Meet Ms. MTA!
Well hey there beautiful! I'm so excited to finally introduce myself formally to all of MTA's supporters. I wanted to do this because being that I can attest to this as a small business owner, there is usually one person wearing many hats. So Hello, I'm Ms. T'Arien Ariel. (IG: msmorethanaverage) I'm who you've been talking to. Messaged me about a lost package? Size/Product question? Yup, it was me!
Though it is professional to maintain a relationship with my customers without them personally knowing me, at first a number of my customers were friends and family. Imagine talking to your auntie in your customer service voice just because she supported your business... yeah, no I am More Than Average when it comes to the backend of my business too. That means keeping it real with you all and being myself! Putting a face with a name may also help many of my customers feel comfortable purchasing from me with the high demand of online shopping. Many are selling products online, but it's hard to trust websites! I hope that this can help my supporters to know I care just as much about your satisfaction with my business as you do and understand MTA's purpose better! So here's a little bit about me!
Born and raised in Houston, Texas I grew up believing I wanted to be a lawyer. As time passed my passions changed, I wanted to pursue childcare. I held many different job positions that have built me into the business owner I am today though, working out in my favor. I worked at Forever 21 for almost a year as a Visual Merchandiser. I dressed and styled the mannequins, organized the chaotic-ness for a more aesthetic approach to customers, and worked with well experienced merchandisers, ugh how I took it for granted then! I had my daughter while working for Tiff's Treats cookie delivery, but I couldn't keep up with their pace and decided to focus on motherhood. For two years I worked at a promotions and incentives company. This job really gave me most of the marketing skills I have today, I'm beyond grateful for that learning experience! While working at the promotion company I graduated from University of Houston with a BS in Psychology and furthered my career in childcare. It was difficult for me to really position myself in the industry since I'd been only providing private nannying services to a few families and not employed in a registered childcare facility. Then COVID-19 hit the world suddenly and I was laid off my marketing job.
What do you think I did being quarantined at home with my two year old and a significant amount of time to deeply think into what I wanted to do long-term? I started my own business, More Than Average Clothing Company, LLC., I also applied myself to a few more nannying positions and childcare facilities. Finally, I got a call to start as a preschool teacher in an upcoming, black owned and operated academy! This teaching position really inspired me to continue building my experience in childcare and kept my creativity on ten! The director of the academy and my mentor kept me on my toes. She was growing her own business right in front of my eyes and witnessing me pursue mine while working in her facility. I had front row seats to the real deal of entrepreneurship. It's not all peaches and cream, but definitely worth it if that's what you're passionate about. After almost a year teaching, MTA began rapidly growing and so did the academy. I had to balance order fulfillment, lesson planning, marketing content, and most importantly being a single mother! It got overwhelming and I really started to let MTA subside. I had an important obligation as a mother, teacher, and business owner. I GOT TIRED! My business became stagnant. I wasn't putting any energy into it anymore.
During the end of 2020 I took a couple of trips to California's fashion district just to get inspired again. I needed new inventory and new ideas before I headed into 2021. California did just that, it got me back on my grind and with new merchandise. If I wanted to keep this up I knew this meant having to make a decision of pursuing my own business full time or overloading myself by juggling too much. I meditated over the decision and finally sat down with my mentor and let her know that my business is growing and I'd have to leave. It was a leap of faith I felt I had to take! No money, no steady orders, and now no 9-5 I wasn't sure of exactly how I'd make it work, but I knew it would and I took that leap of faith.
The best decision of my life was to fully commit to my own desires. I have the time to put myself on MTA's schedule and fit the needs of my audience rather than making them fit around others. I had to prioritize. You all are so important to me! Not only do you feed my family, but you are proof to me that faith moves mountains. Without MTA I'd still be trying to fill a void that I was destined to prioritize in the first place, to serve and empower others.
I hope you all are ready for More Than Average's rebrand! Check out our instagram page for deets on how you can win free apparel from our new collection!