Today we’d like to introduce you to Malia Fleming
Hi Malia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Malia Fleming. I started my first business, Captured Chains, in 2018 while I was still a college student. What began as a small venture creating memory keychains soon became a essential source of income for me. I wanted to offer my customers something cute yet meaningful, at an affordable price- something that could carry favorite captured moments wherever they went, whether on keys or book bags.
In 2019, life shifted when I found out I was pregnant. Financially, I needed the support, which pushed me to expand my business. I added more items like snow globes, heart-shaped globes, and canvases to my business. In December, I welcomed daughter, Alaiya Amour. She became my inspiration, not just personally but professionally as well. I rebranded Captured Chains to Mour Memories in her honor, with a new color scheme and a renewed mission: to help my customers preserve their most cherished memories at any affordable price. Being a mother, college student, and a entrepreneur, has certainly had its up and downs. As time went on, I became a single mother and leaned on my business heavily to support my daughter and pay for daycare. There were moments when I thought of giving up, but through pop-up shops and holiday sales, God kept sending customers my way. I’m grateful that I can continue bringing smiles and even tears of joy to people’s faces. Mour Memories offers the perfect additions to any gift or special occasion, from birthdays and holidays to celebrations of life. I am truly honored to play a part in helping people make their memories last forever.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges I faced along the way was trying to balance being a college student, entrepreneur, and mother. It was difficult to consistently post and manage my business and in the world of social media, it’s very much “out of sight, out of mind.” If you’re not consistent, it can hurt you in the long run when you try to re-engage old customers or attract new ones. Another significant hurdle was when COVID-19 hit with people unable to shop in stores, many were hesitant to trust a small businesses like mine. I came up with the idea of allowing other business owners to promote their businesses through keychains. I began offering keychains with their logo and QR codes, making it easier for them to share their social media pages and increase visibility.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mour ?
My business, Mour Memories, offers personalized keepsakes where our customers can send us their favorite pictures, and we print them for keychains, snow globes, heart-shaped globes, and/or canvases. These items make the the perfect memory keepsake and are an affordable gift for any occasion. Whether placed in someone’s home, workspace, or carried on keys, they allow cherished memories to be apart of everyday life.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I learned that anything can happen at any moment but you can not let setbacks stop you. Just because, things gets hard and sales are slow down doesn’t mean it’s time to give up. You have to keep promoting, keep pushing, and continuously think of ways to help your business grow and reach the level you want it to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mour.memories
- Other: https://linktr.ee/MourLife
