INSPIREMS

Jill Hiers with Custom Travel Professionals {Insider Inspiration}

8/19/2018

Hey y’all!
We hope y’all had a lovely, restful weekend! Today we’re continuing our series on inspirational female business owners in Mississippi. Jill Hiers is the owner of Custom Travel Professionals, a wonderful travel agency that specializes in international vacations. Jill is fantastic at what she does and has helped so many people go on the vacations of their dreams. Keep reading to hear from Jill about her experience living and working in Clinton, Mississippi!

{Tell us a little bit about yourself!}
I am from South Carolina. I grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, which is a beautiful town nestled between lakes and the Blue Ridge Mountains. I moved to Charleston to attend the College of Charleston, where I pledged Phi Mu. After college, I met my husband, Chuck, and we made our lives in Charleston. We have two children, Caroline and Garrett, who currently attend Jackson Prep. In 2013, my husband bought a business in Clinton, Mississippi. This was the first time we had ever lived outside of South Carolina, but we have embraced Mississippi and enjoy all that it has to offer.

{Tell us about Custom Travel Professionals!}
I own Custom Travel Professionals, LLC. It is a travel agency with a small local staff at our office location in Clinton, but with home-based agents all over the US, we have a national reach. We offer our clients a personalized travel experience. When we meet with our clients, we get a feel for the vacation they are trying to achieve and match them with the resorts and locations to meet and exceed those expectations.

{What kind of inspirational women do you work with on a daily basis?}
I gather my inspiration from a wide variety of women including my coworkers, clients, and colleagues, however, the most inspirational is my Tribe. I have a specific group of other female travel agency owners that we call our Tribe. We inspire one another with new ideas and out of the box thinking without the feeling as though we are in competition. We want each other to succeed, and it is evident in the support we give one another not only in business, but personally as well. The biggest piece of advice I would give to other aspiring business owners it to find their own Tribe. Your Tribe will be your biggest cheerleaders and the best support.

{What was your inspiration for starting your business?}
I began to notice that all of my friends were asking me to help plan their family vacations. I took it as a sign and realized that my true calling was to be a travel professional. I love that I have the chance to create customized travel itineraries for my clients, focusing on the details that make every trip nothing short of amazing. I believe that travel is more than just reaching a new destination; it's about immersing yourself in the experience.

{What’s it like being a female business owner in Mississippi?}
I am very fortunate to be in an industry that is predominately women, so being a woman is almost expected. I am thankful that my success has been completely up to me regardless of my gender.

{Are there any resources you used to open your business that you would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?}
I called on my fellow female business owners for advice when I opened my business. I felt supported and confident from the beginning.

{What’s your favorite part about living and working in Mississippi?}
Mississippi is so rich in culture and diversity. It gives a business owner the opportunity to incorporate that culture and diversity into our day to day operations.

Jill also adds- Our office specializes in honeymoons, destination weddings, and Caribbean travel. There is not a charge for our service, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by calling us at 888-220-0915! You can visit us in person by appointment at our Clinton or Oxford locations, or visit us online at www.customtravelprofessionals.com. We look forward to working with you.

JoAnna & Jack {Wedding}

8/14/2018

Happy Hump Day ladies and gentlemen!
We wanted to share a super sweet southern wedding with y’all today. This August celebration in North Mississippi has all the things we love about a Mississippi wedding: charming details, unique florals, and of course a precious couple! Keep reading for more.

{Tell me a little bit about y’all!}
My husband Jack is from West Point, Mississippi and I grew up right down the road in Columbus! Our parents were friends and our dads were both farmers so we always knew OF each other. However, we were never close because we went to rival high schools and then he went to MSU and I attended Ole Miss so we never got to know each other growing up. A few years after we graduated, Jack moved back to West Point to become the service manager of his family business, Adventure ATV, and to help on the family farm. Shortly after, I moved home and got a job as a speech therapist in the West Point Consolidated School district. One evening I went to the opening of the Guest Room in Starkville with friends and Jack and I saw each other again after several years and it was HISTORY! We basically love anything that we can do together like traveling, spending time outside and exploring, boating, fishing, going to concerts, and entertaining just to name a few
Jack’s proposal was so sweet! He took me to his grandfather’s lake where we spent the day picnicking and canoeing. At the end of the day, we went on a walk and when we were on the levee, he told me to look down and he had planted snapdragons to spell “Marry Me?” on the field below. He also proposed to me with a wedding ring given to him by his sweet grandmother so that was extremely special!

{ What did you use as your main inspiration for planning your wedding?}
I wanted the theme of our wedding to fit both of our personalities and define places in our small towns that were sentimental to us. Jack’s family farm (where we spent many a day exploring) has a windmill that is a beautiful focal point so I incorporated that in our save the date and much of the art used in our wedding. Mallory Hopkins (mhpknsbyhand) painted these and also painted the watercolor map that we gave out to our attendants with venue locations. Columbus is known for it’s beautiful Antebellum homes and Pilgrimage tours. The bridal tea was held the morning of the wedding at the Antebellum home, Shadowlawn (I served in Pilgrimage at this house when growing up). The groomsmen participated a clay pigeon shoot at Prairie Wildlife in West Point which is beautiful venue that is near and dear to West Pointians. We also were able to incorporate Visit Columbus’ double decker bus to drive the wedding party downtown between ceremony and reception venues.

{ What was your favorite moment from your wedding day?}
There were so many amazing moments but one of them was when we were walking back up the aisle to exit the church. I could really see all of my friends, family, and loved ones from all of the walks of my life sitting in the same room for the first time and it made my heart truly overflow!!

{ What were some of your favorite details at your celebration, what made them so special?}
We tried to include as many special details as we could on our special day! One of my favorites was the cigar bar that we had outside stocked with my father in law’s favorite type of cigar. Another detail we used was Jack’s grandmother’s wedding topper and table cloth where we had the guest book. Every girl in his family has used it on their cake or incorporated it in their wedding somehow. Another sweet detail was that we used my great grandmother’s 1955 Chevrolet Bel Aire as our getaway car!

{Why did you choose your wedding ceremony location and reception venue?}
My wedding ceremony was held in the old First Baptist Church in Columbus. I grew up attending church here and I have always loved this building for its charm and history. It served as a hospital in the civil war! I chose my venue because it is located in the historic downtown (a block from our church) and offers indoor and outdoor spaces for events. It also was the largest space available that offered much needed air conditioning on a late August evening in Mississippi!

{ Why did you decide on the specific flowers and bouquet styles?}
I loved the look of Eucalyptus with pops of cabbage roses for our summery Southern wedding. I wanted the style to be romantic and soft. My bouquet had rosemary from my mother’s garden and lace from my grandmother and mother’s wedding dresses.

{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?}
My favorite part of wedding planning was getting to spend so much quality time with my mom! We are both foodies so we really enjoyed picking out the reception menu!

Chaos to Clean by Cassidy {Life}

8/14/2018

Happy Friday y’all!
We hope this past week proved to be a seamless transition back into routine for you and your family. With the new school year beginning and summer time fading quickly, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by the chaos of day to day life. That’s where our friend Cassidy Turnage with Chaos to Clean by Cassidy comes in. She’s a master organizer and would love to help you reduce the stress in your life by bringing her skills to your home! Keep reading to hear more on Cassidy’s experience as a small business owner and let yourself be inspired by the incredible before and after pictures!

{Tell us a bit about yourself!}
My name name is Cassidy Turnage. I'm from Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Jackson Prep in 2013. After high school, I continued my education at Ole Miss, where I obtained a bachelor's degree in Business with a minor in Entrepreneurial Leadership. I'm really lucky because I was a sophomore (I think) when Ole Miss started the Entrepreneurial Leadership minor program. The program allowed me to learn some basic principles about owning and running a business. I've officially been in business a year now and OMG!-the things you can learn in a year! My parents have taught me so much and helped me figure out how to handle certain situations as they arise in business. The experience you get from working is like nothing you could ever learn in school. I'm really thankful for everything this year that's allowed me to learn and grow in order to be a better businesswoman.

{Tell us more about Chaos to Clean!}
My business is called Chaos to Clean by Cassidy. When I was a sophomore in college, I wanted something to do during my 6 week long Christmas break. I've always been super neat so I began cleaning out closets for my mom and her friends. Upon graduating from Ole Miss, I really had no plan and wasn't sure what career path I wanted to pursue. My dad encouraged me to pursue my organizing business, so I did. I have been busy ever since! I started working full time in August of 2017. We organize everything from closets, linen closets, pantries, laundry rooms, garages, the list goes on and on! This business wouldn't be possible without the amazing people who help me! I'm so fortunate to be so busy that it puts me in the position of needing help. Having great people work with you is a MAJOR factor in business success. I don't know everything about the business world YET, but that is one thing I know for sure.

{What kind of inspirational women do you work with on a daily basis?}
WOW! This is a great question. I work with amazing women and have learned so much from them. The women I work for are mothers, doctors, dentists, CPA's, financial advisors, homemakers, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, managers, nurses, coaches, teachers, boutique owners, church leaders, event planners, attorneys, etc. No matter what their profession may be, I'm inspired by them daily. I love my job because going in people's homes everyday, getting to know them, and helping them get organized is really special to me. It's a very unique thing and not something most people have the opportunity to experience. The ladies who help me are mothers themselves who inspire me from the stories they share with me, to helping me with ideas for Chaos to Clean and everything in between. In this business, I'm surrounded by so many wonderful women and each one of them have taught me something and inspired me beyond words.

{What was your inspiration for starting your business?}
My inspiration to start Chaos to Clean by Cassidy was my dad. He's the person who encouraged me to continue on with Chaos to Clean after college. I've always been super independent and the thought of working for myself was something I was interested in.

{What’s it like being a female business owner in Mississippi?}
It's been really great! I've been so fortunate to meet so many people (men and women) who want to support my business. Once I began working in
people's homes, word of mouth was the best thing for my business; clients would tell their friends and family about me! I'm so thankful for everyone who has given me the chance to help them and for believing in me. For the most part, my experiences as a female business owner have been great. I'm very pleased with the progress our state has made in that regard.

{Are there any resources you used to open your business that you would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?}
In my experience, the best resources available are people. I'm so blessed to know amazing, hardworking people who have given me words of wisdom from the beginning. Two fabulous Mississippi businesswomen, Cathy Joyner Roberts and Holly Lange, are super inspirational to me. When I decided to go out on my own after college, they guided me with some key information on how to be a woman in business. If you're reading this and aspire to be an entrepreneur, talk to anyone you know. Heck, go talk to people you don't know! I've found that most people want to help you. Even if they really can't help you, they will guide you to and connect you with the people who can. Mississippi may be last in a lot of things but helping others is one thing we place first in. If you want to be your own boss, you cannot be afraid. Go talk to people and 9 times out of 10, they will be willing to help you!

{What words of advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs?}
Go for it! If you're passionate about something, do it. There's no better time than now. Seriously!

{What’s your favorite part about living and working in Mississippi?}
I've always loved Mississippi. I love the people, the food, the heat, the slow'er' sense of life, everything. I couldn't pick just one favorite part about living here. I love that my family and friends are here and being close to home. Working here is great. It's a city but you get the small town feel when you go into homes and make connections with people. I enjoy that so much!

To get in touch with Cassidy, please check out the Chaos to Clean by Cass Facebook page.

Au Courant Floral {Insider Inspiration}

8/13/2018

Happy Monday y'all!
Here’s to getting back in the swing of things! We hope everyone had a restful, wonderful weekend. We were lucky enough to chat with Meredith Mitcham Young, the owner of Au Courant floral. Meredith’s talent never fails to leave us speechless and she brings such a creative approach to event floral design. Keep reading for more on her experience as a female business owner right here in Mississippi!

{Tell us about Au Courant!}
I am the sole owner of the business but I did start it with my great friend Matt Nicholas of M. Nicholas Designs. He helped me get it started and decided to focus solely on his interior business. Au Courant offers our clients floral design for corporate events, parties and weddings and we also offer holiday design services. Since we do not have a full time staff, we do not take daily deliveries.

{Tell us a little bit about yourself!}
I am from Madison, MS and graduated from Jackson Academy. I attended Mississippi State University where I took a class in Floral Design and instantly liked it but I pursued a degree in marketing and went to graduate school to get my MBA. After graduating with my MBA, I took a job at a large law firm in Jackson, MS as their Marketing Director. I loved my job but after planning my wedding and planning parties, I fell in love with flowers.

I must also include the fact that my wedding flowers were a disaster! The florist included artificial doves in some garland and the ceremony flowers were falling down! While the planning was fun, the execution was lacking. I feel like that experience helps me to provide the best service I can to my clients by talking about expectations and paying attention to details. After I had been married for a few years, I decided to go back to MSU for a week long intensive course in floral design and thereafter, I attended conferences and workshops in New York and New Orleans.

{What kind of inspirational women do you work with on a daily basis?}
I don't necessarily work with people on a daily basis but I have a lot of friends that I seek advice from when I need a little help. Being an owner of a business can be stressful but I look to my friends who are also working moms and we talk about the struggles we face in business and in life in general. Should I spend more time cultivating my business, Should I spend more time with kids and husband? These are some of the questions I think we always ask ourselves and sometimes the balance between working and being a mom is hard.

{What’s it like being a female business owner in Mississippi? }
I think my industry is probably dominated by females on the whole so I don't think there are really in disadvantages to being a woman in floral design. I'm a member of a few floral groups and I've met most of the members at conferences. Most of the members are female and we are all very supportive of each other and we bounce ideas off one another. If I have a question about mechanics, this group is my go to. They have done all kinds of large scale floral design pieces and they have a wealth of knowledge, not only about design, but how to help you run your business.

{What words of advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs?}
Owning your own business can be very challenging. I think it's always wise to surround yourself with people in your same industry because many of them may have experience and advice you will need one day.

{What’s your favorite part about living and working in Mississippi?}
I love working in Mississippi because there are alway people willing to help you. I've been blessed to have formed relationships with other floral designers in Mississippi and even though we are competitors, we really try to assist each other if we need it. We give each other business and if we have a really large event, we ask each other for design help.

For more information on Au Courant, please visit their website.

Mississippi Book Festival 2018

8/10/2018

Happy Friday Y’all!
We hope that everyone had a fantastic week and the best first days of school ever! We wanted to share with y'all a family friendly event that’s coming up next Saturday, August 18th. The Mississippi Book Festival is a great way to get your family excited about reading! We love that this event is helping to continue Mississippi's amazing literary legacy. Keep reading for more information and mark your calendars!

The Mississippi Book Festival hosts its fourth annual “literary lawn party” on the grounds of the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson August 18, welcoming a roster of more than 150 authors featuring Salman Rushdie, Jesmyn Ward, Jon Meacham, Rick Bragg, Julia Reed, Angie Thomas, and many more.

Holly Lange, the festival’s executive director since its beginning in 2015, said the event has gained a national reputation among authors and readers, whose attendance topped 6,400 last year and continues to grow. “The festival has become a regular event on the schedules of thousands of book lovers throughout Mississippi and beyond, as we’ve drawn the best and brightest authors and thought-provoking panels to help us celebrate the love of books,” Lange said. “The entire day is filled with activities, entertainment, food, and, of course – books – for every age and for every interest you can imagine!”

This year’s 40-plus panel discussions, comprised of invited guest authors and moderators, will take on topics that range from art to civil rights to music, politics, cooking, photography, Southern history, poetry, mystery, and much more – and Lange said that doesn’t even include the offerings for children, as well as middle school and young adult readers. “Our lineup for young readers is particularly outstanding and reflects the hottest topics by a select group of some of the most popular writers in the country today,” she said.

The event will kick off at 9 a.m. with an unveiling of the first markers of the new Mississippi Writers Trail honoring many of the state’s distinguished authors, including William Faulkner, Margaret Walker Alexander, Richard Ford, Jesmyn Ward, Eudora Welty and others.

The daylong festival includes live music and food trucks, children’s and teens’ activities, and an Authors Alley area to meet, greet and shop with 60-plus self-published authors. There are also opportunities to connect with nonprofit and charitable organizations, as well as to shop at the largest “outdoor book mall” in the state, as booksellers’ white tents stretch across Mississippi Street, just steps away from all-day book signings on the south lawn of the Capitol.

For information visit www.msbookfestival.com.

To check out the ways you can help and volunteer visit: http://msbookfestival.com/participate#become-a-volunteer.

All photos and text sourced from Mississippi Book Festival

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Jill Hiers with Custom Travel Professionals {Insider Inspiration}

JoAnna & Jack {Wedding}

Chaos to Clean by Cassidy {Life}

Au Courant Floral {Insider Inspiration}

Mississippi Book Festival 2018

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