For this special edition of The Business Corner, I have chosen to write about a business created to provide affordable goods and services that are needed in the community in which it serves.
Divine Enterprises LLC was founded by William A. Brownlee Sr., who serves as the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Christian Center. He founded the church in 2016 to provide a spiritual home for members of the community.
Having seen the challenges faced by the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pastor Brownlee recognized an opportunity to start Divine Enterprises LLC.
“Part of my calling is to provide knowledge and opportunities to the community I serve. Divine Enterprises is an extension of that. We offer tangible products and services the community needs, while creating jobs,” Brownlee said.
The company offers a spectrum of diverse services with the same goal in mind—helping the community achieve its goals. The services and products offered include childcare, beauty supplies, hair styling, estheticians and related services, financial services, credit repair, interior design, event planning, real estate development and management, photography, and entertainment.
“We have a team in place who are focused on one thing, serving the customers,” he said. “Our team members for each area of business are experts at what they do, whether they are a hairstylist or work in real estate development.”
While the team members have an opportunity to learn, grow, and gain experience in different sections of the company, there is also an opportunity to ultimately leave the company for employees who have built up the skills necessary to run their own business.
For example, Divine Styles Salon (part of Divine Enterprises) was designed as a hub to help stylists build their own individual brand and develop their clientele. For the stylists, working for the company eliminates the need to find a location, renovate, and pay rent, maintenance, and utilities at their own location. This includes the need for good credit and the financial resources to do so. By working as a team, they can focus on serving the customers until they are ready to move on and open their own salon, if that is their goal.
Also, Divine Enterprises operates a beauty supply store where community members and their hairstylists can purchase popular hair care products at affordable prices.
Businesses that are community and customer focused do better financially and have an easier time building a brand that resonates with the community.
We all need to do our part going forward to support the community focused businesses in our community. They are a vital resource we need to keep going for our collective future.
Teresa M. Lundy is the Principal and Founder of TML Communications, a strategic public relations, crisis communications and community engagement firm serving corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Follow Teresa on Twitter @TeresaMLundy
