Alicia Boateng has always loved creative pursuits, but it wasn’t until she left her career as a wedding planner that she started to think about turning her own designs into a full time job. It was her morning cup of coffee that turned out to be the inspiration she needed and her line of handcrafted mugs started to come to life. Today she runs her business Alicia Boateng Designs alongside her husband, churning out festive mugs that come in a range of different styles; from her Afro-Glam collection, to her seasonal cups to her collection highlighting different cultures from around the world. The Coral Springs, Florida-based mompreneur counts celebrities like Tiffany Haddish and Octavia Spencer as fans of her designs and is determined to, “Get my cups into the hands of as many women as I can.”

What are the interview questions for entrepreneurs?

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida from Cuban parents. I was raised by my grandmother and I credit all my creativity to her! My grandmother was the creative force that taught me how to make bows, use a glue gun, arrange flowers, cook and so on. I remember sitting next to her while she was knitting, faster than my eyes can keep up might I add, and me asking her, Titi how can you do that so fast? Her response, “years of practice, my little girl”. That showed me that practicing my talent will get me to where I want to be.

What inspired you to start your business?

After designing and working weddings for 20 years, it was time to move on to something else. I knew I wanted to work on something creative and I just didn’t know which direction I wanted to go. My husband gave me a Cricut machine for my birthday and that is how our business started. 

Where is your business based?

My business is based in Coral Springs, Florida.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

When I started the business I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I was just creating things (anything really) and hoping it would attract some sales.  I began making home decor signs, ornaments, and tote bags. I did a lot of research on various items I could create while giving it my own twist. In 2019, we had a pop-up shop in our local shopping mall during the Holiday season. I had created some cups with some left over stones I had in the workshop. I remember thinking, I’ll just make a few, display them, and see if they sell. By the second week at the shop, I have people lining up coming to see if I had any new cups and if I had replenished the ones that had sold. It was at that time I realized I had created something special and unique!

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Word of mouth and social media. I take pride in creating a beautiful timeline with pictures that reflect the craftmanship and passion I put into each and every cup.  

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

The fear of not being enough. I recite daily affirmations while I drink my coffee in the morning using one of my cups. This has taught me that every day is a fresh, new start.  Whatever was not accomplished yesterday, I have been given a second chance to accomplish it today.

How do you stay focused?

I believe in my product whole heartedly. Every design, every cup, every package that leaves our facility is done with love and I am grateful that my cups are being brought into loving homes. That keeps me motivated and focused.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

I took an ordinary coffee cup and turned it into a magnificent, and dazzling blinged out cup. I put a lot of effort into the marketing aspect of the business while also adding some personal moments. I make sure to connect with my customers and let them know that we are a family owned, BIPOC small business,(yes we put all four children to “work), and we remind them that we are just like them. I love my weekends, I love my happy hours in our backyard (you can usually find a picture or two of our cocktails on our stories from the weekends) I love my family time and I share all of that with our customers.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

The most effective marketing strategy has been focusing on empowering women with my cups. When you drink out of my cup, I want you to feel beautiful, confident, and powerful. I feel that my designs interpret that feeling.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Face your fears and follow your heart.  If you don’t start now, time will pass, and you will regret not starting sooner. Rome was not built in a day. You need to have faith and patience and believe me, your time will come.  

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app is Instagram. This is where I connect with my audience the most. I am not too into blogs, however, I do listen to podcasts and it usually involves anything having to with marketing and women entrepreneurs. My favorite book is the 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

I love using Canva and Photofy. Canva makes it easy to create amazing graphics and Photofy allows me to edit my pictures in an easy and fun way!  

Who is your business role model? Why?

My husband is my business role model. He is all about the numbers and he makes sure I stay focused on my goal and making sure “it makes sense”.

How do you balance work and life?

That is a constant challenging I am still learning how to cope with. I am a workaholic and my mind is running 24/7. I often force myself to not think about and work and focus on the present, my kids, my husband, my surroundings.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Drinking my coffee in the morning listening to French Café music. This allows me to start my morning off on the right foot. On Friday nights, my husband and I enjoy a cocktail while discussing our challenges and wins we had during the week.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I am working on new and exciting Easter cups, Mother’s Day and I am developing a Beard Oil for the Father’s day set.

How can our readers connect with you?

They can find me on Instagram @AliciaBoatengDesigns, Facebook /aliciaboatengdesigns and on my website www.AliciaBoateng.com