Story & Lesson Highlights with DeAnna Butler- Toombs of South Fulton

We’re looking forward to introducing you to DeAnna Butler- Toombs . Check out our conversation below.

Good morning DeAnna Butler-, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was when all of my Kids were together and healthy. Being the Mom of a murdered child is hard. I have been struggling with this for the past five years and I don’t have a grip on it yet. It’s hindering my thought process and it tends to hinder me. Some days are better than others but the thought that one of my Daughters was murdered disturbs me and it has taken a toll on me mentally. I mean I couldn’t even work. My business almost went out of business and I am still struggling with this to this day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello Voyagers. I’m DeAnna Butler- Toombs owner of Simply Produce LLC, a family owned and operated fresh fruit and vegetable company that offers fresh cut fruit bowls, salads, and fresh pressed juices. We are located in the City of South Fulton, Ga. servicing metro Atlanta and surrounding cities. We offer a wide variety of seeded non-gmo and organic produce. We do not stock seedless items. We can get seedless items if that’s what our customer order but we do not have any seedless items on hand. We strive on providing the best customer service and the freshest fruits and veggies at a reasonable price. So if you’re ever in the area please come check us out.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
The person that taught me the most about having a great attitude and an even better work ethic would be my Mom. I watched this woman work jobs that I could never have worked just so she could give me the best of what she had to offer. I watched her smile through tears in moments that I probably would have flipped out. I watched this woman swallow her pride and put people first even when she knew they were wrong but the customer is always right is what we’re taught. This Lady, my Mommie has always walked with class and could cut a person with the kindest words as if she had cut them with a piece of glass. Even when someone was mean to her she still gave them respect. And honestly I could never understand how she just let people slide but she’d just smile at me and say “it’s the grace her Mama displayed.” She is and will always be a hard worker and an even better Mommie.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I have given up and not given up plenty of times lol. But let’s start here. I opened my brick and mortar back in 2016. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But we did it. And sadly we were not getting the support we needed to maintain. We were watching our stock die. The support was not there and there was so much that I did not know but learned along the way. Four years of struggling and losing money. So by January 2020, exactly four years after opening I threw in the towel. I could no longer afford to take money from other places to support a failing business. I had finally given up. I felt like a failure. I had no idea what my next move was going to be. And I was BROKE…. But by the grace of God and some loyal people that I didn’t know was watching. Orders began pouring in after closing my store and my business was doing numbers it didn’t do in the storefront. At this time we were working the business from home and I knew I couldn’t continue to do that. I needed a bus or at least that’s what I told myself because I was not renting another spot. I had envisioned the whole setup for my bus. Yes, I said it. My bus. I had already claimed it. So I jumped out on faith and applied for a grant about a month after closing and three months later I Got It….. I immediately began looking, hunting, I was searching for a bus. But they were either old, needed to many repairs, or just not worth it. Feeling helpless and hopeless my better half decided to take a day off work to help me out. He’s a mechanic so his knowledge was needed and he drove me around Georgia that day in June looking for my new business venture. A bus. And guess what we found it that same day. I know it was God working through him to get me where He needed me to be…. I purchased the bus and the rest is well oh well it’s not history yet lol.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. I don’t know how to be anyone else. I am a laid back Mom that just wants to provide, protect, and leave a well laid foundation behind for my family. I have seen people struggle all my life. That’s not what I want for my family so I am doing all that I can so they don’t see the struggles I’ve seen. I treat people the way I want to be treated. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a Saint but I don’t go around doing bad things. I have experienced enough sadness in my life that I would never want to display that to others.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I think they would miss me the most. Yes, I provide wholesome healthy produce but I think the connection that I now have with my supporters is real and true. So I think they would miss me and not the produce. I’m genuinely a great person and I love that about me. I share my struggles on transparent posts as I call them. And my supporters love how open and honest I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://simplyproducemarket.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simply_produce.llc
• Facebook: Simply Produce LLC

Image Credits
DeAnna Butler- Toombs