{"id":1699,"date":"2020-11-12T11:25:30","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T16:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/femimagazine.com\/?p=1699"},"modified":"2020-11-12T11:25:39","modified_gmt":"2020-11-12T16:25:39","slug":"finding-your-niche-during-a-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/femimagazine.com\/?p=1699","title":{"rendered":"Finding your Niche During a Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We only have a few weeks left in the year 2020. I do not know about anybody else, but I am ready to head on over to 2021. I am grateful that this year allowed some of us to sit still. It was a time where you had no choice but to reflect and refocus life on things that truly mattered.\u00a0 2020 has also been the year of pivoting. I cannot tell you how tired I am from hearing that word, but it is true. People had to learn how to adjust when it came to their daily lives and businesses. For me, this time allowed me to invest in things that make me happy. I see others on my timeline that are also turning their passions into businesses. Out of all the people I see black woman per usual leading the charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October, Forbes<\/a> released an article where they talk about the increase in Black Women owned businesses amongst the struggles that they have to face as well especially during COVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe face of female entrepreneurship overall is becoming a lot less white. Black women represent 42% of new women-owned businesses\u2014three times their share of the female population\u2014and\u00a036% of all Black-owned\u00a0employer businesses.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHigh levels of educational attainment, coupled with overcoming barriers to corporate advancement, have prompted Black women to pursue entrepreneurship, where they\u2019ve become a potent economic force. Majority Black women-owned firms\u00a0grew 67%\u00a0from 2007 to 2012, compared to 27% for all women, and 50% from 2014 to 2019, representing the\u00a0highest growth rate\u00a0of any female demographic during that time frame.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to be able to support these businesses better especially during these times. I came across a new black female business owner, Hattie, a fellow FMU Alum, who was able to capitalize in the time we were all staying at home. \u00a0The story of her company shows us all that even during a pandemic you can find your niche and passion when you least expect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hattie is the owner of My Cozy Place by Hat providing premier interior and exterior design services. Hat short for Hattie, was a foster child and adopted at the age of 9. She grew up in a small county right outside of Memphis, TN. Graduated from FMU on a basketball Athletic Scholarship majoring in business and finance. Growing up & throughout her adult life, she always dreamed of a life more than just that small town that consumed everyone around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince I could remember, I\u2018ve always had a true passion for decor, fashion and design. People always referenced me as the girliest girl on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got the chance to ask Hat a couple of questions about her business and visions of the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First things First. How have you been staying sane during the pandemic and all the craziness going on?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

From the start of the pandemic, I decided I was going to take this time to reset & focus on purpose. With MCP being my new baby, I dived right into it. My sanity fed from everyday dedicating time whether studying my craft, watching handyman DIY\u2019s, studying photos, or setting up different design visions. Rather than consume myself with the craziness I focused my energy on the positives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Before this thing called COVID 19 came around and shook up everyone\u2019s lives. What was your profession? Was it effective by the pandemic?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

For the last 7 years, I had a career as a Project Account Manager for one of the world\u2019s leading hotel brand service companies. I created & designed items such as dining menus and market kits that were essential to the function of hospitality. Unfortunately, with the stay home order hotels shut their doors and the demand for my projects ceased. The company shutdown indefinitely July 2020. So yes, Covid-19 shook my world upside down and forced me to give my all to My Cozy Place by Hat.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the pandemic, the increase of DIY and home projects went up substantially. Since we are spending way more time at home, people want their spaces to be a place of escape and enjoyment. Also, have you seen some of these work from home spaces? People are really making sure they got exactly what they need and it looks fabulous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an article on CNBC<\/a>, they reference the boom of home remodeling during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHouzz, an online home remodeling platform, reported a 58% annual increase in project leads for home professionals in June. Those working on outdoor spaces saw the biggest increase in demand, with searches for pool and spa professionals three times what they were a year ago. Not far behind, landscape contractors, deck and patio professionals all saw more than double the demand.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My Cozy Place was a product that came out of the early days of the pandemic. Can you tell us what made you want to turn this DIY project into a full-scale business? Was this something you always loved or just stumbled upon?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

It has always been my nature to help others whether personal style or helping a Fortune 500 hotel brand with a new design. DIY overly excites me, making what I already have even more spectacular. With this new stay home order, the demand for home projects sky rocketed. When I decided to create my own cozy place many of my social following inquired at a crazy rate. After posting my initial project, I woke up to an alarming amount of DM\u2019s and inquires. That\u2019s where the lightbulb went off, I can make money from something I love to do. With my skill set, experience and the passion that drives me I\u2019ll never have to call my business \u201cwork\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n