Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Reese.
Hi Denise, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Grace The Collection was born out of the tumultuous year of 2020. At the beginning of the year, I chose “grace” as my word, a seemingly gentle choice compared to past years. However, amidst the chaos of COVID-19, a global lockdown, the loss of my grandmother, and the horrific murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others, “grace” became the perfect anchor. It symbolized resilience and hope, which eventually inspired the founding of my company. The “Est. 2020” in our logo serves as a reminder that beauty can emerge from the darkest times. Grace The Collection celebrates the divine within us and encourages us to extend grace to ourselves and one another.
Now, four years after its inception and over two years since our launch, Grace The Collection is available in several retailers across Metro Atlanta and recently debuted on Macy’s digital marketplace.
This summer has been exceptionally busy and exciting for me and Grace The Collection! We were featured in the June issue of Grind Pretty Magazine, I appeared on the “Laid Off, Life On” podcast with Kelsey Waldrop, and “The brndBrief” podcast hosted by Kelli Kelley. Additionally, through my partnership with Buy From A Black Woman™, Grace The Collection was selected for the New Orleans stop of the Inspire Tour powered by H&M!
It’s been a journey filled with twists and turns, but I am truly thankful for every moment!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is it ever smooth? Of course not! I mentioned earlier that I founded the company in 2020, but due to supply chain issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and a supplier relationship that soured, I had to spend 2021 completely resetting my expectations for how and when I would launch.
While working with fragrance houses to curate the scents for Grace The Collection, I faced increased minimum order quantities, causing delays in bringing new products to market. Packaging suppliers also faced cost pressures, forcing me to shift companies multiple times. And let’s not even talk about the vendor I used for my candle vessels going out of business!
Adding to these challenges, I experienced an unexpected layoff that kept me out of work for over a year. The mental and emotional toll was significant, and there were moments when I found myself questioning all of my life’s choices.
But through it all, my faith remained strong and resolute. I am confident that the challenges I’ve endured will not only help me become a better leader but also allow me to use these struggles to help others. We must be willing to tell the totality of our stories, not just the parts that feel good. Everything happens with a purpose. It may not feel good in the moment, but if we keep pressing through, we’ll come out better on the other side.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In addition to founding Grace The Collection, I maintain a demanding day job in Technology Sales, Business Development, and Strategic Alliances, a field I’ve been dedicated to for over 25 years. My career has spanned iconic brands, mid-market companies, and early-stage software and professional services firms.
I am known for building businesses, expanding market opportunities, driving revenue growth, and cultivating strategic partnerships. With a deep understanding of global markets and the complexities of delivering intricate technology solutions to diverse international clients, I have successfully overseen cross-functional teams in Central Eastern Europe, India, and Latin America. My six and a half years living in the UK have further enriched my global perspective.
What I am most proud of are the relationships I’ve cultivated over the years. Many of my customers have become great friends and mentors. I’ve been told that my approach to relationship building sets me apart from others. Additionally, I view my work through the lens of service. Whether serving my customers, team members, or colleagues, this approach keeps me grounded and reminds me that I am working for a cause greater than myself.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
None of us is an island unto ourselves. I’m grateful to have an amazing network of individuals who genuinely support me and want to see both me and Grace The Collection succeed. It truly takes a village!
I am eternally grateful for Jameel Nolan of Harbor Mill Candles™, who hand-pours every single product and helped me establish relationships with two incredible fragrance houses to curate the perfect scents for Grace The Collection. Without Jameel, Grace The Collection likely wouldn’t exist.
After my initial supplier relationship went awry, I spent countless hours researching who could help bring Grace The Collection to market. As fate would have it, I found Jameel through a candle company I was a customer of! We joke that I “stalked” her for several months and eventually wore her down to the point of taking a meeting with me.
From the moment we connected over the phone, I knew she was the person to help Grace The Collection scale, and that has proven to be true. It’s because of the amazing products Jameel has helped me curate that customers continuously support. They recognize and appreciate the quality and consistency we offer. I am forever thankful for our partnership!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gracethecollection.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracethecollection
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracethecollection
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grace-the-collection/
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/accessiblegrace
Image Credits
Crystal Byrd Uqdah, Crystal On Brand Photography
