Today we’d like to introduce you to Kami Smith.
Hi Kami, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m an entrepreneur, marketing and design professional, and co-owner of BBLA, a daycare that’s been serving families for nine years. Today, I help entrepreneurs, creatives, and small businesses build their brand identity through design, social media marketing and management, websites, branding, business consulting, and brand shoots.
My entrepreneurial journey started at 22 when I opened Vibe Fashions, a clothing boutique in New Orleans on Lakeforest Blvd. Fashion had been a lifelong love, and turning that dream into reality taught me everything about taking risks and building something from nothing. I ran that store for three years until I relocated to Atlanta. In 2016, I co-founded BBLA – stepping into an entirely different industry that I knew nothing about, but saw the opportunity and took it anyway.
Over the past few years, I’ve navigated the ups and downs that come with entrepreneurship – from financial challenges to pivoting and rebuilding. What all these experiences have given me is a unique perspective: I understand business ownership from multiple angles, I know what it takes to start something new, and I’ve lived through the struggles my clients face. That’s what sets my work apart – I’m not just creating brands and marketing strategies from the outside looking in. I’m an entrepreneur myself, and I bring that real-world experience to every client I serve. My goal is to be a resource that helps brands make an authentic imprint on their community while staying true to their vision.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road – but I don’t think any entrepreneurial journey really is.
The first major setback came with Vibe Fashions. After I relocated to Atlanta and left the store in the hands of an employee, it was broken into and vandalized about three months later. They took everything – even the racks. That was heartbreaking because it was my first dream realized, but it taught me early on that sometimes you have to know when to let go and keep moving forward.
With BBLA, we’ve faced our share of challenges too, especially over the past couple of years. The economy hit hard, and changes in funding sources for parents created financial strain that we hadn’t experienced before. Both my marketing business and the daycare felt the impact of those economic slowdowns simultaneously, which put me in a position where I had to make some tough decisions.
Last year, I had to step back from the day-to-day operations of BBLA and take on a remote position in healthcare insurance to create stability while I rebuilt. It wasn’t the plan, but it was necessary. That experience reminded me that resilience isn’t always about pushing through with sheer will – sometimes it’s about being strategic, staying flexible, and finding ways to sustain yourself while you regroup.
What I’ve learned through all of it is that setbacks don’t define you – how you respond to them does. Every struggle has taught me something valuable that I now bring to my work with clients. I understand the pressure, the uncertainty, and the moments when you’re not sure how it’s all going to work out. That lived experience makes me a better partner for the entrepreneurs I serve.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What I do goes beyond the traditional designer-client relationship. Yes, I offer social media management, brand shoot packages, design, and marketing services – but what I’m building toward is something more holistic. I want to be the consultant that entrepreneurs can run ideas by, pregame strategy with, and have real dialogue about all aspects of their business life.
Here’s what I’ve learned through my own journey: the struggle at times is managing too many responsibilities at once. Burnout is so easy when you’re juggling everything – operations, finances, marketing, customer service, and trying to maintain some semblance of work-life balance. There isn’t always a budget for a team during growth phases, so you’re doing it all yourself.
And the isolation is real. Most entrepreneurs keep their struggles to themselves because we’ve shifted to a place where social media has given such a one-sided image, making everything seem perfect. The reality is that entrepreneurship is far from perfect – it’s a roller coaster at best, filled with highs and lows. Trying to talk through challenges with family and friends doesn’t always work because unless they’re also entrepreneurs, they don’t fully understand what you’re experiencing or the decisions you’re facing.
That’s why I’m adding specialized consulting to my services. What sets me apart is that I’m not just a creative professional looking at your business from the outside – I’m an entrepreneur who’s lived through the financial pressures, the pivots, the moments of doubt, and the seasons of rebuilding. I understand the weight of those decisions because I’ve had to make them myself.
What I’m most proud of is my resilience and my ability to stay authentic even when things get hard. I bring that same authenticity to my work with clients. When you work with me, you’re not just getting someone to make your brand look good – you’re getting a partner who understands the journey, who can help you think through strategy, and who genuinely wants to see you win because I know firsthand what it takes to keep going.
What’s next?
I’m really excited about what’s ahead. I’m launching a podcast called “The Friend You Call” where I’ll be having brand talks with other entrepreneurs – the real, unfiltered conversations about the journey, the challenges, and the wins. It’s the kind of dialogue I wish I had more access to when I was starting out, and I want to create that space for others.
The bigger shift I’m making is launching specialized consulting services that take a wellness approach to marketing and branding. This is what I’m most connected to right now because I’ve realized that entrepreneurs need more than just a logo or a social media strategy – they need support that helps them thrive overall, not just in business. I want to offer creatives and entrepreneurs the assistance they need to not only brand their business but to work through strategies, navigate burnout, and have someone to talk things through with during those moments when you just need a sounding board who actually understands.
When you feel your best, you can thrive successfully – not just in business but in life with great work-life balance. That’s what I’m building toward. This approach combines everything I do – the marketing, the branding, the design – but wraps it in a framework that acknowledges the whole person behind the business. Because at the end of the day, your business is an extension of you, and if you’re burned out, overwhelmed, or disconnected from your purpose, your brand will reflect that.
I’m expanding my client base, focusing on entrepreneurs and creatives who are ready for that kind of holistic partnership. And honestly, I’m just looking forward to building something that aligns completely with who I am at my core – someone who genuinely wants to see other business owners not just survive, but truly thrive.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kamiluv/?igsh=MXZjMG1jeGFzOWtnNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thefriendyoucall
- Other: https://linkpages.pro/IBoWLt?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAOIwb1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQIY2FsbHNpdGUCMTUAAaehkZmz9sRKCr2Y6wceS56MW2IKNwuG7FZGBpn_nibYxI41nHcCErrQDE6hCQ_aem_Hiahxgzb4B_TNdHgurbAXQ
Image Credits
Photo credit – Torrence Studios
