Hidden Gems: Meet Johnnie Winston III of Exclusive Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnnie Winston III.

Hi Johnnie, 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?
I’m originally from Jersey City, NJ, and was also raised in South Carolina. At the age of seven, I used to watch my grandmother prepare food for our family. I was intrigued by the love and passion that she would put in it. By age 16, I knew this was something that I wanted to do and on July 11, 2004, Exclusive Designs LLC was born. I came to Atlanta, GA in 2006 and attended Morehouse College. After graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and concentration in Marketing, I decided to expand my business. I’m a full-service event planning and catering company located near the downtown area of Atlanta. Success, determination, a great support system, and my unwavering faith in GOD is the credit for my success today.

It doesn’t matter where you come from your dreams are still valid. Stress doesn’t really go with my outfit. If you decided not to launch your business because everyone is an event planner. You created that cloud of doubt and placed that uncertainty within yourself. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; it’s that we are powerful beyond measure. Moral is “No one is you” and that is “your power.”

I’ve noticed business owners will spend a lot of time and money into creating a logo but they won’t invest in creating a complete brand. In other for you to be booked, busy, and blessed; you have to learn how build, brand, and blow up. If you never think beyond where you are you will never go beyond where you are. It doesn’t matter how big your dreams are if God gave it to you he’s already equipped you with everything you need to bring that dream to a reality. Some people will never know what you bring to the table until they see you in action at another table.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. In the beginning as a business owner, you’re testing the water and seeing what will sink or swim.

In the beginning, I used to put so much of my own money into events because I wasn’t charging my clients enough.

It wasn’t until my grandmother sat me down and asked, “Are you in business to make money, or are you just in business?”

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Exclusive Designs LLC is a full-service event planning and catering company based in Atlanta, GA. We specialize in weddings, birthday parties, corporate events and more. Not only do we do event coordination, but we design wedding invitations, floral arrangements, drapery, uplighting, floor decals, and so much more. What sets us apart from others is our unique style and approach to each event. We never do the same event twice; it’s always going to be customized to each client. We are literally a one stop shop in which is a winner for our clients. I’m most proud of the growth of my business with a loyal client base. I want readers to know that we travel all over and no event is too small for us.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Finding your Formula (Asking yourself is this truly your gift)
Operating your Formula
(How are you going about your business)
Knowing your Formula
(Finding out what works/ Doesn’t work)
Networking/ Using Resources
(Getting your name/ company out there)
Understanding your Worth
(Free vs. Cost)
Event Planner Kit
(What’s in it? Needle, medicine, thread, etc.)

When first starting out, I wish I knew how to turn down events that wasn’t beneficial.

I tell event planners you have to speak up, you have to network, you can’t just sit around and expect the vision to just come and not putting it into use. Get out there and network, attend a lot of social events because you never know who you’re going to run into. Always have business cards, I run into a lot of event planners that are unequipped. Always have business cards and go full throttle. Go to other events with other event planners and find out what they are doing differently so you can do to enhance your business. It could be a situation where you’re going to need extra help and you’ll have to outsource with some of your other competitors to help you with the bigger events. It’s building relationships. We can’t get every dollar that’s out there; we can work together and form a bond that’s unbreakable where we can make millions; instead trying to scrap the little dollars; let’s get the big dollars together.

Contact Info:

• Website:  https://jwexclusivedesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jwexclusivedesigns?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: Facebook.com/exclusivedesignsjw

Image Credits
323creativedesigns Purpleoakvisuals