Meet Courtni Fontenot | Product Designer & Speech-Language Pathologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtni Fontenot and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtni, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, I never was a risk taker and was so naive to the process of owning a business. My husband felt that owning a business was his calling in life, so eventually I told him that I was on board if we talked to an accountant to get all the details lined out. However, we still didn’t really know what type of business we wanted to start at the time we got our LLC. We tried and failed at another business or two before we discovered what became our business today. When we started this business, we decided that even if it failed, we could still have some very unique and customized gifts for our own families. Within a short time, people loved these unique gift options and it really took off, even though we started J. Lea & Co right before the coronavirus outbreak. We have sincerely enjoyed being a part of so many of our customers’ journeys and creating unique gifts to celebrate the birth of new babies, commemorating loved ones who have passed, and recognizing all of life’s journeys in between.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One thing that has contributed most to our success is that we acknowledge and celebrate life’s journey. I get especially excited about handwritten messages that we engrave on necklaces, cutting boards, etc. Our brand and products have evolved drastically over the years as we have worked to really find our niche. This has been a struggle for us because when we got our laser, we were excited to create everything. Marketing is also a difficult task when starting a business, especially one that is online-based. Luckily, I have been a SeneGence distributor for several years and have done lots of marketing trainings that have contributed to my success in the online world. This is still a work in progress as there are just not enough hours in the day between working as an SLP, being a mom, and marketing for our business. However, the customers that know us, come back time and time again for every occasion as we create new and customized gifts to help them celebrate their loved ones.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
With having children, my favorite places are primarily kid-friendly places. I would most definitely go to Legacy Hall for lunch since there are so many different delicious options and it is much more kid-friendly at lunch time. We would definitely do something fun for the kids such as Team Family Farms in Aubrey during the fall or Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch in the spring. During the spring, we would definitely have to set aside time for Pecan Creek Strawberry Farm and Texas Tulips as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m so thankful for my husband who was so patient in letting me take the time to learn about business in order to overcome my fear of risks. If it weren’t for him, I never would have had the confidence to even apply for a business license, much less have a successful business. I’d also love to give a shout-out to my mom as she has helped tremendously with production since I had my two babies. Without her, we wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand.

Website: www.jleaco.com

Instagram: @jleacodesign

Image Credits
Callen Creative Photography