Candice Simons, CEO of Brooklyn Outdoor and founder of J’Adore Detroit blog, was recently honored by Detroit Young Professionals during the organization’s 6th annual Vanguard Awards. Simons took a moment after the event to chat with rolling out about her businesses and the honor she just received.
Tell us a little about yourself
Well, I am 32 years old and I’m from the metro Detroit area. I started an outdoor advertising company here in Detroit four years ago as well as an event and local lifestyle blog called J’adore Detroit.
What year did you start your businesses?
January of 2013.
What led you to create the blog?
I was in Chicago for 10 years so when I moved back, I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. Most of my clients are in New York and L.A., so I thought I would spend most of my time there, but I wasn’t really sure if I would find much here in Detroit except for friends and family. I ended up falling in love with it and I wanted to show other people who live here or may have moved back that you can find what you want here; you can find everything you found in other cities right here and if you can’t find it, you can create it because that’s the beauty of moving back to Detroit.
What is the blog about?
It’s about art, fashion, entertainment, music, and a lot more. It’s really about what’s happening in the underground scene here in Detroit and what’s happening in the surrounding areas as well. I post about what friends and I do on the weekends and give people a resource to find things to do. We post our top picks of things to do, things to see, and activities. It started that way, then we expanded into a full-blown events production and planning [company]. Any event we find, we stumble across or are a part of the same crowd. People from everywhere read our blog and find events that we’ve recommended. We only publish things that we would go to ourselves.
How did you hear about Detroit Young Professionals?
I’m actually a member. When I moved back I began looking for solid organizations to get involved with that have a charity component to them, but also network because I didn’t know too many people. Networking and relationships are important. It’s nice to meet like-minded people who we can explore the city with.
How did you feel when you found out you were being honored with an award?
I felt honored, thrilled, and surprised at the same time. We spend our days working, working, working, and sometimes it’s hard to look up. You’re constantly going and it’s hard to look [at] yourself and look down and really see the effect you have on others. So when this came along, it was very humbling. I never pride myself, but it takes events such as this to have you look at yourself and give yourself a pat on the back and say, “Hey I’m making a positive impact. Keep going. Keep moving.”
How many hours of work do you believe you put in a day?
I would say about 18 hours a day except [for] weekends; weekends I work about eight. When you’re an entrepreneur there’s really no such thing as a 9-to-5. I get up in the morning and it’s a part of my routine; it’s in my blood. I keep going and annoying my eight employees until I go to bed.
Where do you see your businesses in the next 4-5 years?
It’s funny that you ask that now because my response last year is way different than this year because of the amount of growth and change that we’ve had in just a year. So now I have no idea where I could see myself in five years, but I definitely want to continue building up Detroit’s advertising market and bringing the national brands we have to Detroit. I want them to see how Detroit is growing and they should be here supporting.
For the woman who wants to become an entrepreneur, but doesn’t know where or how to start, what advice do you have for her?
I started everything myself. I had support to a certain extent, but I built this business myself. I didn’t take out loans and I didn’t have financial assistance, but if you feel that need, go for it. If you fall, get back up. I’ve fallen many times in the past 3-4 years, but I get back up and keep trying. If it doesn’t go right, go into another field. You don’t want to look back and see someone else doing what you’ve always wanted to do. Do now and think later. It doesn’t work that way for everyone, but it worked for me.
Detroit Young Professionals hosts 6th annual Vanguard Awards
