Today we’d like to introduce you to Calvenia Goff and Jamie Kendrick-Porter.
Hi Calvenia and Jamie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Calvenia: I started Perfect Piece Creations in 2016 as a coping mechanism for postpartum depression, after having my son in the late part of 2015. Since then I’ve used my chocolate-covered treats to comfort my clients in whatever need or moment they may be experiencing. My goal as a treat maker is to not only provide for my family but to allow my business to bless others.
In 2018 I officially became a legal business by obtaining my LLC. Since then I have done radio interviews, news interviews, and a ton of pop-up events. I’ve even won some awards and competitions. I enjoy getting out into the community and sharing what helped me during a dark time. In the year 2023, it will officially be five years that I have been in the legal business and I will say that this Journey has had its ups and downs.
One of my highlights was when I won best treat maker and I got to interview Johnson’s ice cream for channel 4 news, here in Columbus, Ohio. At that moment I knew I had found my calling. The treats were where I needed to be! In addition to the highlights of this journey, I’ve also had some parts that I would consider a struggle. As a small business, it could be hard to afford the materials and supplies that you need especially when business isn’t consistent.
I’ve had months where I knew what my passion was but I didn’t have an ounce of energy to get up and do it not only because business wasn’t consistent but outside of business you have real-life things that are going on whether it’s personal or work-related because a lot of us still have full-time jobs it can get really hard. Regardless of what those issues may be, sometimes they could push your passion, your dreams or even your purpose to the end of your to-do list and that can be discouraging.
All in all, despite the ups in downs, I appreciate my journey and I am patient wherever God wants to take my business. I’ve learned to not rush things, if I look back over my journey there would’ve been so many things that I missed if I had rushed and gotten to where I wanted to be at a fast pace.
Jamie: Moved to Columbus from Dayton, OH 5-6 years ago with nothing. No business idea, no place, a broken down car, and barely any money, just a bag of clothes and determination to never go back home. My credit report was damaged, so it was hard getting a decent place, and the job I was depending on rescinded their offer due to my credit report. After weeks of trying, I finally got a place and car, but they came with needing more money, so I ended up working three jobs.
In the beginning, the road was a struggle. I didn’t have a plan, so I was all over the place, always tired due to working. Things began to get a little easier when I landed a job with a finance company and started learning about credit and loan products within the company then took a chance on myself and started fixing my credit. I know my biggest struggle was believing in myself, believing that I could be more.
So fast forward, for some time I had this idea, this feeling of wanting to help others specifically Black people understand credit. Ran across The U via social media when they first started their accelerator program online back in 2019 when COVID first hit. It was easier online because I was able to hide, lol. The program ended abruptly and I was like yea maybe I’m not supposed to start a business. But then I started helping people I knew fix their credit and it felt so good.
Another fast forward, The U brought their program back in person, I applied, got accepted, and dedicated my whole life to the program for 10 weeks. The people and my cohorts at The U were smooth and the process was as well. There were moments when I was pushed like I said I was used to hiding. So, my struggle moments were having to publicly speak, be vulnerable, transparent, and just believe that I deserved to be there. And the representation of the program made it so much more comfortable. Everything I’ve accomplished in my life I feel like I had to work extra harder than others.
So, The U was like my barrier, like “We got you.” I’m very competitive and I don’t hesitate to tell people that I won 1st place in their pitch competition. But adding on to that I finished the program with sisters, and brothers, a business model, community resources, knowledge to mentor others going through the program, and most of all confidence in my work and myself. So now I’m a Black business owner and 1st place pitch competition winner.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Both of their journeys started a while back and The Urban Business Development Center (The U) gave them the opportunity to cultivate their business and vision. The U is an entrepreneur support organization here in Columbus, Ohio. Jamie and Calvenia embarked on this journey by participating in the Urban Launch School Accelerator in 2022 to develop their business idea. It is a 12-week program that takes 10 minority entrepreneurs from the idea phase to the launch phase through workshops and training led by experts that go over the various components of launching a successful business. At the end of the program, the cohort members get the opportunity to pitch their businesses in a pitch competition. Jamie was the winner of the Spring Accelerator and Calvenia was the winner of the Fall Accelerator. Both of these ladies not only manifested winning, but they put the work in as well. They fully took in the experiences and the opportunities that were being presented to them. When Shelbie, the Program Director of The U, told Calvenia that she was fourth to pitch, she said, “Jamie went forth, and she won!” Both of these ladies are both a force to be reckoned with!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Perfect Piece Creations (Calvenia): Perfect piece creations is a black-owned business. It is owned by a mother who just wanted to reconnect with herself during the time I was experiencing postpartum depression. It is a business that is based on healing and providing opportunity. We are not your ordinary treat business, we will not only be known for our delicious and beautiful treats but we will be known for making people feel good!!!
Within our city, we are known for our freshly delicious chocolate-covered strawberries. The strawberries come in different flavors, colors, and toppings. As a brand, we strive for creativity in the form of comfort foods. We want our customers to not only be amazed by what they see but how they feel! We not only offer chocolate-covered treats but we will offer hands-on workshops that will be available virtually and on-site once our location opens.
During these workshops, customers will be able to create their chocolate-covered treats and at the same time hopefully, they will receive the same peace of mind that the brand was created to do. The ultimate goal for Perfect Piece is to have a location hopefully somewhere downtown that the entire city and visitors to the city can come experience.
The Alternative Bureau (Jamie): We help Black and Brown’s people get started with fixing their credit through one-on-one virtual sessions and then provide them with an alternative credit report within our bureau, outlining their steps for fixing their credit, and showing why they should be given a second chance at credit. We specialize in credit reports specifically revolving and collection accounts.
Our integrity sets us apart from others. Which is what we’re most proud of brand-wise. We don’t just teach disputes and get everything removed from a credit report. We teach the cycle of credit. Why accounts end up in collections, how to communicate with data furnishers, asking powerful questions, and fixing your credit. We encourage paying back what’s owed but strategically to credit repair. Like, be a man/woman of your word.
This concept gets you prepared to get home and keep it, leverage larger credit lines for yourself in the future, and have the knowledge of fixing your credit for yourself in the future should it get damaged again. What a lot of people don’t realize is it’s not the credit scores it’s the report that’s important.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Perfect Piece Creations (Calvenia): I’m not a person who believes in good luck or bad luck. I mainly believe in what’s meant to happen. But I would say there’ve been times when an order was due and any and everything that could go wrong went wrong lol. Rather it’s because I don’t have the supplies on hand or the chocolate burned, the design didn’t come out correct or I’m running late for a delivery. Some days as a treat maker you just have those days where the treats aren’t your friend.
As far as “good luck” I’ll say some of the best things that ever happened to me is networking. Networking has been the most helpful to the business. Sometimes you meet someone who can only give you one piece of the puzzle but that person can lead you to another person who can give you three pieces to the puzzle that you’re trying to put together and so forth. I’ve learned to appreciate everybody that I come in contact with that’s willing to provide you with any good information in the direction that you’re trying to go in.
The Alternative Bureau (Jamie): This is tricky. Because I’m so grateful for my life, my experiences, and my business opportunities so far. Evening the frustrating times. But I don’t know if I’d say it was by chance/luck I’ve worked hard for my opportunities but I’m Thankful that my outcomes lead me to where I am today. Well maybe I was lucky The U brought their accelerator program back, lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alternativebureau.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/perfectpiececreations?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk= https://instagram.com/thealternativebureau?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerfectPieceCreations/
