Love Can’t Wait, Tradition Can
For generations, couples have dreamt of the perfect wedding--complete with gorgeous outfits, picturesque settings and plenty of family and friends to toast. While good times with family and friends will never go out of style, huge weddings with bloated budgets just might.
A growing contingent of couples are spending less on lavish weddings.
This shift is perfect for seasoned event planners like Walter Coston of Atlanta Pop-Up Wedding Chapel. He and his team create micro matrimonial ceremonies for Atlanta couples. While popular in other states, the popup wedding concept is a relatively new one for most Atlantans. However, the prospect of spending less and getting more is a pretty easy sell for this charismatic entrepreneur.
“It’s not always about the money,” Walter begins, “More and more, people are choosing smaller weddings so they can spend more money on a house or a vacation.”
“More and more, people are choosing smaller weddings so they can spend more money on a house or a vacation.”
Reducing event costs does not always mean skimping on the details that make special days, special. Walter is a whiz at making events just as unforgettable with a modest budget.
Walter’s practical approach makes saving money easy. He simply suggests practical alternatives and inexpensive substitutions to stretch event budgets to the max. This pragmatic planning methodology allows clients to focus their dollars on what matters most. He says, “That’s one of the things that I am most proud of. I can give people a beautiful wedding for a fraction of what it would cost somewhere else.” Walter’s background in Fashion Merchandising and Hospitality make him the perfect person to uncover cost-cutting solutions that many overlook. “I can be inspired by anything by a button, a pillow--anything,” he says.
With twenty-five years of experience and several hundreds of events under his belt, Walter is poised to make popup weddings just as iconic as traditional ones. His new business is well-positioned to serve a generation of brides and grooms who know how to do more with less. He says, “I love, love. I’m glad that I can provide that bride, whether she’s 25 or whether she’s 65 (I’ve had some close to that age), with a beautiful day that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
To learn more about Atlanta PopUp Wedding Chapel, visit their website at www.atlantapop-upweddingchapel.com or follow them on Instagram at @atlpopupweddingchapel
A Walk with Destiny
For some, staying behind the scenes and out of the spotlight isn’t much fun; for Walter Coston, it’s another day doing the job he loves. Walter, a twenty-year veteran of the event planning industry, is the brilliant mind behind Atlanta PopUp Wedding Chapel--a full-service micro-wedding experience now available in Atlanta. He and his team of talented entrepreneurs partner to bring luxury, decadence, and style to weddings that working people can afford.
Walter’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur began while working at the J.W. Marriott in Buckhead more than twenty-five years ago. Impressed by his style and organizational skills, a coworker asked him to plan her wedding. While Walter did not know much about event planning, he did have an eye for style and a knack for pulling things together. After teaching himself the fundamentals of the industry, he agreed to take the job.
“People don’t realize how time-consuming it is to take on a wedding”
“People don’t realize how time-consuming it is to take on a wedding,” Walter began, “ Lucky for me, I had a disciplined bride who knew what she wanted and support from friends who helped with the wedding.
It turned out fantastic.” Walter quickly received more requests for planning assistance and ultimately decided to make it his profession. After years of balancing corporate event planning by day with private event planning on nights and weekends, Walter focused on creating a business of his own based on a concept that he loves. The Atlanta PopUp Wedding Chapel is Walter’s exciting new endeavor that puts a fresh spin on one of America’s oldest traditions.
For one low price, Walter and his team provide couples an unforgettable wedding experience without the months of muss, fuss, and stress that typical weddings bring. He says, “It’s a big day, but for a small price.”
For less than $5500, clients get a ready-made wedding. The Atlanta PopUp Wedding Chapel’s package is a three-hour matrimonial event that includes a ceremony, cocktail hour, mini reception, and honeymoon.
The Best Micro Wedding Package in Atlanta:
A beautifully decorated venue
Heavy hors’devours
A cocktail
Officiant
Bouquet and boutonniere
Entertainment
Champagne toast for 30
A demure wedding cake
A honeymoon startup stay at a boutique hotel
“One of the things that I like about where I’m hosting popup weddings is that couples can have their ceremony in one area and go to a different location for their mini reception,” Walter begins, “In the hotel world, that is a plus. I’m able to offer that at PopShopolis.”
The premier popup wedding event is scheduled for Saturday, February 13th, 2021, and will feature three private weddings complete with catchy names for each service.
Noon-3 Marriage & Mimosas
3-6 Veils and Vows
6-9 Weddings and Wine
In addition to providing all of the essentials, Walter is also including several safety measures to ensure that the nuptial services are not only short and sweet but also COVID-19 safe. In light of the pandemic, Walter is also donating a ceremony to a deserving pair of frontline workers looking to marry in the age of Corona.
“I’m so excited to announce our winners and share their beautiful love story and pictures this Saturday (January 30th),” Walter said. He continued, “What they do is so important and we’re honored to be in the position to help.” Frontline workers aren’t the only ones he’s helping, Walter’s also committed to donating a portion of each sale to Hosea Helps (formerly Hosea Feeds the Hungry) to combat hunger and homelessness in Atlanta.
To learn more about Atlanta PopUp Wedding Chapel, visit their website at www.atlantapop-upweddingchapel.com or follow them on Instagram at @atlpopupweddingchapel
From Six Flags to Sweet Solopreneur
More than six years ago, Crystal Tilley, the owner/operator of Arlene & Co., was a seasonal employee at Six Flags Over Georgia (SFOG). Instead of operating rides or entertaining guests, Crystal made tasty treats for the thousands of visitors who filed in and out of the park. One summer, Crystal’s manager discovered her penchant for creating decadent treats that rivaled those sold by the establishment.
Her manager believed that Crystal’s creations warranted a broader debut and encouraged her to bring them to an employee event so that others could try them as well. After sharing the treats with coworkers and friends, Crystal and her manager decided to add them to the menu for customers on a trial basis to see which products could work long term. As her manager expected, Crystal’s brand of candied apples, strawberries, and pretzels drove sales for the store, becoming a favorite for many customers.
“It was amazing. Customers loved the treats, which allowed me to create an entire training program to teach other employees how to make them as well,” Crystal said.
Despite her success, Crystal left SFOG to pursue another passion, cosmetology. Her foray into this vocation did not last long as Crystal quickly found a market for her treats outside of the amusement park. After an inspired post on social media garnered several orders for Valentine’s Day, Crystal revisited the prospect of churning out candied pretzels, strawberries, and custom candy full time. Eventually, she founded Arlene & Co., a custom candy company catering to Atlanta’s tastemakers and event planners.
“I got the name from a brand I love which uses the same naming convention [Name & Co], but rather than using my first name, I choose Arlene, my middle name instead,” Crystal said.
Since transitioning to running Arlene & Co. full time, Crystal has enjoyed tremendous success and exponential growth. Not only do customers refer friends and family to her consistently, but she also attracts clients and fans from social media.
“Presentation is everything. People have to be excited about the treats when they see them get the true experience,” she begins, “That is why you can’t just go to the Dollar Tree and slap your stuff on a tray. You have to think about how things will come together.”
Embracing Opportunities Instead of Excuses
When COVID-19 went from an isolated issue to a world-crippling pandemic, long-time friends Mariposa and da i.ZZ were just beginning conversations about their ability to partner. Like many Americans, the pair faced challenging circumstances that forced them to explore ways to generate new revenue streams that could withstand the pandemic.
“We’d always talked about working together but never quite found anything that panned out,” Mariposa began, “Right from the start, this time felt different. We were having interesting conversations that needed to be heard, and that’s how The 30 Minute Podcast (30MP) began.”
The 30MP hosts started by hosting virtual listening sessions that allowed friends and family to provide feedback on test episodes. From there, they consolidated feedback, made adjustments, and went about planning their first episode. Their debut podcast hit all major platforms in June of 2020 and featured a lively discussion on the Emancipation Proclamation.
As listeners quickly discover, 30MP explores an array of topics spanning business to culture to alternative lifestyle choices. These sometimes taboo topics are embraced by Mariposa and da i.ZZ, who revel in discussing the un-discussable. Each episode is presented with the pair’s unique brand of intellectual curiosity, unapologetic honesty, and relentless humor. da i.ZZ says, “We come from a certain perspective that is uncommon among people of a certain age, race, and gender. Our motto is you don’t have to agree to align.”
In the roughly six months since their podcast debuted, Mariposa and da i.ZZ have completed and released 2 complete seasons of 30MP. Recording, however, is only one aspect of the work. Along with finding time to actually record these compelling conversations, the duo must also find the time to identify and book guests, research topics, court sponsors, craft outlines and promote 30MP on various channels. It is a lot of work but a labor of love for Mariposa and da i.ZZ. da i.ZZ explains, “Everybody is talking about the importance of having a side hustle or pivoting their business, but for us, it’s about focus. The pandemic has allowed me to focus on the podcast and making TTMP the best it can be.”
Like any new business, making 30MP has its challenges as well. In addition to competing in a heavily saturated podcast and entertainment landscape, sustaining 30MP means shifting focus away from other ventures or projects in the short term. da i.ZZ chimes in how he does it, “It’s about being laser-focused on our goals for the show. We don’t have enough time to do everything, but we make time for this so that it’s successful.”
It’s about being laser-focused on our goals for the show. We don’t have enough time to do everything, but we make time for this so that it’s successful.
To learn more about 30MP, follow them on social media. They’re always promoting upcoming episodes, snippets of interviews, and other exciting developments you don’t want to miss. Don’t forget to check out their episode featuring serial entrepreneur and PopShopolis owner Valaurie Lee on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
Instagram: @30minutepodcast | Facebook: @the30minutepodcast | Youtube: @30MinutePodcast
Conversations Without Chasers
This new venture took engaging conversations between longtime friends and broadcast it globally to give voice to those who embrace alternative views, lifestyles, or love-styes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has birthed many a business, but very few involve challenging commonly held views among African Americans of a certain age. The 30 Minute Podcast (30MP) changed that when it debuted in June of 2020. This new venture took engaging conversations between longtime friends and broadcast it globally to give voice to those who embrace alternative views, lifestyles, or love-styes.
Friends turned hosts; Mariposa and da i.ZZ candidly tackle various topics on their weekly show. Each thirty-ish minute episode explores controversial themes in business, culture, politics, and everything in between. When asked what prompted the pair to turn offline conversations into an online community for like-minded people, the two answered, nearly in tandem, “We believe that you don’t have to agree to align.” 30MP, which is available on all major platforms, is on its third season and has amassed quite a following despite only launching mid-year.
This dynamic duo’s conversations are an engaging mix of educational and entertaining banter that makes their podcast an easy listen. Mariposa exudes a quiet confidence that balances out da i.ZZ’s raucous energy. In the following quote, Mariposa shares her surprise and excitement about the initial success of the show and how they plan to do even more in the coming year. She says, “We quickly expanded to multiple countries and want to continue that growth. We’re always pushing to engage more listeners, highlight more stories, and broaden the scope of accepted voices within our community.”
30MP is not your typical arts and culture podcast, as they routinely discuss the benefits and exploits of various topics that include polyamory financial investments, and entrepreneurial pursuits. The breadth of things covered on the show is its trademark as host, da i.ZZ explains. “Podcasting is typically about staying in one lane. We do not subscribe to that--especially in this day and age,” he begins, “If you talk about trees, that’s all you can do, but with 30MP you can talk about anything. Diversity is our niche.”
Their fresh take on podcasts seems to have struck a chord with audiences as their show routinely reaches thousands of unique listeners and has amassed an impressive array of sponsors to support it. While motivating, their early success has not eased their drive to accomplish even more in the future. The two are working to make 30MP a self-sustaining venture that encompasses merchandising, advertising, and live shows (once it’s safe to do so).
Follow 30MP on social media to get the latest on upcoming episodes, exciting interviews, and other developments. Don’t miss their next show featuring serial entrepreneur and PopShopolis owner Valaurie Lee dropping on in December on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
Instagram: @30minutepodcast | Facebook: @the30minutepodcast | Youtube: @30MinutePodcast
Self Care Meets Success
Eczema, alopecia, body acne and other common dermatological conditions plague 30 million people worldwide. While over the counter treatments work for some, many try (and retry) products before finding something that works; Carla Halls, the owner of The Cactus Beauty Bar, was one of them. After a lifetime of living with severe eczema and sensitive skin, Carla used a variety of products to cope. Her struggles to find a safe, natural and effective line of products to use inspired her to create her own. She said, “If I used the wrong product on my skin, I broke out, so I started experimenting with shea butter and eventually found a mix that worked for me.”
“Shea butter is a topical skin care product created from fat extracted from the nuts of the African shea tree. It is known for its moisturizing properties and soft texture.
”
Shea butter is notorious for its moisture sealing properties and is widely used in a variety of skin care products. The Cactus Beauty Bar difference lies in both the source and the system. TCBB products are created from materials exclusively sourced from Northern Africa. Faithfully using quality ingredients help ensure that clients get results. “One of my clients suffered from severe acne and scaling skin,” she began, “After using my shea butter regime, his symptoms subsided. I love seeing people’s conditions and confidence improve after using my products.”
One of TCBB’s newest products, the Cactus Serum started as a solution Carla created to manage oily skin of her own. As she began to share it with others, she discovered its ability to address other issues for clients. “One of my favorite things about the serum is that it does different things for different people. While it helps control shine for me, it brings out the natural glow for others,” she says.
The success that has fueled TCBB has not come without struggle. One of Carla’s biggest challenges has been managing inventory and demand. Like many small business owners Carla is self-funded, so when it’s time to purchase raw materials, packaging, or anything else for TCBB, she has to get creative to make it work. Doing so is made easier with support from her network, she has received donations from family and friends who believe in TCBB. Recently, the community of those financially supporting TCBB expanded to include IFundWomen, a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs.
“I feel so blessed to have this grant. It will help grow TCBB even more and help me prepare to transition into entrepreneurship full time.”
To learn more about Carla and TCBB, come to Popshopolis on November 21st. She will host a popup beauty bar from 1-9p.
Shea Butter Business
How the owner of Cactus Beauty Bar Built her Business
Since 2013, Carla Hall, the CEO and Founder of Cactus Beauty Bar has sold moisture enriching skincare products to family and friends. The now bustling business began as a hobby while Carla and her family were living abroad in The Middle East. “I started in my friends’ kitchen. I whipped shea butter for myself to cope with the intense heat, and the effect it had on my skin,” Carla began, “After a while, my friends tried the product and requested some for themselves, and before I knew it, I was making it all the time.”
“My most popular products were consistently sold out and that’s what let me know that it was time to take this to the next level…and so I did.”
In 2019 she transformed her passion into a full-fledged business. “It got to the point that I couldn’t keep up with demand,” she began, “My most popular products were consistently sold out and that’s what let me know that it was time to take this to the next level…and so I did.” In November of that year, Carla and her team invested in packaging, advertising and building inventory to scale operations for the growing business.
By the time 2020 arrived, Carla was preparing for her very first popup shop to introduce Cactus Beauty Bar to new audiences. Unfortunately, Carla’s first popup hit right around the same time as stay at home orders for Georgians, dampening turnout and her business’ momentum. Carla, however, was not deterred. She continued promoting her business and encouraging new customers to try her all natural line of skincare products. “Once of my greatest joys is watching people react to my product,” Carla says. “I love seeing their face light up when they smell the shea butter cream or post pictures that credit me for how good they look and feel. It’s amazing.” Since the pandemic began, Carla has held several popup shops around Atlanta—and discovered new customers and fans along the way. “I’m truly encouraged by how quickly things have come together within this last year and am determined to continue.”
Carla and the team at Cactus Beauty Bar will celebrate their one year anniversary with a popup beauty bar and self care expo at PopShopolis. Join them Saturday, November 21st between 1 and 9pm to enjoy the CBB experience for yourself. “Our full line of lotions, soaps, body butters and serums will be available for purchase during this event,” she begins, “We are so excited to showcase our products in College Park and to meet a whole network for potential clients.”
Click here to learn more about the Cactus Beauty Bar popup. You can also visit www.cactusbeautybar.com to purchase products anytime.
Pivoting in a Pandemic
Cheryl Merriweather remembers exactly where she was when the governor’s Stay at Home Order halted business activity across Georgia. “I was shocked but glad--I didn’t want to risk getting the virus or giving it to others,” she began, “but I immediately worried about how we [Unforgettables] would earn money in this environment.”
How Unforgettables stayed profitable despite COVID-19
Cheryl Merriweather remembers exactly where she was when the governor’s Stay at Home Order halted business activity across Georgia. “I was shocked but glad--I didn’t want to risk getting the virus or giving it to others,” she began, “but I immediately worried about how we [Unforgettables] would earn money in this environment.”
As days became weeks and weeks became months, Cheryl watched as her bustling business began to slow down in April. “I never expected [the pandemic] to last as long as it has. So much time went by between large orders that we really struggled financially,” Cheryl says. Like many small business owners, Cheryl held on to hope that things would improve, but knew that closing could be inevitable if things didn’t improve.
“I never expected [the pandemic] to last as long as it has. So much time went by between large orders that we really struggled financially”
Rather than giving up, Cheryl persisted and eventually discovered entirely new ways to delight customers despite the pandemic. She created new products that allowed her to safely transfer her tasty treats from her kitchen in Atlanta to loyal customers across the country. The first new offering she introduced was a sample cake box that highlighted her top selling cakes flavors.
After promoting this offering online, Cheryl saw an immediate response from loyal customers and new clients alike--both of which ordered immediately driving a relative surge in sales. “We were supported and found that people still wanted to celebrate things but were doing so on a smaller scale,” Cheryl began, “These new products offered a delicious, cost-effective way to do so for many families.
Next, Cheryl took the concept of offering smaller, less expensive products and made them even more tempting by introducing cake jars--a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy one of Cheryl’s decadent desserts. At only $10 a jar, Cheryl’s delicious cake jars allow customers to try one of four flavors on the fly. Jars are available to order on demand and will be featured at Cheryl’s PopUp Cakery in November.
Don’t Miss Cheryl’s Cookie Decorating Demo on Saturday, November 7th. She’ll show you how to decorate gorgeous treats yourself and offer a few she’s created for you to try. Space is limited, register now to reserve your spot.
Cheryl and her team meeting via Zoom to keep Unforgettables going and growing
As the pandemic rages on, Cheryl is determined to move her business forward and find more ways to meet customers where they are. She says, “Now the big thing is virtual parties. Me and the team are constantly meeting trying to figure out how to create packages that are suitable for smaller, homebound celebrations.”
Cheryl’s assistant smiles confidently from home, where she’s worked virtually throughout the pandemic.
Don’t miss Cheryl at PopShopolis in November. She’ll offer cake slices, cake pops, cake jars, cookies onsite as well as a limited supply of a surprise Fall Favorite for purchase. Visit our event page to learn more.
From Passion to Profession
The kitchen has always been home for Cheryl Merriweather, owner and operator of Unforgettables Sweets. “When I was just a little girl I used to lick pound cake batter off the mixers after my grandmother made cakes for the holidays,” Cheryl says, “Making sweet, delicious treats is just part of who I am.” Over 6 years, Cheryl transformed her passion for baking and turned it into a full blown business.
Unforgettables’ Founder, Cheryl Merriweather Shares Her Sweet Story of Success
The kitchen has always been home for Cheryl Merriweather, owner and operator of Unforgettables Sweets. “When I was just a little girl I used to lick the cake batter off the mixers after my mother made cakes for the holidays,” Cheryl says, “Making sweet, delicious treats is just part of who I am.” Over 6 years, Cheryl transformed her passion for baking and turned it into a full blown business.
“Making sweet, delicious treats is just part of who I am”
Cheryl began her journey by baking just for fun. She enjoyed being the go-to baker for family, friends and coworkers, but never envisioned turning her hobby into her business. She says, “I never wanted to turn my love for baking into a job,” she began, “Jobs are boring and work is...well, work. I loved baking, I never wanted it to be something I grew to hate.” After a few years of baking for fun, Cheryl realized that baking could never feel like work because it was her passion. In Spring 2014, Cheryl launched the business that became Unforgettables.
Want to indulge your inner cake artists?
Join us for a demo class to learn how! We’re hosting two popup events that will get those creative juices flowing.
After two years of success, Cheryl expanded her business to include customized cakes and dessert creations. “[Cake decorating] took me back to when I was a kid and drew pictures to see if I could duplicate what I saw,” Cheryl said. She continued, “I didn’t realize that I still had it until I started getting orders that challenged my creativity.”
Despite consistent orders and a loyal following, Cheryl continued to balance her bustling cake business with full time work. She remembers wanting to transition to full time entrepreneurship but was deathly afraid of the prospect. In 2019, all that changed and Cheryl finally ditched her day job to focus on Unforgettables. “I've never been more proud of myself than when I chose to live my dream everyday. I have no regrets.”
Meet Cheryl and try her tasty treats at PopShopolis! She and her team will host a popup cakery in November from the 5th through the 7th.