Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda Sheppard.
Hi Yolanda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well, it all started with a miserable day at my 9-5 job in the late year of 2018. The head boss was explaining to the team that we were due for a pay cut, along with extended hours. In addition, my work-at-home position was going to be obsolete. It was in that moment I knew I had to do more. I wasn’t willing to work another day being miserable, working for someone else when I knew I had a light shining within myself. With that being said, I went home that very night, expressed my concerns to my husband and we both decided to jump out on faith and start our own business. In the year 2016, I decorated our wedding, and it was in that moment that I knew I wanted to be in the industry of Décor and or Venue Service. I never lost that desire, so when the moment hit, I took this idea and ran with it.
At the beginning of 2019, my husband and I started searching for a venue space. Without having found a building, I quit my job at the end of January 2019. Which definitely put fire under me to succeed. March of 2019, we found our building. We used all of our savings, 401k and a few personal loans to get the process started. After renovations and city licensing, we opened the Y&S Chateau Event Center September 2019. Within our establishment, we’re a one-stop shop. We offer Décor, Catering, Photography, Videography, and more. The beginning was a very bumpy road, but we kept faith in God and positive vibes always, even through the tears. Then the pandemic hit, and God showed himself to be faithful. We were consistently getting future bookings, and we were able to get some city grants to stay afloat. Now that things are starting to get back to normal, blessings upon blessings are meeting us day today. I can honestly say this was the best decision I could have ever made. I definitely forecast that Y&S Chateau is here to stay, with many more locations to come. To God be the glory, always.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. We had a lot of bumps in the road at the begging with city licensing, renovations, price point, and day-to-day protocol. We’ve definitely learned through trial and error, but it’s been a blessing overall. We’ve learned a lot, and we’re still learning.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m the owner of Y&S Chateau Event Center. But, my forte is Décor. I take pride in getting to know each client individually, and from that, I create unique designed events. I now have a team that assists me in expediting the vision, which makes my life much easier. In addition, my first passion is poetry. When my husband and I met, we met on the grounds of spoken word/poetry. Because of this foundational truth, we promote and conduct social events dealing with poetry, music and free-spirited art. We love to see others in the realm of art, as well as express our own when the time permits. This is something I’m proud of. I love being a free-spirited, loving person who doesn’t think highly of themselves, but more so on the humble side of silence until spoken to or in my realm of poetry. It’s edifying to say the least.
What makes you happy?
God, because he leads me to abundance, love, joy, and humbleness each day. He’s also the reason I sit here in complete peace. I’m thankful for his presence in my life every day.
Contact Info:
- Email: yschateau@gmail.com
- Website: yschateauvenue.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yschateau/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yschateaueventcenter
Image Credits
Photos done by Loveiskeyphotography, which is my husband’s business. He’s our in house Caterer, Photographer, and Videographer. www.loveiskey.com Décor done by Y&S Chateau/Me and my team.
