By: Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Orangeburg, SC native, Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes an award-winning fashion designer, entrepreneur and motivational speaker began her quest for Living Her Best Life at the tender age of 6. Rachelle’s grandmother Lil, a home economist with the 1890 Clemson Extension Service at SC State University and her great grandmother Martha, a homemaker, taught Rachelle how to sew. She would spend the summers in Marion, SC with her grandma Martha who taught her how to make handmade quilts from squares of fabric stuffed with cotton. Learning garment construction, etiquette, table settings and food preparation were everyday activities in her family. She vividly remembers being excited on summer breaks wondering where the family would travel next. “My parents, Brenda & Broadus love to travel and exposed my sister, Pam and I to wonderful destinations. They continuously found ways to expose me to people, places and opportunities to encourage me and to develop my knowledge and skill set for what would become my career path. I’d found my calling.”
Rachelle lived in New York, pursuing her dreams as a model and fashion designer and opened a Fashion Design Studio in Harlem where she designed and tailored custom apparel for men, women and celebrities such as Rap Artist Kool Moe Dee. He wore her designs as he performed on the Arsenio Hall Show. In 1994, Rachelle decided to expand. She purchased a house in the heart of downtown Orangeburg and named it Rachelle’s Island Boutique with the intent and purpose to design and develop an oasis comprised of shopping, dining and lodging. In 2001 she purchased the two houses adjacent to Rachelle’s Island Boutique on Fischer Street with the expectation to develop them into additional avenues of revitalizing the downtown area. That vision has expanded into a brick-and-mortar travel agency, Island Cruises and Tours Travel, and a beautiful bed and breakfast, Thee Matriarch.
Rachelle utilizes her first love of fashion and interior designing to create Orangeburg’s first bed and breakfast in which she uniquely named, designed and themed each room for a significant woman in her life. With her husband Chef Fred Holmes, Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast is a full-service boutique inn featuring meeting and event rental space, luxury bedroom suites, and offers both on-site and off-site catering services.
Rachelle explains that she chose these types of industries because, “They bring joy to my life. I love helping people and bringing joy into the lives of others. Every endeavor that I pursue is with that foundation in mind. They all require excellent customer service and outstanding hospitality, which allows me the opportunity to brighten our customers’ day.”
Thee Matriarch Bed & breakfast has been fortunate to have local, national and international customers that have continued to conduct business with them over the years and refer their friends and family. Rachelle says, “That means the world to us.”
Rachelle is honored to be the 2019 Advisory Board Chair of the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SCSBDC). Still on cloud 9, Rachelle is grateful that her award-winning Rachelle’s Island Tea was the featured beverage for the 22 presidential candidates at the World-Famous Jim Clyburn’s Fish Fry in June. This past September her Rachelle’s Island Tea was voted the 1st Place People’s Choice BEST Sweet Tea winners at the Summerville Sweet Tea Festival and the “BEST Sweet” Champions at the Taste of Black Columbia, SC in May.
Her business helps the community and a number of charities and has launched Events For Causes, an initiative which raises awareness, funds and needed items for various community organizations and families in need. “I believe that we must help each other.”
Rachelle believes in reaching back and assisting the younger generation and in paying homage to those before us that have paved the way and is compelled to pay it forward by giving back. Rachelle says, my mantra is, ‘As I lift others, I rise.’”
As a young entrepreneur in high school the business owners in her community were her mentors and Rachelle, as a motivational speaker and entrepreneur, is so appreciative for them paving the way and their willingness to give advice and offers this to others.
When asked what three key pieces of advice she would offer women interested in a business career, she says:
- “Do the prep work. Find a mentor, someone you know who could guide you along your new path. If you are lacking skills in finance or marketing, enroll in classes or programs to assist.”
- “Spend a lot of time talking with your future customers. You need to really learn what their needs and wants are. This is a great brand-building exercise that will allow you to properly position yourself in the marketplace.
- “Seek out virtual assistance. There are several great free resources in our community such as the SBDC and online tools that can help you launch and maintain business development and growth. My grandmother introduced me to the SBDC at SC State University when I was in high school and it has been the best resource for me over my 35 years in my entrepreneurial career for business development and best practices. The Small Business Development Center is also a great resource for guidance, assistance with business plans etc.”
“We as women should constantly sharpen our professional networking, public speaking and negotiating skills. The life of an entrepreneur is not easy… But it is Worth It!”
For more information, to reserve your stay or an event at Thee Matriarch, visit www. The eMat r iarc h .com, call 803.937.4271 or visit the Boutique Inn at 1170 Fischer St. Orangeburg, SC 29115. Follow the boutique inn on Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.