Meet Shaneva Atilee | Small Business Owner

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

Hi Shaneva, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?

The most meaningful thing I’ve done for my kids is to show them to never give up even when the stakes are against them.  Persistence and keeping the faith is the key to success.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The name of our business is SDC Empire. The first 3 letters represent our names… Shaneva-Destine-Chanyce. Established in 2017 and sat on it for 3 years.   Mid 2020 I consulted with my children and asked what item(s) could we sell to generate extra income for our business.  We all agreed on eyelashes.  This was our first and only product. With the success of eyelashes we began implementing other small items. What we’ve noticed is you must study your clientele and also what is popular in the market. There are several people with the same type of business as ours but what sets us apart is great customer services and fast shipping. In December 2020 we joined forces with my brother, owner of DJWaynehead Entertainment, and hosted our first pop up shop which was a total success! We had another successful event 1/2021 and will continue the tradition. It is beautiful to have other black owned small businesses to come together and share our stories and different businesses. A valuable lesson I have learned along the way is don’t invest on impulse and ask the opinion of my business partners—my children! Just because something looks good and may work for others may not be a perfect fit for SDC Empire. I conduct monthly business meetings to speak on what products have been successful, what products to remove and most importantly new products to add. Our brand is original and we stand behind every item. Our mission is to offer a variety of products/services to our clients. This year we are catering not only to women but men as well. Most importantly our growth serum and beard oils (in trial stages) are made by us with all natural products.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Considering I am a homebody the list would be limited!  My definite tour guide would be my brother DJWaynehead. He can make sure my friend and I have a wonderful time. We would pass through the City Hall area, enjoy Midtown at night as well as visit several malls and outlet locations. Below is a list of spots that are a much try for us as well! The Breakfast Klub, Taste Bar & Kitchen, The Toasted Yolk, Lost & Found, The Greasy Spoon Soul Food, We Got Wings & More and Happy Daiquiri.  For some night time entertainment we would visit Amahle Bar & Lounge, Belvedere, Spire NightClub and Cle’.

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?
My children are my life and my biggest motivators. Without their hard work, constant encouragement, creativity, and never giving up on our dreams, SDC Empire wouldn’t be in existence today.

Website: Https://sdcempire.myshopify.com/

Instagram: SDC.empire

Facebook: SDCEmpire