyone looking to start a business, our #1 advice is to develop non-negotiable core values that set the tone for your company, network & personal brand.

We want the world to know that our value is one that appeases all demographics. Our motto is simple yet significant:

“Our community deserves access to a healthier way of living. We pray that each delivery supports mental & physical healing; making YOU the best YOU.”

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?
Our itinerary is all about changing the narrative of a healthy lifestyle. Hands down, Atlanta has the most innovative twist to restaurants, events & experiences. Our visitors would have an unforgettable experience supporting minority owned businesses!

We frequent many, but some of our top go to’s include:

Loaded Potato Bar – https://loadedpotatobaratl.com/
Vegan Food Truck Park – https://www.instagram.com/atlfoodtruckpark/
Slutty Vegan – https://sluttyveganatl.com/
YourVitaminLady Herb Shop – https://www.instagram.com/yourvitaminlady_101/
Virgils Gullah Kitchen Bar – https://virgilsgullahkitchen.com/
Hippin Hops Brewery – https://www.hippinhopsbrewery.com/
Sweet Auburn BBQ – https://www.sweetauburnbbq.com/ 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?
We want to give a special shout out to everyone that continually supports and keeps us lifted. As emerging entrepreneurs, starting a business has been incredibly challenging but worth every moment.

Thank you to the fellow entrepreneurs who have offered their services to propel our business to success!

Jasmine Thomas – TheJRThomas
Phylicia Franklin – Phyliciashotit
Hustle2Business

Website: darlaraes.co

Instagram: @darla_raes

Facebook: @darlaraes