Today we’d like to introduce you to Lakeycia Cooper-Garcia.
Lakeycia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Lollipops & Gumdrops Children’s Spa allowed me to turn my passion into a business. I really enjoy event planning & decorating more so for children’s events. I’ve been an event planner over 10-years creating magical memories for both adults & children events. I would plan and design spa parties at hotels or at client’s homes on a weekly basis. Transforming their space into a magical, calming relaxed atmosphere for a little princess and all her friends. My team and I would create activities that would keep the girls engaged. Seeing how this type of service impacted a little girl’s self-esteem and boosted her confidence, I started brainstorming. I wanted to create a magical atmosphere where a princess can come any time not just for a birthday and relax, be pampered, and have a magical experience. In 2019 I started researching the market and realized there are not many businesses like this, and it was needed so desperately (children are stressed, bullied, and have low self-esteem). October 2020 while the world was suffering through COVID, by faith I launched my first brick & mortar luxury children’s spa in Historic Overtown (an underserved neighborhood). Lollipops & Gumdrops is the first and Only black-owned luxury children’s spa in the City of Miami. Lollipops & Gumdrops Children’s Spa have been receiving exposure, we received clients from as far as England when they are here in Miami vacationing.
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?
With building a business there will be many obstacles, building a business during a national pandemic there were struggles. In my research about children spa’s, I was also looking for a commercial space. Once I found the perfect location, I consulted my husband, we took a leap of faith and signed the lease. Not fully understanding all the logistics that came with a commercial space. All I knew was I had a vision and with faith, hard work and determination it will come to pass. This business was a dream to me all that know me knew that one day I wanted to own a children’s spa and event space. It was very hard, we funded this business ourselves and it was a struggle to receive information about all the proper documents and licensing for a business like ours since it’s so new. I was able to do my research and get the proper certificates and licensing to open. The world was at a standstill while I was trying to build this business but we did it!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Lollipops & Gumdrops our goal is to empower little princesses that it’s okay to be smart, girly and confident. Teaching them self-care is very important and teaching them these principles early so when they become adults they will do the same. We encourage the girls to love the skin they are in no matter the shade, they are Beautiful and Fabulous.
I’m extremely proud of Lollipops & Gumdrops Children’s Spa because it was my passion and being a mom it’s exciting to see my children faces light up and to see the reaction of little girls faces that walk in our doors the feeling is unexplainable. Some of our accomplishments were, we were featured on the front page of Business Monday in the Miami Herald. We were also interviewed by Jajuan Strader from NBC 6. We were 1 of the 100-small business in Florida awarded a grant from Comcast Rise and we were a recipient of a small grant from SEOPW CRA. I’m so grateful for the support and love we have received. I pride myself in giving back to the community, we love being a part of community events. We have participated in back to school events, toy drives and many other events we host at the spa.
My Biggest Accomplishment to date is that not only is Lollipops & Gumdrops Children’s Spa a brick and mortar location as of March 9, 2022 we launched our First Lollipops & Gumdrops Children’s Spa Mobile Bus. Pure Children’s Luxury on wheels offering both options and offering more services. What set Lollipops & Gumdrops apart from others is that we create a magical experience for girls while teaching them the important fundamentals of self care. I want a girl to walk out of our spa feeling more beautiful and empowered than they did when they walked in. We are looking to continue to expand to create magical memories all over.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I honestly don’t believe in luck. I believe that if you have faith, if it’s your time and if it’s your season, those things that you are trying to obtain you will achieve them. Also, you can’t be afraid to take a risk and just do it. If it fails that’s ok as long as you tried, if you never try you would never know if the goal is obtainable.
Pricing:
- Ultimate Spa Experience $95
- Bronze Spa Party Package in Spa $375
- Bronze Mobile Bus Spa Party $575
- Unicorn or Theme Spa Party $900
- Unicorn or Theme Mobile Spa Party $975
Contact Info:
- Email: lgevents2003@yahoo.com
- Website: www.lollipopsgumdropschildrensspa.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lgevents2003 | www.intagram.com/lollipopsgumdropsspabus
Anitrice mama Joy Jackson
April 26, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Im so very grateful that Lakeycia brought her vision and passion out to the world, her passion is so strong for her business. Its not only business it her heart desires. To bring every princess dream from there heart to life. Im so glad as a proud MOTHER to see it to come to pass. As a mother that’s all you want to see, i my self love working with her seen those baby’s and parent’s face when the walk in there. Im a very proud mom, and she also one of our Sponsor for our non profit Nana’s Restart Organizations. I pray that the world can experience the magic passion of her business.