Today we’d like to introduce you to La’Kia Tyler.
Hi La’Kia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a mother of five and a wife in a recessing economy, I’ve always been focused on putting and keeping myself and my family financially stable. As we all know through the pandemic and now the inflating economy two incomes from a 9 to 5 just won’t cut it. Therefore, after my husband and I retired from the Army I shifted my focus on completing school in hopes of increasing my chances of finding a profitable career. I now hold an associate in Liberal Arts, 2 Bachelors (BA in Early Childhood Education Administration & a BS in Healthcare Information Systems Management), and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Even with all my education, it has been hard to find a job that will pay my worth and provide a healthy work/personal lifestyle balance. That’s when I knew something had to change. I’ve always dreamed of owning my own business and had so many ideas of what I wanted to do. Sometimes I felt like my dreams were all over the place, then it hit me; I consider myself to be a jack of all Trades so why should I limit myself to just one type of business or stream of income. So I started The Side Hustle Experience (SHE), LLC.
This Business will be an umbrella company to many of my side hustles, the first one being my DBA All Around Photos (AAP), a 360 video booth rental service. The idea to start AAP came to me when I was looking for a 360 video booth rental for a surprise birthday party I’m planning and the prices were outrageous. I sat and thought well instead of renting one for $1200 for a few hours I could just buy my own for a little bit more and start my own business. So I did and its been great. I recently did an event for the local middle school 8th-grade ceremony and was offered to become an approved vendor for all future events. After my first event, I was hooked. I knew this is definitely one of the things I am meant to do because I am the picture Queen as my husband says. I’ve spent the last 13 years of my life ensuring that I captured every special and memorable moment of my kids/family’s life and now I am a huge part of helping others do the same. To me, All Around Photos is not just a service I provide for a few hours, it’s an experience, a special moment, a documented memory that my clients and their loved ones will have to share forever. That is why I am proud that All Around Photos is the first of many to join the Side Hustle Experience LLC family. This is only the beginning. There is so much more to come in the upcoming years from 24/7 childcare services to real estate investing. So stay tuned. SHE is ME!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Success is never effortless, there is and will always be trials and tribulations or obstacles that are thrown in my path but my determination and how I overcome them makes it worth it in the end. Some of the biggest struggles I’ve faced since starting are funding and marketing. Retrieving funds for the start-up cost for any business big or small is a huge task in itself. From loans to grants getting what you need to get started is tough. But I stayed positive and motivated throughout the process and was able to get the funding I needed. So many said no but finally, I got a yes and with that I hit the ground running. Another big struggle that I still face now is marketing and advertising. This September will only mark my fourth year being in Austin, Texas in which if you count the long days and nights I spent studying and then the pandemic locking us away for almost two years I have not had the chance to explore, network, or make many connections here yet. So not only am I not well known personally in this area but also professionally. So spreading the word about AAP has been tough even through the use of social media platforms. But I’ve dedicated myself to networking whether in person or virtually I ensure I’m always looking for ways to boost my presence.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I provide video/photo booth rental services to all types of events. Big, small, corporate, or school events; Personal gatherings, parties, weddings, celebrations, etc. I do it all. I specialize in providing not just a service but an unforgettable experience. Each of my events are unique. All services are tailored to the client’s desires from the equipment setup to my attire while at the event.
I am mostly proud of the example I am setting for my children. They have been here to watch me go through starting this business and have even shown interest in working for the company. That is when I knew I was on the right path to create a legacy and generational wealth.
The pride, care, and devotion I take in providing an experience for my clients is what sets me apart from others in this industry. My professionalism, trust, charisma, and creativity allows me to connect with my clients and build long-lasting relationships and understanding to ensure I make their event more than what they would’ve ever hoped for.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Gatherings. Any family function, celebration, reunion, or vacation. I loved getting together and enjoying one another’s company, creating memories, and hosting. I’ve always loved to plan, decorate, and host gatherings. Helping my parents setup, cook, greet, and entertain was so much fun. But my absolute favorite was filming or taking pictures.
Pricing:
- I offer the best prices in the surrounding area!
- For only $225 an hour you can make your next event a Side Hustle Experience
- Various Add-ons range from $8 to $50
- Vendor options available
Contact Info:
- Website: sidehustlexp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/llc_sheisme
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SHEisME22/
