Meet Reiko Foster | Lifestyle Content Creator, Veteran Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Reiko Foster and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Reiko, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for Cards Called Quest based on my own family. I noticed that with my now 11 year old and 8 year old, life got busy and we weren’t really engaging with other much when we were home. Especially during the school year, everything was a routine and we weren’t chatting as much during dinner or breakfast. Add to the fact that I felt like there was so much they didn’t know about my husband or me, outside of just being their parents. I felt that we needed to be able to ask each other questions.

I also wanted to get to know them but I wanted it to be fun. That led me to believe that other families likely go through this phase as well, so I decided to do something about it in my own way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an educator by trade I’ve worked in education for over 25 years but I’ve always been a creative. Over the years, I’ve tried to balance both but excited to really focus on my gifts, interests and skills over learned over the years. I’ve also authored two e-books largely due to the engagement of my online community over the years. I’ve become a person you can trust to show you how I navigate life whether it’s the struggles experienced parenting my own kids or how I have created a home that I love and that others enjoy.

Creating “Cards Called Quest” was a direct act of creating something I was missing in the market. I wanted the engagement cards to be the catalyst for asking questions but also de-mystifying the very people you come in contact with everyday.

Most of the projects or creative offerings are based on what I am experiencing in my real life whether as an educator, a black creative or content creator. It all stems from deeply genuine moments I’ve experienced that seem to resonate with my audience of black women, educators and lifestyle enthusiasts.

I’m going to be honest, building a business is not easy nor is it always rewarding. I think that’s what so many of these online gurus forget to share. It hurts when you have created something and it doesn’t get the response you hoped for. Especially if you are creating something from scratch. There’s no real blueprint even though so many lie and convince you otherwise.
If you struggle with marketing or putting your business out there, imagine having to rely on that to keep going. I understand why so many great businesses fold so early. Especially in this, “eat with your eyes first’ mindset so many of us have.

I’m learning everyday to just keep moving. Do so something everyday.

I want people to know hat when I create something for me, I have them in mind. I have their families in mind. I have their friends in mind.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
OMG! That friend would be so mad at me because the way mom life got me in the house! I find that most visitors end up showing me places to go in my own city!

Let’s see if I can try.

Places to eat:
Bosscat Kitchen and Libations
Karbach Brewery
POST Market (Food Hall)
Frenchy’s Chicken

Places to Visit:
PopStroke
Houston Museum of Fine Arts
CityCentre

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband deserves a lot of credit for the development and creation of Cards Called Quest. I identify as a creative and we are notorious for getting in our own heads and often in our own way. Every time I would push the idea to the back burner, he would ask me if. was done or what I was doing to move forwards. Life gets busy. Life gets hard and often as adults, we focus on the things on we have to do instead of the things we want to do. It’s great to have someone to remind you that both are important.

Website: http://reikofoster.com/product/cards-called-quest-family-conversation-cards/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reikofoster/

Image Credits
All photos are my own