Today we’d like to introduce you to Ebony Robinson.
Hi Ebony, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I guess you can say that I was born into it. Since I was a little girl, my dad taught me the importance of business, negotiating, and finances. He would always tell me about the history of his dad, grandfather, and uncle who owned a cab company, funeral home, and store back in Elizabeth City, NC. Growing up, I would always see my dad have some type of side hustle, and he preached the significance of having your own business and being your own boss.
On both my mother’s and father’s sides, my family had a passion for helping people and helping their community. So it came naturally to me to want to help others and especially kids and babies. So, I would say that in 2007/2008, I was about 13 years old, and I started playing around on my mom’s computer creating flyers to be a babysitter. Waaaay before I had any idea that I would actually work towards doing that full-time. Fast forward to about 2012/2013, I earned an internship my senior year in high school working at the hospital as a Patient Access Rep.
This opportunity brought me, my first client, a coworker who needed me to babysit for her two sons as she picked up extra shifts in the ED. She needed someone she could trust and depend on, and she gave me that chance to prove that I was a trustworthy caregiver. I continued to work at Vidant, but I was miserable. I was so unhappy, but I stuck it out to get through school until I resigned in 2019 and went full force into my business and school. But, during those seven years at Vidant, I was still babysitting, started tutoring, house sitting, and pet sitting.
So in 2019, as I am preparing to take my business to the next level, that is when I gave my business the name Auntie Eb’s Family Services LLC. Auntie Eb because when I do anything for a family, I want to be just that, a part of the family; I want my kids/clients to see me as their aunt, big sister, or friend. Family services because I offer services for everyone in the family; I offer child care, tutoring for most grades, including GED courses, and pet sitting. Once I took that step to leave that Toxic Job Auntie Eb has received so much love and support.
What was once a flyer on a computer is now a thriving business. Today, I continue to provide child care, tutoring, and pet sitting services, along with mental health services and a social media page that promotes education, positive parenting, coping skills, and much much more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh yes, without struggles, there is no success. Throughout my journey to becoming an entrepreneur, I’ve had to face many obstacles and challenges. One of them is literally starting a business from scratch and not knowing about LLCs, EIN, business accounts, and all the behind-the-scenes of running a business.
And these are still things I’m learning so that I can be a legitimate business entity. The next challenge has been social media and marketing. Knowing what hashtags to put, when to post, and staying consistent because no one will promote your business as you do. Promotion is how you get business and customers. Finally, the biggest challenge has been getting out of my own head and trusting the process.
As a business owner, there are so many unknowns from day to day, and if you let the self-doubt, slow days, and perspective of others stop you from running your business, you won’t be able to enjoy what is for you.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Auntie Eb’s Family Services is a business founded on love and the motto it takes a village. I offer affordable childcare, tutoring, Pet sitting, and mental health services. Tutoring services include Elementary, Middle, High school/College, and GED.
We promote education, mental health, and provide resources for our community. I aim to educate the general public about any and everything, mental, physical, sexual, and emotional health and wellness on my social media platforms. As well as scholarship, employment, and volunteer opportunities. I shout out and support other small businesses. Anything that I feel someone could benefit from knowing about positively, I aim to share it with others.
What sets me apart is that I’m ME, I am Ebony Breanna Robinson, and I’ve been growing this business since I was a little girl. I am diverse and I offer many different services under one umbrella. So there is a service that everyone in the family can utilize. I am most proud that I keep going no matter what. If I fail or notice that a particular technique didn’t work, then I try something else. And that is what I implement with the people that I support. If this doesn’t work, let’s try another way.
When I am tutoring, I start with a consultation, figuring out their goals, learning style, what motivates them, and how to best support them as they are trying to learn something new. I often go the extra mile, stay a few minutes past our meeting time, and sacrifice because I want the best for my family. In return, they see my hard work and dedication and create a safe space for them to trust me.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising that people may not know about me is that in graduate school I went to Spain and Portugal to study aboard and I am now learning Spanish to be able to serve people whose primary language is Spanish.
Pricing:
- Child Care starts at $10 an hr
- Tutoring starts at $30hr
- Pet Sitting Starts at $20 a day
- Mentorship
- Mental Health Services start at $60hr
Contact Info:
- Email: auntieebllc@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Auntieebs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auntieeb
