Today we’d like to introduce you to Ericka Barnes.
Ericka, before we jump into specific questions about the company, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always gravitated towards creativity and beauty. At 12 years old, I learned to crochet and spent days making hats and blankets to give away to family and friends. Fast forward to the spiritual awakening most of us have in our college years, I decided to the big chop. That’s when I cut all of my processed hair and committed to wearing my natural hair. I found myself with super short curly hairdo and I needed a fresh new look. I knew I wanted to rock bold and unique earrings that made me feel beautiful — so I started crocheting earrings for myself. They made me feel confident and were unlike anything I’d seen before. Soon after, I launched my first business to share them with others called Dope Crochet.
I learned so much about myself and how to run a business in the early years of that venture. I discovered my love of technology and web development. I loved making beautiful sites for my business and then started offering my services to other entrepreneurs as well. I launched a web design and creative services business called Dope Creatives.
Great, 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?
Not at all, haha! Life happens and fear sets in. There were times when I wanted to abandon the entrepreneurial lifestyle and return to the corporate world. And I did just that. We all want stability or have families to feed. It can get hard. But I always found my way back. I believe once you stop fighting and walk in your purpose, God will meet you there. It’s been an incredible journey, full of ups and downs and much more to learn, I’m sure.
Please tell us about the company.
Dope Creatives is a web design and creative services company. I create websites for small businesses and offer project management services for special events. I also curate community markets called the Dope Creatives Market and Black Makers Market. These community events are well-loved in Austin and give people a place to gather and celebrate creatives and artists. The markets are not just my legacy, but I do this for my family and my community. I want people to feel support, love, and community when they attend our events. I want children to feel safe in the space and know that embracing your creative side and entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be a struggle. The markets are celebrations with vendors, food trucks and DJ’s — it’s a whole vibe! My goal is to empower creatives and small business owners to expand their reach online and in their communities without compromising success.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
When I was invited to speak about my markets on the local news! I was honored to know that we’ve made such an impact on the community. It was great!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dopecreatives.com
- Phone: 5124812277
- Email: e@dopecreatives.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dope.creatives
- Facebook: facebook.com/dopecreativesweb
- Other: dopecreativesmarket.com
Image Credit:
Celeste Boyd, ICBOphotography
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