Your Name: Sharanda Foster
Business Name: Suga Boutique, a network of boutique owners who customize their own designs
Type of Business: Clothing & Accessories
Business Location: Alabama, United States
Reason for starting
I lost my job in March 2012 after being there for almost 6 years. Instead of feeling sad about the fact that I no longer had income coming in to support me and my daughter, I seen it as a blessing. God knew and I knew that it was time to leave because he had more in store for me than that. Leaving that job was a blessing to me because it gave me the freedom to start my own business; which was something that I had wanted to do for years.
How do you define success?
Success to me is being able to wake up and make a living doing what I love to do and on my own terms. I have always had that entrepreneurial spirit.
Biggest Success
My biggest success was when I stepped out on faith and decided to go into business for myself. Going into business for yourself can be very scary with no entrepreneur experience behind you.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
My top challenge is spending money and putting that money into the business. It takes money to make money when starting a business. You always have that thought in the back of your mind “Do I need to spend money for this?” In most cases you do to expand your business and finding ways to expand my business has been a challenge also.
Who is your most important role model?
My most important role model is my mother. She started a tailoring and alteration shop and she took me to work with her everyday. I watched how hard she worked and enjoyed every minute of it. I never heard her complain. I give her the credit for putting that entrepreneurial spirit in me.