We had the good fortune of connecting with Letitia (Kita) Greenway and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Letitia (Kita), we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been making custom items as gifts for several years in my spare time. I love giving gifts that people can use, like to look at and gives them the feeling that it’s just for them. I had always wanted to find a way to do something everyday that brought me joy. I wanted to start my own business but life kept getting in the way, so I was on the quiet side about starting Tee’d By Joyful Bridges. I was moving super slow because the career side of me wanted to get everything right, I wanted to know every single detail and have it all together first and I felt like I just didn’t have the extra time to really commit to running a business, creating and working full time. I would make sales here and there because it brought me joy to create but I was not in a hurry to jump right in.
Early last year Covid-19 hit my full time job pretty hard and I was laid off which was giving me time to fine tune all those little details. One day I got a call from my best friend needing a custom item quickly. I asked her to give me a couple hours and let me see what I could do and the rest has been history. Over the last year I have used Zig Ziglar’s quote “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” as a daily reminder to just keep going even if you don’t have it all together!
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Our tag line at Tee’d by Joyful Bridges is “a custom gift experience”. The name Joyful Bridges is actually a play of the meaning of my name and my son’s last name but it rings true we actually try to bring joy while bridging the gap to your custom experience. Sometimes creating a custom item or gift can be overwhelming with choosing colors, sizes, placing, graphics etc., but our business is to get you to a finished product without that overwhelming feeling of if it will be ok. We don’t just make tee shirts and custom items but we actually listen to our customers and make every attempt to make it a customer service experience that you will only receive with us. From concept to product, to detailed packaging and delivery. One of my customers often says “it’s like she gets into my head and brings to life whatever I’m trying to think of” and that is what I want to always set us apart and it’s also what I am most proud of.
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?
Well I am a real GA peach I was born and raised here and I’m a foodie so I’m always good for a nice meal and cocktails, we have to eat! Some of my favorites right now are The Consulate menu changes frequently but when you go you’ll see why! Surin for my Thai food fix, Ikhlas for the best fried fish, Ormsby’s for a evening hang out, Ponce City Market rooftop, Rock Steady love the ambiance, Apt 4b and I have to add in St. James Live for live music. What I love about the food scene in this city is that it is ever changing and that makes a foodie super happy!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I acknowledge God first in all I do, my son Cameron who is my model, photographer, editor, packer, courier, mover and steps in to assist whenever he can with whatever I need, and all my family! I have been blessed to have some amazing people in my life that support me to no end no matter what the need is and I so appreciate them., while I can’t call them all by name in this short space I tell them often how much they mean. This journey has been much smoother though having three beautiful women in my corner to hold me accountable, encourage me, correct me, let me be my best self or point blank tell me that’s not it sis! My best friend Golden Armstrong and owner of Golden Chic Boutique, my sweet friend and owner of Sweet Red’s Bakery Sherridan Drakeford and my oldest friend and owner of Bliss Wedding Chapel Taikesha Smith no matter how near or far these ladies have really allowed me to experience this journey on a different level and I am so appreciative of them for their contribution to this part of the journey.
Website: www.JoyfulBridgesLLC.com
Instagram: instagram.com/teedbyjoyfulbridges
Facebook: www.facebook.com/teedbyjoyfulbridges