As a career sales professional – Hope Oriabure-Hunter could sell anything she believed in as long as it helped the people, she sold it to. Hope had spent years honing her skills to a razor’s edge across several different industries. In 2014, she transitioned her skills to entrepreneurship as the founder and CEO of Black-Tie Babysitting, Inc. a special occasion on-site childcare service. The Black-Tie Babysitting brand is building & continuing its mission to change how people feel about children on special occasions and events. www.blacktiebabysitting.com

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I have an undergraduate in Journalism and had a 19-year career in New Business Development.  I started Black-Tie Babysitting as a side-hustle and it eventually became a full-time venture and a full-time passion.

What inspired you to start your business? 

My sister was getting married and wanted an adult-only reception.  I was pregnant with my fourth child and going through a separation.  I explained to her how it felt to get an invitation with "no kids" on it.  So, she told me to come up with a solution.  The solution was to provide onsite childcare in a separate room, so families could attend events together.  This notion evolved to Black-Tie Babysitting.

Where is your business based?

The business is based in Dallas, TX.

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

I started my business by filing a DBA and opening a business checking account.  I spoke about it to friends and family.  We only did two events in our first two years.  But in year three I got serious about it.  I enrolled in a start-up business incubator, got a professional logo upgrade, and launched a website.  And I started networking with wedding and event professionals who could refer to clients.

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

I have raised awareness for our brand by being consistent with our staff and protocols.  Planners are confident suggesting our services to clients because they know what to expect.  We have recently launched a new website, hired a social media manager to manage our brand on Instagram and Facebook.  Lastly, I wrote an authority book, Bring The Kids, Leave The Headache: A Comprehensive Guide To Bringing Kids To Grown-up Events.

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

The biggest challenge so far has been dealing with the COVID-19 shutdowns.  We were hit hard because, with guests' limitations, children were eliminated from the guest list.  We focused on fine-tuning our branding and procedures.  We knew events would come back eventually, but understood we’d need to build confidence with our event planners and build up comfort levels with parents.  We also made a pivot to launch an eLearning pod to help with children schooling from home.

How do you stay focused? 

I stay focused by remaining humble and moving quietly.  I think about my kids and how hard it was to raise them as a single mother, and nothing could be harder than that.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition? 

Honestly, we feel we have no competition.  We maintain we are unmatched in the service and staff we provide.  We work hard to make sure we can stand behind the aforementioned statement.  We constantly study wedding trends and figure out how they trickle down to children's guests.  We make sure we are versed in everything important to families including, music, activities, games, and books.  We also have the best people.

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

The most effective marketing strategy to grow our business has been to network and see how we can bring value to our collaborators and clients.  We have a preferred planner program and we have worked hard to add additional offerings to support families outside of events.

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

My advice to aspiring and new entrepreneurs is just don’t bounce your ideas off of anyone who will listen.  Be persnickety about who you discuss your business ideas and goals.  Choose someone who has a valuable opinion, but who won’t stand in the way of your vision.

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

My favorite app is Goodreads.  I am a self-proclaimed book nerd and love reading books.  Mostly I read business and non-fiction titles.  The app allows me to curate different bookshelves with books I want to read and tracks the ones I have read.  I can quickly lookup a book title with a book summary if I come across it in an article or conversation.  A bonus is the Goodreads' newsletter with anticipated titles and book suggestions trending in my selected genres. 

My favorite blog (newsletter) is Rohit Bhargava’s Non- Obvious Insights Newsletter.  It’s always a fast and fascinating read.  It’s full of valuable information I can use in both my professional and personal life.

It’s impossible to say a favorite book.  I am constantly reading but I will say a business book that surprised me was, Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer.  It’s wonderfully written and has great advice for business leaders who are innovative but know their staff is the number one asset in their business.

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

My favorite business tool right now is Grammarly.  I can quickly run my business prose through the system and don't have to wait for a lifeline to proof my work.

Who is your business role model? Why? 

I don't have a particular business role model.  There are so many men and women who have poured into me so unselfishly.  I think a business role model is any person who takes the time to educate you about business or yourself.  They are willing to show truth and vulnerability for your benefit.

How do you balance work and life? 

I don’t believe there are work and life balance.  I believe there are work and life blend.  If I understand that some days, I’m going to be a great mother and not a great business owner and vice versa, I afford myself grace and a much better life.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

My favorite way to decompress is to read and spend time with my kids.  My children are 11, 13, 17, and 19 years old, so we’re at the stage where being a Mommy is less of a job function.  So, I love the time we are just able to talk about what’s going on in their lives and listening to their narratives of the world we share.

What do you have planned for the next six months? 

The next six months are going to be huge for us.  Again, we are launching an eLearning pod and pushing the book more with a virtual book tour including, virtual book talks, pod show appearances, and special insights for parents, event hosts, and the professional planner.  Of course, we will continue to provide onsite childcare at special occasions and events!

How can our readers connect with you? 

Readers can connect with me on social media platforms by direct message, complete a contact form on our website, email, or even call my cellphone—it’s listed!