Today we’d like to introduce you to Lakisha Richards.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lakisha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My creative journey began when I was in the 5th grade at H. O. Burgess Elementary. In my art class, we were tasked to create a black and white picture to be displayed at the school. Well, my artwork was chosen to be featured in the Atlanta Public School Calendar for the entire district. My art piece was a 3D look of a person’s face that was designed out of black and white construction paper divided equally on both sides. The feeling I got when I learned of my picture being chosen for the calendar brought pure excitement to me like a kid on Christmas morning.
Later, in high school, I was part of the yearbook staff, where we created the entire look and design of our school’s yearbook each year. Each staff member was responsible for designing different page layouts. I was part of the team that designed the sports sections of the yearbook and I created some very cool layouts that was loved by many.
My creativity continued to flow when I was an undergraduate student at Georgia State University. One of my elective classes was an I.T. course, where I was introduced to the programs Macromedia Software, Photoshop and Dreamweaver. I had one major project where I had to use all the programs we learned in the course to complete a website. After completing the project (and getting an “A”), I knew I was in love with Art and Design. When I completed the semester with an “A” in the class, I really wanted to change my major to “Graphic Design”. However, I remained a Criminal Justice student.
Since graduation, life took over and I didn’t think any more about a career in Art and Design. However, one day, a co-worker/friend asked me to create a logo for her home healthcare business. I was still abreast with the use of Adobe Software since I was creating websites, advertising flyers, personal logos, and church programs in my leisure time. So, I asked her if she had an idea of what kind of design she wanted, and she showed me a picture. I started planning out how to accomplish this task by using Adobe Illustrator and YouTube videos. Within a week I was able to create it. When I arrived at work the next day after the logo was completed, the words that came out of her mouth was what triggered me to start the business I run today, Neal Down Creations, LLC. She said, “Kisha, now I need some shirts!” I was like I can look into that, but I have never created shirts before. She was like, “ I know you can do it!” So, I was like how I am going to take this logo and create it onto a t-shirt.
So, I started searching on YouTube and varies websites on how to create t-shirts. Just so happen during that time my husband gave me $300 to purchase whatever I wanted for my birthday. With excitement, I knew just what I wanted. In my research, I found out different products to use at home to make the shirts. So, for my birthday, my husband bought me a “Cricut” machine and some beginning supplies. I began learning how to use the machine by watching YouTube videos and a lot of trial and error. After about a good three months, I was confident in creating t-shirts and was finally able to create shirts for my friend’s business.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
By no means has it been a smooth ride. In this business, I have to always think of ways of being different from competitors so customers would continue to patronize my services. In 2006, I started Neal Down Creations. At that time, we were B2B for churches and small businesses. We outsourced all of the jobs to promotional marketing companies before people and companies could go to them directly. Unfortunately, the business didn’t succeed. However, in my free time, I continued to practice varies Adobe Software and learned the latest programs.
In 2013, my previous Pastor asked a few of the young adults of ways to reach the community and my response was we needed to be reachable via the web. We needed a website and He asked me to build us one. The only thing about building a website I knew was what I learned in class seven years ago. I had the time because I was not working and living in a hotel due to a fire in my home. I was able to do more research and practice how to build a great website that would promote our church and reach more people. After about seven months, I did it! I created a website that everyone in the church loved. I learned all about domain names, hosting, and business emails. This opened my eyes to the love of Art and Design again. Once other people I knew learned that I was creating websites and logos, I gain more customers wanting me to work on their websites, logos, flyers, business cards, etc… So in 2015, I revamped and officially reopened Neal Down Creations, LLC again.
The business was moving great at first then it slowed down. In the meantime, I began to work at a hospital in the city. One of the tasks at my job was my department had to do projects to present at our monthly staff meetings. When it was my group’s time to present information at our meeting, my co-workers were impressed at the graphics in our powerpoint presentation I designed. Due to the creativity of the images I designed, this sparked a demand for new business projects. One of my co-workers asked me to create t-shirts for her Home HealthCare business and once I did that, shirt orders became my most demanded item.
During my time working at the hospital, I was in the middle of writing my first book “12 Days of Forgiveness”. In research and writing, I learned that many things happen in our lives that we have no control over, but one thing that we do have is and that is the ability to forgive people, from our past, present, and future. Forgiving others and including ourselves play a major role in our daily lives. God allowed me a second chance to forgive myself and the chose to forgive others. I know that by God’s grace and forgiveness, I am having the success I am experiencing now! God has placed the perfect people, in my personal space, with the proper processes to help me align my business and my life according to his will and I am enjoying it.
Currently, the Covid-19 pandemic has helped my business to grow even more. I was able to create for people who would normally go to the malls or other locations to get their shirts made that closed due to the pandemic. Once they received their orders from me, they have now turned into repeat customers who order at least 2 – 3 times a month. I receive emails, calls, DM’s all day everyday requesting for all types of shirts and if I can design this and put this on a shirt. I have also begun doing print-on-demand services for new clothing lines.
We’d love to hear more about Neal Down Creations.
Neal Down Creations, LLC began in 2006 built on Faith in God. The companies’ name was created to give honor to one of the most influential person in my life, my Maternal Grandmother Marie Neal-Jones. She was always a praying woman and constantly quoted, “when you pray you fall down on your knees.” So, I used my grandmother’s maiden name and the quote what she was known for and created the name Neal Down Creations.
We specialize in providing the best quality apparel and accessories to make you stand out among others. We offer a few different items to customize, such as T-shirt, Hoodies, Dresses. We also offer custom tote bags, flask, cups, glasses, and plates. In addition, we provide logos creation, website building, business cards, banners, flyers, and programs. The quality of the shirts, turnaround time, the option of customizing is the niche that keeps repeat customers and their referral of new customers.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was very reserved and protective, trustworthy and very mature for my age. I was an active member of my church choirs and usher board. I was a member of the honor chorus and band in elementary school. When I was in high school, I joined the golf team and chess club. I participated in and loved JROTC until graduation.
In my free time, I would roller-skate, skateboard, ride bikes, play football, cards, video and board games with my brother and cousins. I was a little tomboy. I would climb trees and read books up there. Reading books kept me with a very creative mind. I would create games for us to play when we wanted something new to do.
I love children and babies. When I was 11 years old, I started my own babysitting business just for the family. Once my neighbors found out, I was the only sitter that their children wanted and one they loved. I kept that business for 19 years. The only reason why I stopped was because I had become a mother.
Pricing:
- T-shirts start at $25.oo and up each for a basic 2 color design
- V-neck start at $30.00 and up each for a basic 2 color design
- Hoodies start at $35.00 and up each for a basic 2 color design
- Specialty apparel start at $30.00 and up
Contact Info:
- Website: nealdowncreations.com
- Phone: 678-250-3339
- Email: info@nealdowncreations.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nealdowncreations
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nealdowncreations
Image Credit:
Stacy Richards
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