We had the good fortune of connecting with Toyiah Marquis Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toyiah Marquis, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind me starting my own business started very early for me. I grew up in the entertainment business so I was shown how to be independent and disciplined at 13 years old. At that age, I always knew I wanted a lifestyle in which I could control my own destiny and I knew I would never have that type of freedom while working for someone else. For as long as I can remember I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I was hustling pop bottles at 11/12 years old. (lol) I had it in me. After being laid off from a 15-year corporate job I told myself that I would never go back. That was in July 2014. I took my passion for crafts and retail full-speed ahead and I never looked back. Fast forward to today, I have been able to grow my business exponentially, on an international level, and it’s still growing.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Patch Party Club is an accessories lifestyle brand that speaks to the very essence of African-American culture! We say what you want to say without words. Our patches are comprised of unique statement pieces and conversation starters!

What makes us different is that we curate all of our patches with the fashion-forward and socially-conscious thinker in mind.
I am most proud of where we are today because our brand visibility has stretched far beyond our wildest imagination.
Today, we are in the top 1% of ALL shops on Etsy.com, we are a 5-star b2b supplier on Alibaba.com, and we have a 3,000 sq ft store located in Westchester, Illinois just 20 minutes west of Chicago.

To get to where we are today it took lots of hard work, FAITH of a mustard seed, prayer, endless nights of tears, and a strong team! Without the support of my team I know I couldn’t have gotten here alone. The challenge of being a young black female entrepreneur is one that is met with many obstacles. Some folks just don’t take you seriously, most look at it as fly-by-night– or just as a hobby. When people don’t understand YOUR vision they look at it as if it’s a bad idea and it won’t go far. However, when you’ve been brought up in the entertainment industry just as I have, that passion, determination, and grit are instilled in you early on. I’ve learned how to always see the big picture and let absolutely nothing stop me from getting to where I want to be. I want the world to know that I am here because I have paid my dues and I am right where God wants me to be, serving the world and serving with a smile.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hmmmm, my best friend is visiting, and to show her the best time ever we would first go to Boston’s Fish Market in Desplaines, Illinois to have some of the best seafood EVER– We don’t drink alcohol so we’d go grab some fruit smoothies at Jamba Juice, then we’d go to Kernel’s in Aurora, Illinois to grab some Chicago style popcorn– after that, we’d go right to my store to CRAFT we’d invite our other girls and we’d have a fun Patch Party– filled with patches and bling. We’d probably laugh the whole night just reminiscing while creating some dope jackets and accesories. That would be so fulfilling to our souls!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mentors Nick Ramil & Nick Zieber, of “EC Accelerate” these guys saw something in me and took the time to help me carve my niche

I would also like to thank Mary Deboise of “Black Girls Craft” for allowing me the platform to share my creativity and passion for what I do. Her support has been tremendous in where we are today.

Website: http://www.PatchPartyClub.com

Instagram: @PatchPartyClub

Linkedin: Toyiah Marquis

Twitter: Toyiah Marquis

Facebook: @PatchPartyClub

Youtube: Toyiah Marquis

Other: Etsy: www.Etsy.com/shop/PatchPartyClub Alibaba: https://seller.alibaba.com/buildup/patch_party_club

Image Credits
R. Lyles Photography Blake Martin Photography Kelli Anthony Photography Kyrah Crosswire – Model Solo Upchurch – Model Kionte Ballinger – Model Aliyah Ferrell – Model Kris Bellvie – Model

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.