Tiera is an administrative assistant by day and by night she owns her own mobile jewelry and accessory bar.

Name: Tiera Dishmon

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Daytime Job: Administrative Assistant, Ducks Unlimited

Age:29, Whooo, Whoo!!

Fun Fact: I sing when friends want to go to karaoke, I imagine them being the audience while letting them have it - pretending that I’m in concert lol.

So tell me about your passion project and what led you to create something like this?

My passion project didn’t start on account of myself, but it was truly a heaven-sent assignment from God. Unknowingly, my senior year of college, I created a dummy business plan for a jewelry and accessory boutique in the heart of midtown Memphis, for a location called Overton Square. This plan was the blueprint of a business that was required to conclude my senior seminar, as a final exit project to finalize my degree in Fashion Merchandising, where I studied at the University of Memphis. While God was saying “For I know the plans I have for you....”, I had zero inklings that what I thought to be the demon spawn project from hell, truly was the creation of something so sweet and purposeful, the foundation of Collections, By T. Dish… Mobile Jewelry & Accessory Bar.

When did you know it was time to launch your project?

It was the Summer of 2015… I remember it like it was yesterday, lol. I was working part-time at a department store as a Visual Merchandiser and while loving the creative side of the job, I was truly disappointed with the leadership and lack of education that the opportunity presented. I thought this was going to be the beginning of an amazing career in fashion. After a few major changes within the company, I brought myself to the realization that optimism was not enough and that I would need to move further to get to where I could create my own opportunity. After discussing with an old classmate about my feelings, she later suggested that I bring the business plan that I worked so hard in college to life. I had no idea that this would be the beginning of starting my own business.

What has been the most fulfilling part of the journey to creating this service?

The most fulfilling part about the Collections, By T. Dish… the journey has truly been the acceptance of our “Collectors” (Our Consumers). While I love people, generally. To have the opportunity to actually get out in the community and meet people that you interact via social media in live form or to meet new people and see how they react visually to our pieces truly warms my heart. It assures me that I am working in my purpose and I am grateful enough to say that I wouldn’t change that feeling for the world.

How has this project not only helped others but helped you in the process?

Launching Collections, By T. Dish… has helped me get out of my comfort zone. I am able to express my creativity by stepping out of the box with my visual ideas. This movement has helped me get out of my own way on a daily basis when it comes to style and housing certain inventory.

What has been the most challenging part about this service?

The most challenging part about having e-commerce and a mobile shop is the balancing act of having a physical sales presence in my city and specializing in items via social media. Also, social media algorithms are always changing. Once I get the hang of it, terms of usage are updated and I don’t even have a manual to guide me through the changes. However, it keeps me on my toes to keep going and to further my education in learning the” How-Tos” of different social media platforms.

What advice would you give other women to take on a similar project such as this?

The advice that I would give women going into the jewelry and accessory market, would be to not overthink it and just go for it. Use your style to own what it is that you’re producing and walk in confidence, just like animals people can sense fear and uncertainty. Often times we have to start with our thought process. 90 percent of the time we scare ourselves out of amazing projects by over-analyzing our thoughts at the potential of things going wrong. If we put our best foot forward and proceed in taking the first steps to getting started, that alone will be the leading fuel to accomplishing our dreams.

How do you find the time for your passion project and your 9 to 5? And please share tips on how to juggle the two.

Whew, finding the time vs making the time. While in my corporate world, I work 8 to 5., Monday through Friday… Busy, busy, busy Lol. Truthfully, I always find different ways to do the “most” when it comes to balancing my work life. Aside from having an active dog, social life and being family-oriented, plus daily/weekly inventory prep for weekly “Collections” Pop Up Events. With my creative brain, I have learned over the years that getting organized is the only way to juggle both professional work and independent work-life, SUCCESSFULLY. Honestly, using the word “successfully”, may have been reaching too far, lol. Weekly, I have to literally set the hours of my day up by priority to create a detailed, in-depth “to do” list, where I can see which tasks I have before me. I have to see it! When creating this list, I have to look into the urgency of which task must be completed first, when and if it has a due date and how much time I must alot to properly get the task done in a tip-top manner. While I always have to run errands, which isn’t my least favorite thing to do, I often fit my quick tasks in as I take my hour lunch breaks. This gives me a fresh breath of air and also gives me time to work ahead in silence and give my brain a break, all while scratching things off the list to eliminate my check-list, to assure I won’t be overwhelmed after work. Normally, after 5 p.m. I proceed to complete my daily checklist to where I am comfortable for the day, allowing me to cut off at a decent time so that I can allow myself to cater to what is needed for the remainder of the day and upcoming workday. While the checklist works, for the most part, I can’t always rely on it to keep me structured due to life’s tactics, lol. Sometimes I am able to turn off the light and most times I get in the zone and keep pounding at the pavement.

Do you recommend any books or resources to get started?

I can recommend a few gurus that I have truly found useful in the branding department, that will truly be helpful to those who are interested in this line of work.

I would suggest that you all follow these young ladies to get started.

● @thesixfigurechick (Instagram Branding Guru)

● @iamskyeharris (Boutique Resourcer)

Share tips on what keeps you going and motivated to keep this project afloat.

The thing that keeps me going and fueled has to be my inner drive and love for fashion, and most importantly that God trusted me with a vision. He gave me a mission that I must fulfill, being that I must shed light to his people through relationships as I accessorize and accent their daily fashion. Tips that keep me going would be setting time aside to speak affirmations daily and maintain positivity. I brain-dump daily any idea that comes to my head. I always write things out to make sure that I don’t get mentally overwhelmed. Finally, I surround myself with other women who are business professionals and entrepreneurs. I am motivated by their energy-that alone keeps me inspired.

Where can people go to find out more information about collections by T.Dish?

Collections, By T. Dish… can be found on all major social platforms:

Instagram.: @collectionsbytdish

FaceBook: facebook.com/Collections, Jewelry & Accessory Bar

Also my official website is www.collectionsbytdish.com