Today we’d like to introduce you to DaShae Ferrell.
Hi DaShae, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After five years of working in Corporate America, my dream job; putting in so much time and energy into a company that would not allow me to promote but continue to use me to their advantage, I decided to leave. The day I left, I had no plans, no goals but I knew going back into the office was not in my future. I relocated and then prayed. I prayed for guidance and protection. I got a good friend that is a Freight Owner and Operator and he wanted me to get into the business. At the same time, my mom was getting into the business as well. It was exciting to be able to learn from a good friend while helping my mom build her business. You would have thought that was the guidance I prayed for however I deiced to get into real estate and ItsLife Homes LLC was developed. Wait, you thought I left my mom hanging? Heck no! I learned, studied and studied some more. Now I am not only studying for one of the toughest exams, but I am also building a trucking business as well. My mom then purchased 3 18 wheelers. One of the trucks is an automatic with two being manual trucks. What I learned was when people go to take the driving part of the test, they are using an automatic truck which gives them a restriction on their Commercial Drivers License. With knowing this information, it was a great investment. The same week I passed the Real Estate Salesmen exam in South Carolina. This was a great week for me. I was in a great place mentally and emotionally.
Once I passed the exam, I decided to work with my sister at Properties By Me. I did not even think twice because my sister and who else would teach me the game better then her. I became an expert at completing Broker Price Opinions (BPO’s) and then other aspects of Real Estate grew on me. I decided to learn BPO’s first so that I can understand the market. I believe if you understand the market correctly, you can then price and sell homes within the current market, you will also know if a property is worth the investment or not. Once you have this down pack then clients, investors, and contractors will reach out to you for pricing guidelines and market conditions. You must know what it is banks are looking for when setting a realistic price for a home or the price investors should pay to reach a profit. For me, the designing and building of a fixer-upper is my favorite part. It is just something about walking through a house designing it and making it into a home that I love most. I then became licensed in Georgia as well. Now that my mom has these trucks, I had to work to learn the business. I believe when building a business, you must know it first. I made an account with Indeed because we needed to hire drivers. Drivers that had to meet criteria’s that I believe is important to be successful. Yes, we had ISSUES and went threw a few drivers until we finally found drivers that understood the assignment. Standards had to be adjusted, but we got the job done. Next had to decide on type of business, but that is based off the driver. I say that because you have to know your drivers goals and expectations so you can ensure they align with your business goals and direction. Example; if a drivers goal is to make money to be able to save for his/her own truck then I will put that driver in a truck that is leased on to a company so that I can make as much money in a period of time (1yr minimum). If I have a driver that just want to drive to change their life or better it, then I will put that driver in a truck that is operating under own authority because that driver will make the business money forever. Now that I have that down pack, I started to build relationships with mechanics, the dealership for parts, companies to lease with, and other truckers. Network is your net worth. Started with having to make appointments and pay for services before the driver can take the truck now three years later I have an account with the dealer I can place orders over the phone, the driver can drop the truck off to the mechanic and they will call me with parts that’s needed, and the dealer will deliver them for me. Hard work paid off. Life happened and I was in a deep depression after losing my grandma.
Sometimes I wished I got the call versus being the one to call her time a death. For over a year I was spending 2-3 weeks out the month to be in Miami with her. Her backyard was everything and I was already working on a swimsuit line. I would sit on the bench with her and just think about the samples I had coming. My Maarata Swim was an idea I would laugh about for years until one day, I was determined to learn things about the industry. I am still learning, developing and growing. One asked why I would be in Miami in a pandemic. Well she was MY grandma and why would I not be there. I did not think about real estate or the trucks. I didn’t even realize the impact I have over things, but things got done. My mom had to step up and get things done to keep the trucks going because they my babies, but they are her trucks. She did that, I would still calculate drivers pay on Fridays so that she can pay them, she would go to the part store when needed, so she basically ran the business while I took care of my grandma. A time I would not change for nothing in the world. I think it’s because I wanted to be there, I stayed until it was time to lay her to rest. I wanted to learn her and understand myself. To go through something so traumatic alone and now feeling and dealing with emotions that you never felt before had me not knowing what to do. I prayed and prayed some more. No one knew exactly how I felt but a few but now the world knows. I smile a lot so you will never know. I had to pray and pray some more. You probably say you pray a lot, well I do. I have faith and I pray. I have swim designs that dropped this Spring. I was so excited because it was the first thing I did after the passing of my grandma that was just for me that I did alone. All initial capital was money saved, from the photoshoot to the website was all me. Crazy another friend KEPT asking to invest and I kept telling him no. I was proud of myself. A feeling that I didn’t think I would feel again. www.mymaarataswim.com be sure to check the website out and make a purchase! Use code VoyageATL for 15% off. As time passed, I told a friend what I had going on far as the businesses and boom, I was able to purchase my own two 18 wheeler trucks. Yes, I am currently hiring for CDL Drivers; One Class A and Class B driver. Send email to itslifetrucking@yahoo.com.
After building my mom business, I knew then this is the guidance I prayed for. Now today, I have already passed the CDL Learners Permit and is scheduled to take the class this fall. I know the route I want to take my trucking business so there are some things me as a businesswoman need to get completed to ensure I reach the goals I set not only for my business but personal as well. Why am I getting my CDL well I served in the Army and anything my Captain asked me to do he/she was able to do. I have expectations for my drivers and I want to ensure the things I ask are capable of getting completed. And cheaper insurance for own authority. I have two friends I’m doing this with. Both some strong powerful black woman. Just know we are coming. All I can say is next interview we have I will have a fleet of trucks with government contracts. The swim line is doing better than I expected. Sales have been up these last few months. I have applied to a program Macy’s offers each year just to lite some fire under me far as the push to get the brand out there more and even just recently submitted the application to sale on Walmart and Amazon. Fingers crossed, I did everything correctly. Yes, I own 18 wheelers, licensed realtor in Georgia and South Carolina and I have a swimwear line. During the pandemic, everything was shut down except freight. Ok maybe it was down for a week or two. Some businesses was down for the whole year. Looking to buy a home or fixer-upper or looking to sale? Call me. I don’t talk about Real Estate as much and I think people forget but contractors and investors know me. I need developers to know me next. So how I started, I’m still figuring that out. How I got to where I am now? Faith and Prayer.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Smooth? What does that even mean. Lol. It has its days. Just like any business, there were issues. Drivers stealing gas, companies stealing drivers, delayed swimsuit arrivals, clients firing contractors, you name it, and it came my way. Plenty of second-guessing, plenty of arguments in the household, plenty of wanting to give up but it all came with more faith and more prayer. The biggest struggle was getting out of the depression and not giving up.
As you know, we’re big fans of My Maarata Swim. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Starting a business is not easy nor is the road smooth but if you have a goal; a written down goal, a prayed-on goal, a purpose then there is no limit but you. I was working my dream job after undergraduate. Never in a million years would I think I would be owning trucks, a real estate agent and have my own swimwear line. Never did I think I will be in Voyage Atl yet here we are. Coming from where I am from loyalty and real loyalty is all we had within us. It is something that must be in you. Respect is due to a dog. I respect people in general but most importantly I respect myself. Here is how it goes. You come to me with a plan or a vision for yourself. I will come up with the road map to get you there. It’s up to you to stay on path. I will remind you, push you, encourage you, listen to you and motivate you to see that vision threw. Rather it’s in real estate, freight or starting a swimwear line. Being in the freight business now for three years the number of friends I have helped along the way is imaginable! Sometimes I sit back and be like boy such and such did it like stuck to it and did it, I think I might be prouder of them then they are of themselves. Especially if I know the person story. It is a different level of proudness for me. It is the real love and loyalty for me. What I want people to know from my experience in being an entrepreneur is Do not give up, keep pushing. Write your goals, pray for guidance and do not stop. To be in a place mentally and financially at peace is an amazing feeling. To be able to assist people to reach their goals is a feeling deep down that really lights the fire under me. If a person believes that much in you to come to you for guidance with their life, you have to believe and know that you are more then capable. My brand will be remembered. People will see Its Life Trucking, My Maarata Swim, and Its Life Homes LLC everywhere! From build boards to commercials to at your local truck stop. This is only the beginning for me. We will meet again. In the meantime, check out the latest swimsuits www.mymaarataswim.com if you are looking to drive or looking to start a trucking business and not sure where to go email itslifetruckin@yahoo.com
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory would have to be the days I spent cooking for my grandma Hannah. She raised me. She had me cooking at seven. Yes, seven years old I was standing in the chair over the stove stirring grits. She was a diabetic and after her dialysis, she would have to eat. She would yell the steps and have me bring her the pot to make sure the right amount of water was in the pot and I would cook. Sunday morning’s I was up at 6am picking and cleaning greens. Crazy thing I still get up 6am on Sundays to cook, even if I am dead tired. Just something that she enstilled in me as a child that I am now 33 and still grateful for. And I can cook. Like cook like your grandma cook. My mom can cook to though she have a restaurant in Savannah called MaHannahs. I be in there sometimes helping but I like to cook for family and friends. It’s the enjoyment of cooking then everyone sitting down talking and laughing that I like most. But yea my favorite childhood memory will always be those days with her.
Pricing:
- Swimsuits range from $40-$90
- Truck consultation- $175
- Investor Consultation-$200
- Buyer/Seller Consultation-$150
Contact Info:
- Email: itslifetruckin@yahoo.com
- Website: www.mymaarataswim.com
- Instagram: @its_Life_
Image Credits
Justin Wright
