Black entrepreneurs: 'Hard work pays off no matter where'
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Shaquilla Williams is really good at one thing: multi-tasking.
Williams, 42, worked with large events when she was stationed in the Navy in Oklahoma. When she returned to Lakeland, she craved the same kind of work.
“When I came back home, I just decided to do my own business in event planning. And that’s what I did,” Williams said.
And thus her first baby was born: Larger Than Life Event Planning, Custom Designs and Treats, a successful event-planning business. Six years later, she’s finally landed a brick-and-mortar location after storing all of her supplies in a warehouse and meeting clients at their venues rather than in her own personal space. And the location is just a few storefronts down from her brand new venture, Dior Beauty and Esthetic Lounge, on East Edgewood Drive in Lakeland.
Dior Beauty will offer typical salon services, such as nails, brows, lashes and even makeovers that will include products from Williams’ own makeup line. But the salon will also offer “non-invasive” fat loss services like body contouring and sculpting.
Williams is officially opening both businesses Sunday. This weekend is the second to last in February during which the country celebrates Black History Month and the contributions Black Americans have made — and continue to make — across America.
Williams also is president of the organization Polk County Who’s Who In Business. Of the 75 businesses included in that chapter, Williams said most are women- or minority-owned businesses.
The actual number of Black entrepreneurs or Black-owned businesses in Polk County is unclear. Doris Moore Bailey, president of the African-American Chamber of Commerce, said she’s been trying to find that information but has been unable to gather data from the county’s largest cities on Black-owned...