Rising Stars: Meet Jasmine Cash

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Cash.

Hi Jasmine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I have always been a creative and an artist, from “Do It Yourself” projects, to decorating family events for fun, to attending an art school for college. I got my start in event design with my very own baby shower, believe it or not. There was no business plan in place at that time. There was never a day that I woke up and said, “I’m gonna try event planning.” 

When I found out I was pregnant with my son in 2017, it was very unexpected for a number of reasons. I knew that he was a blessing. So, when the time came to start thinking about baby shower plans, I decided that I wanted the theme of the shower to be “Heaven Sent.” Event planning and design was on the rise in 2017, and I wanted one of those elegant, extravagant baby showers. After talking this over with my momma, she told me, “You know how to do that yourself.” “Do It Yourself” it was. Of course, there were no generic decor items that I could buy in any stores to fall in line with the “Heaven Sent” theme. So, I began brainstorming and researching. I also reached out to a church member, Sandra Stanfield, for guidance and support. Sandra had been responsible for the seasonal decorating of my church since I was a little girl. I told her my ideas for the baby shower, and she didn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand. 

On the night before the shower, at eight months pregnant, I couldn’t do much of the actual setup, but with the support of my family and closest friends, the setup turned out beautiful and like nothing I had ever seen. Everything was well thought out, with attention to every detail, to adhere to the “Heaven Sent” theme. The location was in an elevated loft room at Roxboro Community School. There were clouds and angel wings, and everything was white and gold. Everyone in attendance talked about how beautiful it was. 

Once I posted the photos from the shower to Facebook, I began to get inquiries for baby shower and birthday party setups. My first gig was one month after I gave birth. I posted photos of that completed setup to Snapchat and got another inquiry for a “magician” themed party. Ironically enough, once I posted those photos to Facebook, it was like magic! The business started to boom. I started out doing maybe one event per month to doing at least one per week unless I scheduled down time for myself. Five years later, business is still great. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was a smooth road for starters because it was a hobby for me. This was something I truly enjoyed doing, and could also earn a little extra cash. 

The first struggle was realizing my worth. Because I didn’t get into this for the money, I had to bring myself to understand the value of the services I brought to the table and begin to price those services accordingly. Now, I know that with my natural abilities and the experience I’ve gained over the past five years, I am good at what I do, and I no longer undervalue myself or my business. Now, I earn more than just a little cash. Thank God! 

There was also a struggle in not having a startup or business plan. Although I stayed consistent in all of my practices, no two clients are the same, and no two events are the same. Because of that, there has been a lot of trial and error, and me being faced with different types of situations. So, I am constantly having to add new things to my contracts. 

Overall, I have learned how to get through any struggle by adapting to change and being resilient. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My business is “Creative Touches by Jas.” I specialize in event design but am also able to provide event planning as a whole. So not just the decor but arrangements of every detail of an event. 

I am very versatile in what I bring to the table. I can provide anything from balloon arrangements and gifts to custom-built, hand-crafted props and table centerpieces. 

What I’m known for and most proud of is my “personal touch,” or the unique quality I provide in all of my setups. My brother calls it “Prolific Touches by Jas”. The actual name for the business derived during a consultation with a client. She said to me, “I want that Jas touch. Her words had a strong impact because I knew all of the thoughts and brainstorming that went into the planning of each event. I knew of the tedious work, sleepless nights, and effort I put in while striving for perfection. I knew of my craftiness, creativeness, and my ability to set my work apart from anything else I had seen. Most importantly, I knew that this was a God-given gift. 

The thing that sets me apart from other people providing similar services is my passion for this. I recognize it as an art, and I love doing it. It was not something that I just chose to just tap into. I have had it all along and was pushed into following a childhood dream by the clients themselves. Never did I expect it to go this far. Although the creativity has been naturally there, I am constantly looking for ways to develop new techniques and maintaining a desire to evolve my business so that I can continue to grow and succeed. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
My daily planner is my favorite book. LOL! In addition to my business, I also work a full-time day job where I supervise seven other adults. So, every day makes for a busy day. 

I love Facebook. It’s something I can squeeze time in for, and it is where I can showcase my talents. It also brings me a lot of business. 

I have read “The Money Answer Book” by Dave Ramsey multiple times. 

I also use a monthly motivational journal called “Speak It, Write It!, Manifest It! by Nakisha Smith. 

I am a part of the “WomXn in Business” house in the Clubhouse app, where we discuss everything business-related from creating content on social media platforms to obtaining business grants. 

My most important book is my bible. I don’t read it nearly as much as I should, but I make sure that I am in it at least once a week and also applying what I read to my work and daily life as a whole. It keeps me grounded. 

Image Credits
Kei’s Point of View Photography