Today we’d like to introduce you to J’Chanel Kinchen.
Hi J’Chanel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from the west coast. Growing up, my mom would do a lot of baby showers for family friends we made in the LA area, she was a hard-working single mom from New Orleans, we were by ourselves. She would ALWAYS overdo my birthday parties, events, etc. to bring people together. I would see how intimate and themed everything was and I wanted to be a part of it, so for a long time I would do that for my friends especially when I was away from home in the military. I’ve always been a creative at heart. Fast-forwarding to StateMeant Peace, I met a very close friend of mine, curator and owner of Sipnicsinthecity a few years back who strongly suggested I monetize my talents. So here I am, growing daily as a small business.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a black woman coming from a small quaint family that has never owned a business, my biggest challenge has been organized “know how”. I honestly didn’t know anything. I had to ask embarrassing questions, I have to learn hard lessons, and I have to be motivated to persevere even in the presence of failures. I’m so blessed that I have friends, associates, youtube, and google because for a while, it felt like I was headed in the wrong direction. Lack of resources, clear guidelines and exposure really motivated me to try my hardest to make this a success. I’m headed down an unpaved road but I’m getting better every day!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I started off as a balloon stylist. Creating very humble traditional garlands. It’s safe to say I have really grown from those earlier times. My specialty is balloon styling, and I’m sure that is what I’m known for. I’m so proud of my work. I’ve reached celebrity clientele at times, I’m completely self-taught and I’ve created memorable pieces at intimate events that will stay with my clients for life. I think what sets me apart is my willingness to be accessible to my clients and supporters. I strive for them to feel human in such a transactional situation. Giving people what they want and connecting with them has really been my pleasure. I’m learning so much about myself and how I want to do business with others.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My 9th birthday party. We lived across the street from a park. In Los Angeles, parks and recreation are actually a big part of the culture. My mom threw me a tweety bird-themed party, with balloons and all. Tommy the clown came and it was just a big deal to me! It really made me fall in love with theming things. I’m an only child and the most time I would get to spend (uninterrupted) with my mom was my birthday. I’ll never forget that day!
Pricing:
- Varies but starts at $400
Contact Info:
- Email: StateMeantpeace@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/statemeantpeace?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/statemeantpeace/
Image Credits:
J’Chanel Kinchen – @_coloration
