Today we’d like to introduce you to Keishia Lewis-Crabtree.
Hi Keishia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
2024! We are here and this is a full circle moment for us. Let’s recap! In 2021 my very first article was titled “Hidden Gem” where I was discovered by a fellow Vendor out in the field. Tammy with TAMONIS SEASONING referred me to this magazine and I wrote my first “Hidden Gem” article. Now we are here 3 years later and though I’m still a “hidden gen” the world has gotten a chance to see me. Let me explain.
In 2023 I did a contest based/relaity show with Wes Bergman from the “Real World” and the current show “The Challenge”. He put together this awesome collab of his competitive nature and teaching style to create this awesome entrepreneurial program. You take one long week off to be with him and his crew to learn/unlearn things in your business. I ‘m talking 15 years of information crammed into one week. It’s filled with activities,test,and pitches. I was nervous, felt out of my element and down right not ready. I gained so much clarity while participating. 2 of the 5 nights I won that nights challenges. One was for Marketing and the other was for the Customer Success. I was blown away that my brand carried a lot of weight not only with the show but the people I was there with. I was called the “Fat Cat’ lady by the end of the first night. That’s how heavy I rocked my brand. I came back home on fire and implemented what I just learned in my business. The show came out on 12/31/2023 on “THE BLOX” app which is free. Im on season 9 if you want to watch it real quick.
So let’s fast forward a tad… In about Feb of 2024 I was then nominated by my friends to be the next “Entrepreneur of the year “. This was a contest of strictly people who took time out of their day to vote for you. I didn’t know the people hosting the event, I didn’t think I had people who paid attention to me enough to even vote. I was sooooo surprise when I made it to the final 3. We had to wait another month for more voting and this time it was around March. The winners were announced at the “Red Carpet” event. Y’all, guess what!!!! I took the whole thang home lol I won 1st place as “2024 Entrepreneur of the year”. I had to walk up in front of a room full of strangers and receive my award lol I heard, who is that? What she do? As I walking up. I couldn’t help but laugh and think to myself, “Gurl, who are you? Who do you think we are” Going back and forth in your own head can be a challenge while you are facing a challenge ,but baby, we made it!! As a matter of fact, I received the highest votes out of the whole list of categories they had listed. 3,707 was my vote tally. Whoop whoop!
Just as I was thinking that was enough for me.. I got an email in October 2023 all the way from NEW YORK CITY! The email stated that they discovered me from my post and connection to Marty’s Live club where I be on Friday,Saturdays,Mondays and recently added Tuesday’s. #Fridaynightfishfry has been going strong for about 2 years now. They wanted to do a documentary on Fish Trap’n and asked if they could come spend a day with me in the life of “Trap’N”. So on my birthday week in November, I was filmed and interviewed for the Docuseries “Down in the Valley” by Uncle Clifford who y’all know from “P-Valley”. Now this was a total shock for us but we were so honored to be viewed and seen. The show aired on July 12th,2024… It is on your STARZ App and we are featured in Epidode 3 “Out the Mud”. Go check it out noooooooooowwwwwww!!
Lastly, we are doing a soft re-opening of our kitchen to reach a bigger goal for a bigger kitchen! Our big goal is to be in our own storefront soon. We are raising funds through sponsorship tiers and asking our community that love to eat us out for the help. We are trying very hard to not accumulate debt so we aren’t looking into loans or borrowing the money that has a lot of interest attached. We aren’t in a hurry to reach this destination. We are just cruising and jumping hurdles along the way. Keep praying,pushing and supporting us on this journey. We know when the time is right,everything can and will align. It’s been done repeatedly. We are just so grateful to be able to keep a hold to our vision and being able to stay consistent thought this journey. The amount of times I wanted to throw in the towel is insane,but if I would have done that, I would’nt be on STARZ. I wouldn’t have been able to meet billionaires and millionaires who also see the vision and have helped the vision. I wouldn’t be able to keep you all updated on this journey. Stay true to what you see and feel to be your destiny on this journey. Go out everyday and put your best foot forward. You can do it! I promise! Im living proof.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest obstacle we are facing right now is funding. We are at the sweet spot to where we just need a little boost to thrust us into our next. I have been filling out grant applications,working more and started a crowd funding in the form of sponshorship tiers. I have had a couple of people already jump on board and back my vision and goals with becoming a sponsor. Just needing some more to join. I’m still working and creating my next all while trying to stay out of debt. I think we are in too much debt as it is and we aren’t taught financial literacy before accumulating more debt. I did myself a favor and entered into the Financial Peace program with Dave Ramsey. It has taught me how to rethink the way I think about money It has taught me to be more forgiving of myself and what I didn’t know growing up that I can now see clearly about my money and how to use it to be for me and not against me. So me taking this no debt route will definitely be longer than those getting loans. I just know I don’t want to go back to paycheck to paycheck so getting a quick dollar is not in my mind. It’s a long game,it’s building wealth and we want to make sure that we are doing right by the next generations by creating wealth and true stability.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
FISH TRAP’N IS A SOUTHERN SOUL FAMILY OF FRESH SEASONINGS AND THE BEST FRIED CATFISH YOU’LL EVER HAVE. WE HAVE CRAFTED OUR OWN BREADING FOR OUR FILLETS WHICH REACHES DOWN TO YOUR SOUL AND HELPS TO BRING UP THOSE GOOD MEMORIES OF GRANDMA AND AUNTIE IN THE KITCHEN. WE WANTED TO KEEP AND HELP CREATE THAT “BACK HOME OR DOWN HOME” FEELING WHEN YOU EAT. FROM PEP TALKS, TO ASS WHOOPINGS, WE GoT YOU COVERED IN OUR KITCHEN!! WE DONT PLAY ABOUT OUR FOOD OR OUR PEOPLE! LOL
How do you think about happiness?
I GET SO MUCH JOY SERVING OTHERS. ITS DEFINITELY A LOVE LaNGUAGE FOR ME. I ENJOY THE SATISFIED LOOKS ON MY CUST’S FACES WHEN THEY EAT MY “FAT CaT” IT JUST GIVES ME SO MUCH AMMUNITION TO KEEP GOiNG.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://FishTrapn.com
- Instagram: Fish_trapn
