Conversations with the Inspiring Cynthia Daniels

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Daniels.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2006, I was working for a non-profit in Atlanta, and I was in charge of recruiting talent. By 2008, I was hauled into the office and told that I was being laid off because I was the last person they hired.

Armed with a master’s degree in business management and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, I thought I would land another job in no time. “I went an entire year applying for jobs and being told that I was a great candidate, but that I didn’t have any experience. It got to the point where I decided that I really needed to move, but I didn’t want to leave the South, because I’m a southern girl.

In 2009, I rolled the dice and decided to relocate to Memphis. It paid off. In two weeks, I landed a job in employee relations at the Helen of Troy warehouse in Southaven, Miss. It was a good job, one that enabled me to build a comfortable life in Memphis. But then I needed more.

Memphis is a big food town! It’s the one thing the city rallies around and I built great relationships with owners because of my belief in supporting black businesses. I met with some of the owners of black restaurants to get feedback as to how they were doing and what they thought would help them to prosper and grow. The consensus was a lack of support from the black community and the lack of money to market their restaurants to all of Memphis.