Today we’d like to introduce you to Cleandra Jones.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began my business venture in September of 2011. I was working as an occupational therapy assistant and I had a patient who always wore the cutest custom bows. That made me get into making bows. I watched plenty of YouTube videos, I went to Walmart and purchased tons of ribbon and whatever I needed and I just would sit and make bows for my daughter. It gravitated to me making bows for my sisters and nieces. Eventually I decided to sell them. I remember sitting with my co workers at the time and discussing a name, we brainstormed on so many different names and my co worker came up with Sanaa’s Bow Box. I remember the very first stacked character bow I made. It was a Little Mermaid bow and someone I knew ordered it. That was the first time I realized I had something. A high school classmate said “I knew you made that, it looked like your work”. From there I began doing other things. I made my first tutu in maybe 2013. I had a customer who did pageants and she had a Candyland set. After that I took off, I began to have so many orders for tutu sets and bows. Business was booming and it was really exciting. I decided in 2014 to go full time with my business and I quit my therapy job, I won’t say that was the best decision but I was very passionate about my craft. At some point I started to watch YouTube day in and day out, I studied the art of sewing. I began to teach myself how to sew by watching different people on YouTube. My mom knew how to sew but she is such a perfectionist so much so that she would not teach me, so I learned myself. At that point my services broadened and I started making custom little pieces like circle skirts and headbands. Eventually I added ruffle socks too. Fast forward to 2017 and I kept a consistent cycle of orders. There was nothing I wouldn’t do and the goal was to really turn this into a legacy. At some point I went back to work as a therapist because now my husband and I had 3 children. However, 2018 came and God spoke to me and I went back full time with my business. I stayed consistent for about 5 years. I started introducing other services. I began making dresses, like gowns for prom and/or formal events. I was customizing shoes and complete birthday outfits for children and adults. When Covid came business was really at an all time high. From making custom masks to custom outfits, I was everyone’s one stop shop. I also eventually added crochet to my creations. After Covid, you know that dreadful after Covid effect most entrepreneurs faced, well that slowed down business and back to the work field I went. That brings us to present day. I am still accepting orders and creating beautiful pieces but that spunk just wasn’t there as much. As of late I’ve been secretly working to bring back Sanaa’s Bow Box. Just going through pictures for this interview awakened a joy inside of me and I remembered why I was passionate about creating. I appreciate when that custom piece is completed and seeing a smile on my customer’s face. I truly love making sure my customers are satisfied. So much so I tend to create friendships with some of them. I have a few people that purchased from me in 2011 and we still keep in touch, they still rely on my service and products. I almost did not have the desire to do this interview and I asked myself “why are you always blocking your blessings?”. So here I am and I hope someone else is enlightened by my story and decide to push forward.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Being an entrepreneur alone is a rocky situation. I struggled with staying motivated to continue believing in me and I still do til this day. I also have struggled with time management and that has caused extreme procrastination. I’ve learned that procrastination actually sets me back. I can create the most beautiful piece when procrastinating so I know if I planned accordingly I’d be untouchable. The after effects of covid and how slow business got was another struggle, I can’t say that I’ve recovered from that one yet but I’m working on it. Just trusting the process.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create custom pieces that are memorable. I specialize in birthday and special event outfits. I am mainly known for tutu sets, bows and ruffle socks. I am proud of how I am able to envision something and bring it to life. I can look at something and create it with just a visual. I think what sets me a part is my ability to communicate and my personable presence. I provide a level of comfort to my clients by making sure I communicate with them
How do you define success?
Success is being able to stand the test of times. That comes with believing in yourself and knowing that you can do whatever you put your mind to.
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