Meet Shetah Reeves-Jackman | CEO/Design Executioner

The thought process behind me starting my business was that as a child growing up we did not celebrate our birthdays in our home. I don’t know if it was that we didn’t have the funds or that moments like that really didn’t matter. I only remember celebrating my birthday only once in all my life. I was always sad seeing other kids celebrating their birthdays, so when I grew up an was able to do so I decided to gift parties to the less fortunate because I feel like everyone should be able to celebrate their special day. Initially I started out as the Polka-Dot Butterflii doing birthday parties for the homeless in South Dallas for the International Street Church. I would go over there once a month. People from my job would donate clothes ,sign birthday cards and donate cakes and food for them to enjoy. I would decorate and just celebrate whoever came by ….birthday or not …..but just to let them know that you know you still matter enjoy your special day so the more I did it the more I enjoyed giving back in making people smile and just have fun!

What sets me apart from others is that I can design and execute a one stop production. I can be your event planner, coordinator or designer. I have been trained and educated by some of the best in the industry. I am knowledgeable in every aspect of the design that I’ve produced. If it’s floor wraps I know how design and can install them. I know how to design beautiful table scapes incorporating gorgeous place settings and floral designs. I have access to a very wide variety of inventory and statement pieces. So if you want it and it’s within your budget, I produce it and design it. Getting to the point that I am at now has not been easy. And it still isn’t easy. Starting out having limited to no funds to be able to pay for workshops and design classes is frustrating and expensive! Especially when mentorship opportunities ares limited. I need a mentor who is actually guiding me and not a hundred fold following. I actually stumbled into a sisterhood one day by enrolling in a event design workshop in order to increase my skills and knowledge of this industry. That weekend I built a bond with an amazing group of women. We would talk and brainstorm and support each other. Share design tips, workshop information and inventory deals. We did this to elevate each other, to help increase our knowledge base and increase our potential clientele! You have to get the tools and knowledge base of what and how this industry is run in order to make it long term. Once you seemingly flawlessly execute (because the behind the scenes can be brutal) your design and get your marketing together you can confidently put yourself out there to be able to go for that select clientele that you want to attract.

One lesson I have learned is to get your pricing together and charge what you are worth and comfortable with charging. And do mock designs, you need content! If you are only designing and posting backdrop/balloons……then they only see what you put out there, they can’t see all your potential. And you may never have a client retain you for a dinner party design if they haven’t seen that this is something you can produce. So barter play with designs put yourself out there.

I am so boooooooring…..I have 3 young kids I live through… lol…besides these events I will be the visitor in my own city and state. My bucket list is HUGE! So besides chilling at the house whatever they want to do I’m down for! We can go inside skydiving, go hang at a ranch, go golfing, watch cage fights….WHATEVER! Going out to eat all the time just make you fat and to me is so basic and simple. I’d rather do a tour bus let’ hit the road and drive I just want to have a good time. I’m really not a clubber  anymore but I will go to a concert. I just want to have fun laugh hang out…we can kick it in the backyard and have a house party you know it is whatever. They would really be taking me out if they came to visit…lol!

My mom played a crucial role in me being able to step outside of the box, to design and create! I did not realize this until my mother passed away. She was. “Creative ” herself. I was so oblivious. She was always supporting me in every event, pop up shop, party I did. She was at every party , help me execute my vision , finding decor to help me stand out from the crowd. She would always try to push me to do greater things with my talents but because I was not confident in myself I would never move past the line that I stood behind. And then there is my sister Angie. She’s always been there. Whenever I needed help or assistance to execute a design my sister has always been there behind me. Angie has always been the one to speak up…sometimes reluctantly.. lol…. and ask if you need help let me know I can takeoff work to come help you or she would even sit at home and watch my kids while I went out to an install or breakdown. She has is and still is there behind me pushing me every step of the way. Last of all there is Kim! This chick has been in the trenches with me always motivating me with her creative self. We have come a very long way and every time I have an idea I’ve been able to bounce it off her and she’d be there to help me execute my design. Now don’t get me WRONG there are people presently around me… like Martaneke Hodge, Tanisha Chikwe and Laqkesha Gaffney….helping me move forward and grow and believe in my gift and do great things but those that were with me in the beginning …in the trenches to help pull me out of the so-called mud to elevate me and my talents to greatness to help me execute a design to put it all out in the atmosphere have been my mother LeEstella Reeves… may she rest in love, my sister Angiela Reeves and my good friend confidence sister Kimbely Rankin….these 3 amigos were with me when this vision was birth!