Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamika Tanner.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tamika. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Tamika Tanner born in Cleveland, Ohio but raised in Atlanta, GA. I attended Redan High school and upon graduation, I was ranked number 3 in the state for video editing. I continued my education at two of the best HBCU “s, FAMU and Howard University graduating from Howard with a BA in Communications. While attending Howard, I worked for WUSA channel 9 news as a sports editor and interned at WPGC 95.5 with Big Tigger. I decided to take my talent back to Atlanta and start my own production company releasing my own projects I created during my time in school. Before fully getting my company off the ground, I was blessed with my son Chauncey Davis Jr who would be the reason for my new and fun business ventures. I took two years off to stay home with him but continued to work on projects trying to incorporate the new love I had. Being a mom. I was so motivated to get back to work I started two companies at the same time, Suite P’s Entertainment an event planning company that specializes in themed group experiences and Gimme Some Suga Bakery Bar a cupcake/cheesecake company, while searching for storefronts for both businesses I never stopped pitching projects to networks and making connections with my tv/film family. The same month I signed my lease for my Bakery storefront to start the build out, me and my son I signed to Jpervis talent agency and I was cast to do a stage play that would tour for a year straight. I toured most weekends and from a distance monitored the build out for my new bakery. With everything going on, Suite P’s Entertainment was put on hold. I opened Gimme Some Suga Bakery Bar in 2010 in Suwanee, GA, in the Suwanee Town Center on Dec 11 on my son’s birthday. We successfully operated in that location for five years, and I continued to work on film here in Atlanta and Europe. The plan to expand in different areas of Atlanta was put on hold once my finance job relocated him to Chicago and then Mississippi. So we decided to close the one location and all move as a family, but I continued to provide service back in Atlanta for my larger accounts. Now in 2020 that we are back, I have relaunched the Bakery and Suite P’s. We are currently looking for a new location while servicing our clients by delivering. We not only offer just baked goods anymore. We are a full blown event company that provides everything you need from uplighting, movie screens, photo booths (provided by pmt-ent) Ballon Garlands, Party planning services, silent parties and much more. We plan to have the second storefront open by summer. We are looking for the right location because this time, we want it twice as big so we can create more jobs and hire women who may have a hard time finding because of past history.
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?
No, it was not! I was on tour the same time my storefront was being built out and I literally had to hope the people I hired to oversee stuff was getting it done. I also had to learn not to take so long to fire people when they are not doing their job. I finally realized after a while. You only hurt your own brand if you don’t have the right people working for you. I made simple mistakes like most people do in their first couple of years in business, and honestly it was worth it. I help you grow. The biggest thing as well is trying to be a mom. In a relationship and run a business, it can get wild some days, especially when you are your store day after day for 15 hours. The organization is one of the key things I know I could have done better with.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Gimme Some Suga Bakery Bar and Suit P’s Entertainment were started separate, but we decided to launch again and combine both. We are focused on finding the larger location now so we can have our bakery section and the event planning company next door. The overall plan is to create move jobs, especially for women who may have had legal troubles before and create an area on the event site where people can come in weekly and also teach them new trades. The bakery has over 42 flavors of cupcakes and cheesecakes. We do have gluten-free options and teach decorating classes. Suite P’s Entertainment and people always ask what P’s: pamper, play, pea in the pod, party and pleasure. You pick your suite and let us know what you want to include. So if you want the party suite. we provide photo booths, games, uplighting, DJ’s, balloon garlands and much more.
If you want the play suite – we throw stuff like field day event, we host game nights, scavenger hunts and we plan it all so you can have fun.
pamper suite – we throw spa days for children and adults.
pea in the pod – we do the gender reveal parties and baby showers.
pleasure – we host bachelor and bachelorette parties, you customize your suite or combine them. We try to provide everything you need, so you don’t have to worry about contacting several companies for one experience.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Never forget who you are in the process when you are a business owner and an African American woman. Sometimes it can be hard and stressful trying to make a name for yourself. My fiancé got to live his dream career, and I also wanted to make sure my son saw both of his parents successful. I put my dreams on hold for my family, but I promised to never give up. Sometimes as women, we think it’s too late, but it never is, and we also need to learn how to support each other, and I mean truly support each other, not fake social media support. Be nice and be kind and learn how to forgive on the way to the top, but never forget who you are and what your heart is telling you are made for!
Contact Info:
- Address: 320 town center Suwanee, GA 30024
- Phone: 678-482-4555 for both companies
- Email: gimmesomesugarbarkerybar@gmail.com
- Instagram: @theBakeyBar @suitepsevents
- Facebook: Gimme Some Sugar Bakery Bar on Facebook
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