Founder Feature: Kiamesha Wilson
Meet Kiamesha Wilson,
Owner of Kaye’s Pints and Scoops
Kiamesha Wilson, a lover of all things ice cream, always wanted to be an entrepreneur and bring something different to Memphis.
Kiamesha Wilson, Owner of Kaye’s Pints and Scoops
Kiamesha first started making ice cream about five years ago, when she received an ice cream maker as a Christmas present from her sister. Kiamesha initially began giving out the ice cream she made to friends and family and, after positive feedback and advice, she considered selling her ice cream.
“It has been a learning journey,” said Kiamesha, who came up with the concept of her business during the coronavirus pandemic. The initial quarantine stages of the pandemic gave ample time for Kiamesha to learn and do her research. Upon testing out several flavors and attending Scoop School, a certification and training program for ice cream business owners, she started the process of opening her own business in January 2021. “It’s an ever evolving and learning situation,” said Kiamesha.
“I believe in the power of helping the Memphis economy grow and I want to see great things happen in the Whitehaven neighborhood,” said Kiamesha, who has prior experience in the wedding planning and gift wrapping businesses.
One major advantage that Kiamesha has had throughout this entrepreneurial endeavor is a strong support system.
“I would definitely have not been able to do it without my parents and my sister. They have been a blessing in disguise,” said Kiamesha. In addition to the constant support from her family and friends, Kiamesha received guidance and foundational information by engaging both Epicenter and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center.
Jiljuana J. Coleman - PMP®, MBA, Epicenter’s Experts-in-Residence for Strategic Consulting
Under Epicenter’s Experts-In-Residence (EIR) Program, Kiamesha worked closely with Jiljuana J. Coleman, one of Epicenter’s Experts-in-Residence, to set achievable business milestones that would push her business forward.
Jiljuana, the Founder and Principal Consultant at Jamerson Strategic Consulting LLC, works with Epicenter as an EIR and a subject matter expert for strategic business consulting. She loves working with entrepreneurs and startups by being the partisan who plays the coach, the cheerleader, the oppositional advocate, and the mentor. “I love being a part of that role in helping see that light bulb go off, but then to help that light bulb to expand into all types and forms of lighting so they’re really able to illuminate not just themselves, their family, but also the community as a whole,” said Jiljuana.
“The program was definitely a good source of knowledge and resources. They have the keys and the answers to all the questions you may have to direct you to the places that you need to go,” commented Kiamesha about the EIR program.
Epicenter’s EIR program serves as another business-support resource for entrepreneurs. According to Jiljuana, “One of the biggest things you get from this program is what I call ‘expert synergy.’” In addition to the qualified EIR team, entrepreneurs have access to a massive network of professionals from the entire Epicenter ecosystem for support.
The relationship between the entrepreneurs and the EIRs is indeed a unique one. Especially over the pandemic, the EIRs were invited into the most sensitive, vulnerable parts of the lives of our entrepreneurs. “It brought us together more as a family. It really became a meeting of the minds where they were experts at their crafts, and we were the experts of figuring out how to keep that craft alive,” said Jiljuana about the relationship between the EIR and the entrepreneur.
Jiljuana and Kiamesha also share a unique bond. “Kaye, if I had to sum her all up in one word, it would be family” said Jiljuana. Kiamesha Wilson has always stepped up and learned so much in such a short amount of time. “She is an advocate for herself and her business. She is fantastic,” Jiljuana added. Jiljuana and Kiamesha hold each other equally accountable and enjoy working together.
A piece of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the greater Memphis region and beyond to:
“Take time to lay a good foundation and understand your business while being a continuous learner of your industry.” -Kiamesha
“Every entrepreneur should know exactly that they’re built for this journey. If entrepreneurship is something that they really want, they have to know that it’s going to be hard, and there will be some bumps along the way. However, if they are committed to making their dreams come true and open to constructive wisdom from other people who have gone through this path before, they will succeed.” - Jiljuana
Kiamesha expects to open a physical location for Kaye’s Pints and scoops this month. Be sure to check out their website and follow Kaye’s Pints and Scoops on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date!
Profile by Anvita Godavarthi for Epicenter