Meet Cornelius Shelton of CB Shelton Enterprises in Ellenwood

Cornelius, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started back in 2015.  Two of my best friends and I decided to start our own clothing line. I was obsessed with the idea from the very beginning.  I went out and purchased a new desktop and design software.  I was in charge of day to day operations, sourcing manufacturers, shipping, accounting, and etc. It was like my very own crash course. As first-time business owners, we also made a lot of mistakes.   Well, one of those hiccups was a $5000 loss to an overseas manufacturer. This loss made us reconsider our business model, and we knew at that moment we wanted more control over our production.

From there, we began investing in our own equipment and again I was again obsessed with learning the technology and how to make the custom pieces. So I set up shop in the living room of my 800 sq ft apartment, that I shared with my wife.  Let’s just say, she wasn’t happy with all this. Nevertheless, I stuck with it, we promoted a lot through social media so people would see our designs and also ask for custom pieces. One day, a friend asked if I could do a large order of company polos. I’d never considered the opportunities for making apparel outside of the clothing line. But this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, and the order turned out successful. Over the next year, we continued to run the business. However, I was getting burned out because I was working 60 hours a week corporate job during the day, and printing and mailing orders through the night. One of my partners moved out of town and pursued a new career, and the other partner traveled a lot for business. We eventually came to the decision that it was best to halt production until further notice. By this time, I was no longer working my corporate job, and I now had developed a new set of skills. With encouragement from my wife, and time to devote to building a solid business CB Shelton Enterprises was born!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Yes and no. You go into business thinking you have it all figured out. However, as a small business owner starting from scratch you’re forced to wear many hats.   There’s hours on hours of research, seminars, and training.   My business is custom merchandising so it’s very detailed oriented. Prior to having a set system in place I learned quickly that not confirming all details down to the smallest degree and making sure all parties involved were on the same page instead of assuming could be very costly. Even with all this we always approach obstacles with a positive mindset, and remember that at the end of the day our goal is to deliver high quality products with world class service.  With this perspective in mind, no matter what happens in our business we know the end result is always going to be based off our clients overall satisfaction.  Thus we are always prepared no matter what the situation may be.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the CB Shelton Enterprises story. Tell us more about it.
The name of the company is CB Shelton Enterprises. We’ve been in business since 2017. We’re a branded merchandising agency that works with businesses to help them promote their brand, generate more revenue, and reward their employees and customers for their loyalty. How we accomplish this is through the effective use of services such as custom apparel and uniforms, promotional products, and signs and displays. As a company, we take great pride in our dedication to providing great customer service and high-quality products for our partners. What sets us apart from others is our commitment to ensuring our partners are completely satisfied with every experience. The fact that we take the time to find out what each client likes/dislikes and our programs are never based on price alone. Our vendors have been vetted, they are 5 star rated, and we’ve done the research to know what decoration methods, brands, and styles work best. You work with real experts who truly care about providing the best products, services, and solving our clients issues/needs.  Lastly, we stand behind our work, and guarantee our client’s overall satisfaction.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
For sure!  I’m a small-town kid, I grew up in Camilla, GA. Very humble beginnings. My parents, Alice & James Shelton, have been amazing role models and instilled in my siblings and me very early that we could be anything that we put our minds too. That definitely set the foundation for me early. I went to college twenty minutes north of my hometown at Albany State University. I met my wife there, Brittany Shelton, who the B in CB stands for in college. She wasn’t even supposed to attend that school, I was definitely lucky with that one.  One of my best friends/business partners is Emmanuel Hudson, YouTube Sensation and Wild’n Out actor, we met in college as well and before my graduation we spoke on partnering up to work on his brand and me moving from south GA to Atlanta after school.  Three days after my college graduation my buddy had kept his word and I went from living in a $600 apartment in Albany, GA to a 15th floor high rise in Buckhead, GA with two of my best friends.  As a small town kid, I’d stand out on the balcony and look out over the skyline and be inspired.  My friends still tease me about those moments of meditation, but I knew I was ready to take on the world.  Professionally since being here, I’ve worked for top companies in sales and management and have had the opportunities to learn what it truly means to take care of customers, your people, grow a business, and gain professional skills to help me be a successful individual in the world of business. Furthermore, I wouldn’t say I’m lucky, I’d definitely say I’ve been blessed.