About the Cheerdocious Founder
Teajai Kimsey, the founder of Cheerdocious, has always been an entrepreneur at heart. In 2011, when her daughter joined the Salvation Army pom pom squad, Teajai found herself searching for ways to cover the expenses that come with being a “cheer mom.” By 2013, her daughter was part of the all-star cheer sport, and the costs could easily surpass $10,000 per season.
Inspired by her daughter’s passion for cheerleading, Teajai combined the word “cheer” with “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” to create the brand name “Cheerdocious.” She began crafting her own cheer shoe covers to help fellow cheer moms keep their children’s ultra-white, ultra-light cheer shoes clean and in good shape for the mat. Through trial and error, Teajai perfected her pattern and process, and Cheerdocious was born.
As her daughter grew older and eventually went off to college, Teajai pivoted her business from solely cheer-related items to other “cheerdocious” products. Her entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity in the face of challenges, and positive attitude have been key to her success.
In addition to creating her own products, Teajai is passionate about supporting other small, women-owned businesses. She curates a selection of handcrafted materials from these sources, promoting their unique offerings through Cheerdocious. Teajai understands firsthand the challenges that moms face when working hard to support their children’s aspirations. Many moms, like Teajai herself, start small side businesses to help pay for the extras that come with their children’s passions.
Teajai’s advice for growing a clientele is to focus on building relationships with each potential customer. She believes that people buy from people, not just businesses. By taking the time to get to know her customers, staying in touch, and recognizing their milestones and wins, Teajai has cultivated a loyal customer base.
Q & A
What specific products does Cheerdocious currently offer beyond cheer shoe covers?
I make team spirit bears with colors and logos of the all star teams. I also make doll outfits for American Girl dolls in the team colors.
I’ve recently branched into other items that I sew: ditty bags, bowl cozies, fabric baskets and more.
What challenges did Teajai face when transitioning her business from cheer-specific items to a broader product range?
While cheer moms are a great audience, they tend to be very focused on the items their athlete needs. Pivoting to a broader audience is not without challenges. It takes more in advertising and promotion to make people aware of the full compliment of items at Cheerdocious.
Does Cheerdocious operate solely online, or does it have a physical storefront?
Cheerdocious is only online. While I’ve thought of branching into the local farm & art market, I am not quite ready to give up weekends since I already work during the day and sew in the evenings.
Teajai is grateful to the Canvas Rebel team for featuring her business and sharing her story. She continues to create and curate “cheerdocious” products, spreading joy and positivity through her entrepreneurial endeavors while supporting other moms and small business owners along the way.
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