August 10th 2023.
Black businesses have seen a major surge in success in recent years – and Patreese Walker, founder and CEO of The Branding Bag, is helping to elevate them even further. Established in 2020, The Branding Bag is an online platform that allows entrepreneurs to showcase and market their products. In just a few years, the business has flourished, now boasting 7,500 members across 32 states.
But it's The Branding Bag's Academy that really sets it apart. The Academy is a comprehensive resource for budding entrepreneurs, providing weekly meetings, one-on-one coaching sessions, and mentorship programs. In an exclusive interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Walker discussed why she started The Branding Bag and how her experiences as a Black woman have informed her journey.
“As a serial entrepreneur, I knew the importance of networking and marketing yourself outside of your own timeline. I tried to join other business groups, but I was only allowed to post on certain days, or I had to pay to post. When you’re small and growing, it’s not always in the budget to pay per post with the hope of getting a client,” Walker recalled. “I got mad, said enough was enough, and created my own group!”
Walker noticed that many of the businesses posted in her group weren't getting much traction, or were receiving complaints from customers about things that could have been avoided. That’s when Walker decided to launch The Branding Bag Academy to provide affordable and free resources to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Now officially certified as a business coach, Walker has been helping businesses for over five years. She has worked with real estate agents and brokers, restaurant and food truck owners, daycare owners, hair stylists, and tax preparers, to name a few. “I made it my mission to do my part in assisting these businesses, as affordable as possible or for free. I realized not everyone had a support system, mentors, or anyone to coach them into their next level as I did.”
Walker's journey to success has been far from easy. At 18 years old, she faced a huge setback when she found out she wouldn’t be graduating high school with her peers. “The principal sat me down and told me I couldn’t graduate due to attendance. Imagine that exemplary student with passing grades and homecoming queen couldn’t graduate,” she recalled.
But Walker was determined to make her own success. With the help of a mentor, she obtained her GED and got a job in finance, eventually working her way up to assistant store manager, store manager, and then general manager. “The most important part of this story and the game-changer for me was the guy who took a chance on me, became my work mentor, and guided me on those goals. That was when I knew the importance of finding a mentor and I wanted to be that person for others.”
Walker now uses her business acumen to help others. Since its inception, The Branding Bag Academy has positively impacted the lives of thousands of entrepreneurs.
For those looking to get their businesses off the ground, Walker has some advice. “I am a firm believer in allowing God to order my steps. I always get his approval first. I also tell everyone to figure out their why first. Most people get an idea, form an LLC, apply for an EIN, and then get stuck. If you discover your why , then and only then can you be confident in marketing yourself, maneuvering through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and placing your roots firmly in this cold business world. Money can’t be your only motive because what is going to keep you going when the money is slow or nonexistent?”
The Branding Bag Academy offers a variety of programs for entrepreneurs, ranging from $25-$65 per subscription, as well as free and unlimited resources in the TBB Facebook group, free educational lives, zoom training and webinars, and more. For more information, visit https://www.thebrandingbag.net/about.
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