Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Gamble.
Erika, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began my entrepreneurship several times in the past and found myself getting discouraged. In the beginning, I was working for free to get my name out there, then once it came down to payments, I had very little to no clientele, Bills reaching the sky and with very little income, I had no choice but to revert to the normal society and work for someone else. In 2017, I became a mother and having a steady income is ideal. I started to work for a company that basically gave me paid training. I looked at my job as a teaching tool to learn how to operate my own business. I worked as a Debt Collector for Rent Recovery Solutions for about two years, until I was faced with an awakening decision. Either stay at a place that was toxic or bite the bullet and quit. The company wanted me to lie and say that I had texted a consumer (debtor) over the weekend of my Aunt’s funeral to remind the consumer of an upcoming payment. I had taken off September 27th and the 30th for the services and upon my return on the 1st of October, I was told this information. When I asked for proof, the CEO stated that they didn’t need any proof and he believed the consumer. The CEO and Operational Manager was present, and they both wanted me to admit to something that wasn’t true in order to keep my position. My integrity was too great.
August of 2019, three months before this incident occurred, I started to get my business plan in action. I obtained my EIN, Dun and Bradstreet number and received my certificate of incorporation as a Domestic Profit Corporation for the state of Georgia. Little did I know, that the gears would actually shift and go full speed. Once I lost my job, I enrolled full time at Omnitech Institute majoring in Digital Media to network and gain more skills for my companies growth. My company offers Website Building, Incorporations, Branding and I offer Motivational and Key Note speaking. I am currently offering free Motivational and Key Note speaking for Homeless Shelters, Jail Facilities and Schools in Metro Atlanta, GA. On the companies cite, there is also free sign up’s to start your own CBD business. Either you sale online or at your own retail shop, it’s a quick and easy way to get into the Hemp Industry.
Today, my company has done branding for Marlo Da Martian with Totally DJs, assists homeless men with resumes and cover formats at the Gateway Center for the homeless and has been a part of the Women’s Health and Empowerment Experience at Morehouse School of Medicine as a vendor. WIth continued studying and being a full-time parent, I find happiness with helping others open doors for their companies. “Reach one, teach one.”
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?
This has been a true awakening journey. My business initially was a re-sale of South African apparel and accessories, but due to none payment, I had to shut it down and do my own thing. I had built a site for the products, counted inventory, wrote proper documents for the designer’s contract and done several pop-up shops and vendor events to sale items. But when it came down to do business only one designer out of five actually responded to our conference call. Every event that I went to was all done out of the companies pocket. I found myself going backward instead of forwards. I then changed the companies website to offering website build, incorporations, branding and motivational/keynote speaking service for other businesses. Granted, working for yourself you have to work just as hard or harder than you did for another company, but its the fruits of your labor. It’s on your time and on your rules. Every day, I’m learning myself and growing my brand. It’s truly endless possibilities; I am fortunate enough to have both parents live with me now, as I am going through the motions. But I still have bills to consider. I am at peace with my decisions as of now. At first, I regretted each day as my bank account became more in the negative; then once I realized who had my back, the true colors began to rain. Everything happens within reason, and I’m on the right path to accomplish everything that I was destined to fulfill.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Momentum Emani – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Momentum Emani was founded in July of 2019 in Metro Atlanta, GA. The brand offers services for branding, incorporations, website build, motivational/keynote speaking and over 70 CBD products. I started this business to branch out of working for someone else. I am also a full-time student at Omnitech Institute majoring in Digital Media. With education, this will increase my knowledge and offer more skills to perfect my crafts. Everything that I have learned thus far as been self-taught by reading and watching plenty of YouTube videos, but that’s not enough to give me a solid foundation. With Digital Media, I will have the ability to reach a global marketplace. I will be able to transform my business by making use of different technologies to enhance interaction with customers and employees. Digital technology can help improve communication, collaboration, content management, provide access to analytics data and social networking. Digital literacy can be defined as “the ability to use digital technology, communication tools, and or networks to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information in order to function in a knowledge society” (Lemke 2003) This is what makes Digital Media so important. After finishing my courses, I plan to expand my business to help others receive such certifications at Omnitech Institute and to open new doors for Artists, Actors or anyone looking to get into the entertainment field.
The company had the honor of doing branding for Marlo Da Martian with Totally DJ’s. The company designed a promo flyer along with marketing to restaurants, clubs and sports bars to offer the services. We have also assisted homeless men with resumes and cover formats at the Gateway Center for the homeless and has been apart of the Women’s Health and Empowerment Experience at Morehouse School of Medicine as a vendor. We are a new company, but we have started off with great momentum that will continue to increase as time goes on.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Along the side of branding, I plan to offer more services once I received my certifications from Omintech Institute. With the expected graduation date of August 2020, I plan to start a production company where I look for talent where others haven’t gone before, and that’s bringing the past to the future. Giving the classics a modern-day vibe. Going into business, it’s always best to have several streams of income, and furthering my education will help lift my business to another level.
Pricing:
- Websites $400
- Incorporations $700
- Branding $550
- Motivational/Key Note Speaker (30 min) $300
- Motivational/Key Note speaker (90 min) $600
Contact Info:
- Address: 3500 Lenox Rd STE 1500
- Website: www.momentumemani.com
- Phone: 4043992159
- Email: erika.gamble@momentumemani.com
Image Credit:
Gateway Center Volunteers from Georgia Tech Business Network, One Alliance Center, Omnitech Institute, Womens Empowerment Experience.
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