We had the good fortune of connecting with Quay Childress and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Quay, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Mark Zuckerberg once said “The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks”. In my opinion, risks are a huge factor to success. However, I would extend that with saying, a “calculated risk”.  

For me, taking calculated risks has been a driving factor in my life and career. I am personally very calculated, which has served me well. Though, I have learned that the ultimate equation is to add a “calculated risk”, with a sprinkle of “I have done all that I can do, now I am just going to go for it!”, aka, optimism.  

Throughout my entire life, I have come up with these ideas, wants and goals. For example, something that I would love to do with my husband is open a restaurant! Opening a restaurant is a risk all in itself. The statistics aren’t pretty. Sixty percent of restaurants don’t make it past their first year and 80 percent go out of business within five years. However, with a calculated risk, anything is possible! 

Switching gears to my professional life. I knew that I had a gift of strategic marketing. I knew that I could help businesses grow. I also knew that I needed to get things in order before I started my business. Not just simply jumping out there, but strategically planning my launch just as I would do for my business owners. Sometimes things just work out! However, I like to be sure that I am doing everything I can, first, to support my goals.  

Go out there, be brave…and prepared.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the founder of SOCL LUXE Marketing. Even as a young child, I have had a passion for marketing and branding. Growing up, I wanted to be a Dentist. So, I created my very own business cards, and designed the layout of my future office. Little did I know, I was not building my office, I was building the building blocks of a successful marketing career. Funny how life works, right? A highlight of my career came in 2015, I worked on a campaign for both Facebook and the U.S. Department of State. My team was then personally recognized by the Governor of Arkansas (my home state) and former president, Barack Obama at the White House. It was after that experience and a very successful campaign that I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I started my own marketing firm, focusing on the development and growth of small and medium-sized businesses.  

It has been a true learning experience! Putting my best foot forward and learning how to bring my other foot up to par. I view my job as 1.) taking things off an already full plate and 2.) helping those same business owners surpass their goals while also helping them to provide for their families.  

What truly makes SOCL LUXE different is that our work is so personal. It’s personal to me, because it’s personal to my business owners. The world of marketing is always changing! New social media platforms are popping up and consumer data can take a drastic shift. Pivoting, staying in the loop and even going back to school (currently attending LSU Shreveport, enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program) have all helped me to overcome challenges and provide the best service. Working for some of the largest profit and non-profit organizations in the world has also provided me with an extensive background that I am extremely proud of. My team and I are constantly learning, attending webinars, looking over reports, data, etc. Strategic marketing genuinely interests me!  

My genuine passion = genuine results.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First thing first, FOOD! Trying new restaurants has to be my love language! Of course, I have some favorites. My go-to’s are Rudy’s Chicken, Daqs to Geaux, Mariano’s Hacienda, Benihana, Hello Boba, Gloria’s and Kaze. Outside of stuffing my face, a fun time walking downtown and using the electric scooter is a must. Stopping by Klyde Warren Park and/or The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden for a beautiful recharge, before relaxing at King Spa or Spa Castle. If they want a place to stay outside of my home, The Joule or The Statler Dallas would be my recommendation. At some point we have to go shopping (more window shopping than anything) at The Galleria and NorthPark malls. I would love to show off the Dallas Art Museum, African American Museum of Dallas and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Time for a Target stop! Shoes, clothes and some games to play at the house. While we are laughing, and snacking on some delicious cake batter macaroons from Sweet Creations by Erika, yummy popsicles from POP FACTORY, or my favorite cookies from back home with Sweet Kreations, by Sharhonda Kelly, I would also make my friends watch a few episodes of Paternity Court with Judge Lauren Lake!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
All honor and thanks to Jesus. All of my success belongs to him. I thank him for who he is and for providing me with my HUGE support system, my family. From my husband, mom and dad, step-parents, aunties and uncles, grandparents, and friends. I have also had a handful of amazing mentors that took me under their wings. Let me explain my dynamic a bit. My aunties are going to shout from the rooftops about how proud they are of me (for absolutely any and everything!), my mom and hubby are going to make sure I am thinking everything through and support me along the way, my dad is going to say “go for it, make it happen”, and my mentors (Dee Baker Amos and Dr. Takiyah Wilson) and grandma are going to share their experiences, push me and make sure I am using my talents well, while my big brother, cousins and friends are going to listen to my ideas and allow me to vent when I need to. This mix has been a beautiful blessing my entire life and career. So to each of you I sincerely say, thank you!!

Website: www.soclluxe.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/soclluxe

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/soclluxe

Twitter: www.twitter.com/soclluxe

Facebook: www.facebook.com/soclluxe

Image Credits
Hand on Hat (black blazer) – Angela Webb Photography Other photos of me- Raven Purifoy Photo of front desk – no credits

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