When 14-year-old Iesha Trotter couldn’t find a summer job, she decided to create one. After her father helped her purchase materials, Iesha was on her own selling shaved ice to her community in Englewood, a neighborhood on Chicago’s south side. For the next four summers, Iesha sold shaved ice and at 18 received her first business license.
“I was essentially a ‘kidpreneur’ turned entrepreneur,” joked Iesha.
With her new business license, Iesha was ready for a new chapter. Noticing a lack of gift shops in Englewood, Iesha decided to bring gift giving to her community. In 2004, she opened her first gift shop in the neighborhood, and the giving hasn’t stopped since.
In 2016, she opened BrownSugar’s Balloon Designs and Academy which offers balloon décor, luxury event design, and more. Now operating online, Iesha’s clients range from school programs to government events.
In 2017, Iesha received her first loan from A4CB. The funding helped her upgrade her equipment and purchase helium tanks. By purchasing her own helium tanks, Iesha could operate without hiccups during helium shortages.
Since then, Iesha has received multiple services from A4CB. In 2020, Iesha received a grant through the City of Chicago’s Microbusiness Recovery Program, which A4CB helped administer. During the pandemic, Iesha needed a new stream of income due to the cancellation of indoor events. Already providing outside décor, Iesha began promoting this service, and with the funding received, she was able to pivot and continue operating throughout the pandemic.
The same year, Iesha opened a nonprofit called BrownSugar’s Youth Entrepreneurship Academy. Knowing firsthand how difficult starting a business at a young age can be, Iesha wanted to help other young entrepreneurs in her community. This six-week program helps young people from ages 9-24 take an idea and turn it into a concept. During the program, Iesha guides participants through every facet of starting a business from creating a business plan to receiving their license. For Iesha, the intention of this program is to teach transferable skills that will assist youth in her community in whatever path they take in life.
In 2020, Iesha also participated in A4CB’s Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Lab (NEL), a cohort-based accelerator program that pairs community business owners with strategists and advisors who provide intensive support for a business growth initiative. Each entrepreneur also receives a $20,000 grant to help execute their growth plan. During her NEL experience, Iesha focused on creating additional revenue streams by building a more complete event rental business. Wanting to alleviate her clients from working with multiple event vendors, she increased her inventory to include linens, chairs, backdrops, and more. By building the foundation for a full-service event company, Iesha was given the confidence to continue investing in her business as well as her mentorship program.
“What I appreciated most was that NEL helped me see the bigger picture,” said Iesha. “What started as an effort to increase inventory became part of a much bigger vision for the company one that continues to grow today.”
Engaging with A4CB over the years has allowed Iesha to not only grow her business, but to do more within her community. Over the years Iesha’s balloon designs have also been featured at A4CB’s Toast to Community Business annual event in addition to other A4CB events. She credits the experience with A4CB as an integral part of starting and growing her youth program.
Today, Iesha leads a team ranging from 4 to 20 employees depending on the season, often hiring young people in her community. When it comes to the future of BrownSugar’s Balloon Designs and Academy, Iesha wants to provide more services to everyday clients. Above everything, she hopes to open a community center to give more opportunities to young people in the neighborhood she calls home.
“When you’re shopping with me [at BrownSugar’s Balloon Design and Academy], you’re going to reach the community” shared Iesha. “Because we’re going to give something back.”
