Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Stinnett.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shannon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur in Jr. High School. I started by downloading music from LimeWire and FrostWire and burning mixed CD’s. I would sell them for $3 a pop. Yeah, I know it’s illegal but at the time I didn’t and I thought I was a legit business owner. Haha. By the time I reached high school, I had switched from burning CDs to designing invitations and other graphics. Very basic Microsoft Word design but I had the technique and was an expert in all things Word. I did that all through high school. It helped that I was in the yearbook from 10-12 grade and even served as the Jr. and Sr. editor, respectively.
Fast forward to college. I was still doing graphic design but had slowed down significantly, because, COLLEGE! I was free to experience all things college, so I but my entrepreneurship on the back burner for one year. By the Fall of 2012, I was itching to get back to it. I started working on the launch of an online boutique. I launched 27th North Imoree September 2013. It was a full-service online boutique that featured clothing, for both junior and women, men’s tops, women’s shoes and jewelry.
I continued with 27NI on into the new year and eventually quit my job at Subway to go full time. BIG MISTAKE. I had no idea what it really meant to be a full-time entrepreneur, but rent and other things quickly humbled me. I went back to work part-time and continued to run my business part-time. This continued until the beginning of 2015.
It was at this time that I realized that I missed graphic design tremendously. The passion of retail had dwindled, which in part is because I was working part-time in retail while running an e-commerce business. I just didn’t feel the same anymore, so I sold out of inventory and never replenished. I announced that 27NI would be closing and asked for support in a new venture, set to launch November 2015. That new venture was Lotus 5ive. Lotus 5ive started as graphic design for on-campus clubs and organizations then finally transitioned into full-service digital media. I added Photography (Lotus 5ive Memories), full graphic services (Lotus 5ive Design), event planning (Lotus 5ive Events) and general PR services (Lotus 5ive Agency).
Lotus 5ive expanded rather quickly but I forgot to personally expand with it. In the midst of approaching college graduation, I was running a small company and working full-time hours. I was spread THIN and burnt out. I continued with Lotus 5ive, as is, until 2016. In 2016, I stepped back and did some rebranding. I dropped the Events sector and the PR sector and proceeded with graphic design and photography. I’ve been going strong since.
I enjoy being behind the camera. I enjoy opening my Mac to create. These things fuel my passion. I haven’t gotten too far from what started it all–retail. I am preparing to launch a hand-poured candle company in November 2019, just in time for the holidays. I’m older now and can manage my life better so I welcome the challenge. I am not a full-time entrepreneur and I’m perfectly okay with that. My work salary keeps me afloat while I continue to work on and build the empire I’ve always dreamed of.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I didn’t expect it to. I’ve worked hard from a very young age and am no stranger to adversity, but the beauty in this is the testimony that comes out of it.
We’d love to hear more about your brand.
Lotus 5ive is a brand that encompasses the capturing of Memories through the Lens of my camera and also creates lasting graphics through the clicks of my mouse. We are all things digital media. We are all things CREATIVE. I am most proud that this brand has survived the times that I thought I wouldn’t.
Lotus 5ive is different because the name is fully representative of my life. With a humble upbringing, I believe I have “blossomed” into a beautiful lotus. I was able to emerge through the mud and remain unstained. I approach all work with this in mind. Everyone has a different Lotus story but we are all Lotuses in some way.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes. It is a saturated market but each person brings their own touch to the market and that’s what makes it beautiful. We don’t have to compete, we can co-exist. I would recommend that they do market research to determine if this area is truly a great fit for their target, though.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lotus5ive.com
- Phone: 214-668-7253
- Email: lotus5ive@gmail.com
- Instagram: @lotus5ive
- Facebook: Lotus 5ive
Image Credit:
Headshot: Mari Jackson
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