Meet Deola Gaiter of Girls Entrepreneur Expo and the Oh So Sweet Connection

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deola Gaiter.

Deola, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been an entrepreneur for seven years. Through that I serviced many girls throughout the Chicagoland area. In 2011 I started my first business, Pamper Your Princess. PYP provided parties and events to celebrate young ladies. That same year I founded Flowers in Bloom Project. This organization provided self-esteem workshops and offered classes to inspire girls in the Austin community. With the help of partnerships with local businesses in the city, we impacted over 100 girls in Chicago. Workshops and events included Self-esteem classes, etiquette, Bullying, Hygiene, and free hair styling services. With sponsorship and donations Flowers and Bloom kicked off the Undies for Girlies Project in 2014. This initiative has donated over 300 sets of brand new undergarments to girls in need. Many teen moms of Simpson Alternative School have benefited from this program.

In 2015, I stepped into the beauty product and retail industry with the launch of Skin So Sweet products. Skin So Sweet is a brand of natural body products designed for girls and young ladies of color. Most importantly, it’s designed to inspire them and motivate them to live an “OH SO SWEET” lifestyle which simply means using your gifts; do it with passion; and create a life you LOVE from it.

In 2016, I launched the very first Girls Entrepreneur Expo. This expo showcases Chicago’s most innovative entrepreneurial girls ages 7-17 years old. They have an opportunity to be vendors and present their products and services to the public. It’s an annual event where over 500 guests register and attend. This year the Girls Entrepreneur Expo had an opportunity to represent girlpreneurs in Detroit Michigan and soon will be a nationally known event.

Since the birth of the Girls Entrepreneur Expo I’ve created the Oh So Sweet Connection. It is an exclusive network for young ladies to promote and market their products and services and also provide resources for them to excel in their business.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all. There were many days when I wanted to quit and give up. Until this day I still experience many challenges that cause me to question if I should continue to move forward. Financial issues got real and I would have to decide if I should invest funds into my business or pay a bill. It’s been quite rough.

Not only in finances but I’ve struggled emotionally…wondering if I’m good enough to operate a business. I was never raised to believe that I can do it successfully. My mom and family are hard workers but I wasn’t introduced to entrepreneurship until I was an adult so I was unsure of myself many days. I suffered from lack of confidence which has made my experience more challenging.

Although it has been a long road, I’m still learning. I wake up every day and choose to live as if it’s my last. Tomorrow isn’t promised to me so I have to give it all I got and not worry about the inconveniences of it. Even with the ups and downs, the life I’ve created for myself has given me pure joy and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I get to use my God given gifts and be creative while doing so. It’s the “Oh So Sweet Life” I often talk about.

You must create a life that you’re completely in love with. When you do that, you’re okay with making the sacrifices.

Besides, Oprah said it best, “Greatness takes time”.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Girls Entrepreneur Expo and the Oh So Sweet Connection – what should we know?
The Girls Entrepreneur Expo is a one day (4 hour) annual event designed to celebrate Chicago’s entrepreneurial girls and young ladies ages 7-17 years old. The Girls Entrepreneur Expo is created specifically for the Girl Bosses and to provide more exposure to their businesses. They’re vending their own products and services where hundreds come out to support.

The Oh So Sweet Connection is an exclusive network that promotes and supports the brands of Girlpreneurs under 17 years old. The network allows them the opportunity to connect and network with other like-minded young ladies. They’re offered opportunities to utilize resources to help them grow in their businesses.

I specialize in celebrating and promoting amazing entrepreneurial girls via social media, blogs, local radio shows, magazines, and local events.

I just love seeing young girl’s busy working at being DOPE, operating in their GIFTS, being CREATIVE, and doing what they LOVE. That’s truly living the OH SO SWEET life! It’s what I’m known for. Girls, parents, Moms, and friends often reach out to me to ask: How can their daughter can participate in the expo? Can I assist with resources? Do I mind promoting them? I love inviting and having new girlpreneurs on board.

The thing I’m most proud of lines up with what also sets me apart from others.

I’m most proud of the brand that has formed from the Girls Entrepreneur Expo and the Oh So Sweet Connection. I love the positive energy that the brands exude. There’s a sense of pride that the young ladies feel once they come aboard.

Although having an expo or exclusive network isn’t unique but I must say it’s HOW we do what we do that is quite unique.

We bring energy, style, and contemporary flavor to aid in igniting more excitement in these amazing girls.

It also gives me joy to be an image that minorities and girls of color can relate to.

My goal in life is to help them sprinkle ALL of their MAGIC to create an OH SO SWEET life!

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Over the years many qualities and characteristics have developed. PASSION for what I do trumps anything else.

I was once that little girl who just needed that push. Not only that, my passion for being creative is always operating. So while I’m pushing them, I have this hyper creative gene in my spirit that naturally forces me to be creative with it. LOL

My goal is to also leave a legacy behind. So as I build and grow, I strive to do it with purpose.

I network with purpose; I promote with purpose; when I sacrifice my time to help someone, it’s with purpose. I don’t want to just make money and die. When my job here on earth is done, I want to leave my mark. So it’s important to me to be intentional about my network and relationships.

I think it’s safe to say that passion and purpose is the driving force behind any success I have.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.girlsentrepreneurexpo.com
• Phone: 708-941-1078
• Email: info@girlsentrepreneurexpo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsentrepreneurexpo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsEntrepreneurExpo/?ref=bookmarks
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/GirlsExpo

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Image Credit:
Akilah Josephine Brown, Asia Kennard, Amber Anderson, Jenesys K. Harris, Diamond Lee, TStar

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