Meet Season Davis | Mom, Entrepreneur, Inventor, lover of all things business and people!

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

Hi Season, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As a Serial Entrepreneur, business has always been something that excites me. When I was young, I couldn’t get a dog, so I started a dog walking business in my neighborhood. I created fliers and went door to door, sharing my business, so I could share their dog. Over 20 years later, 1 sold business/project, 1 failed business/project and currently working on at least 4 other projects with a goal to start a non-profit by the end of the year, while working full-time and homeschooling my son.

The Cheese and Chocolate Queen Shop in Old Town Spring, is a project I put together, so a friend of mine who lost her eye could have a job. I love putting people to work and this seemed perfect. Then she underwent radiation treatment not related to the eye and helps as she can, but doesn’t want to be public view. Essentially, I created my own extra full-time job currently, but I am loving every minute of it.

I hope to develop this business into franchise opportunities by offering others interested in starting their own Cheese and Chocolate business an affordable game plan to do so. By selling franchises of this business, I hope to fuel future goals, such as Season’s Eden and the Apple Inn.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I feel what sets me apart from others is my determination and vision. I am not afraid of roadblocks. I do not believe in “NO”. I think this may come from the endless cold calls I had to do starting my career in Recruiting. Make 100+ calls a day with however many contacts, securing job leads for placement. I hated cold calling.

I once heard a speaker when I was younger talk about having at least five ways to make money. This way if one fell through, you would still have some ability for income. Growing up with little money, this was very attractive speech for me. At that time I could hardly identify what I wanted to do for a living, so it seemed much harder to determine even one stream of income.

Throughout the years, I would begin to identify opportunities and meet people who would help me identify things within myself that I was unaware of. It was not always easy and lots of tears were shed and still are from time to time. I read a book that a friend gave to me, The Invitation, by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.

Over the years I have shared it with the teams I support and friends, I have revisited it to remind myself of who I am and what I want to do in my time here. I want to be alive!! I want to live each day.

Over the last 15 years I have made it a personal goal to help and mentor others.

I’m driven to serve and give back. I’ve made it a point to be a life long learner and read as much as I can about the things that interest me. Business interests me. People interest me. Building companies through people interests me. I want to be a resource to others who can’t afford a resource, hence the non-profit. I have had to go without and make business decisions where I wish I had more guidance, but the cost of the guidance is often not in reach to the start-up, mom and pop shop. I want to bridge this gap and help others reach their greatest potential and their goals. Often I was my biggest hurdle. I had to get over myself to move forward.

I have to be apart of something larger than myself to move forward. I have to help others. The Cheese and Chocolate Queen shop will allow students learning opportunities by offering internships or work/study programs for high school seniors. We will work to offer safe, fun space within the community where anyone is welcome to enjoy Cheese and Chocolate and comradery with others. For a monthly fee, we offer shelf space, wall space and ghost kitchen opportunities to other entrepreneurs to build their brands. The shop specifically seeks out small batch artisans, cheesemakers, bakers and chocolatiers to further their amazing products.

When we begin to sell franchise’s this will be the same for all our shops throughout the United States, it is what we are built on. Pride to help others, there is always enough to go around!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being from Illinois, friends do come for a visit. I have found the most amazing places. I found Old Town Spring because I was looking for something to do with my mom. Then whenever anyone would visit, I would take them there. So much to check out and close to my home. We would probably eat at Lynn’s if it was a lunch visit or Plane & Level for an evening bite.

I also take folks to Bluewater Seafood as I learned about eating crawfish when I moved to Texas and most of my friends back home always want seafood when they visit.

I enjoy taking friends to Galveston or Surfside for beach time when they come.

Often enjoying dinner at the Fisherman’s Warf outside on the deck. Then checking out The Strand for some La Kings, confections.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many great mentors and supporters. My number one is my mom. She has shown me hard work, given me a hard time, and moves me to want to do great things. My mom worked so hard to get where she is. I would listen to her talk about regretting things. I did not want to regret the things I did. As a young person I have had intent with many things but then great people would come into my life and offer other ideas and avenues to my career.

Donna Steffy a trainer and speaker, shared her world with me at about 24 and I started working on a training and development/public speaking path. Then my friends mom, Pam Crenshaw called one day and offered me to apply for a Human Resources Director position and due to my prior recruiting experience was hired.

I was awarded the experience in Healthcare, meeting some really great residents at the nursing home. This opportunity showed me the end stages of life.

Watching the sweet friends I made there pass on, woke me up. Woke me to the fact that I am going to do all I can to enjoy, learn and help in this one and only life I get. Harley King an amazing presenter, speaker and trainer helped me open my eyes. Juanita Macklin an entrepreneur who built a nursing school that did clinical rotations at our facility became an amazing mentor. 20 years later she offered me the opportunity to sit on The J’Renee Foundations Board of Directors, we are looking for ways to help at risk youth develop and grow.

The Cheese and Chocolate Queen Shop has brought amazing supporters my way. One of my customers helped fix my sign for free because they wanted to help me. He also hung some shelves in my shop. The amazing people I have met since opening this shop is so awesome.

Lastly my dad. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to do all the things I do. He helps me with my son, our three dogs and is always there when I need a hug or shoulder to cry on when things get tough.

Website: www.cheeseandschocolatequeens.com

Instagram: cheeseandchocolatequeen

Linkedin: Season Davis

Facebook: cheeseandchocolatequeen