We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelly Teal and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Shelly, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
When I moved to Fort Lauderdale, I was excited to get to know my new city and explore with new friends. As an adult, finding opportunities to meet people and make genuine connections can be challenging, so I decided to change that.
FTL Gals began when I took my love of event planning and social media with my desire to make friends and hosted a walk! Through the power of Instagram, I gathered over 100 women for the inaugural FTL Gals event in August 2022. Throughout the last year, we have created a strong community of women, fostered friendships and hosted several events!
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my career in event planning and spent time in both the corporate and non-profit worlds. The detail-oriented nature of executing an event, makes my Type A soul very happy.
In Spring 2020, I found myself searching for a creative outlet, as many did when free time was abundant. I began posting fashion and food content more frequently on Instagram (@shellyteal), and learning about video editing while researching social media trends. During that time, I found a passion for content creation, photography, videography and helping brands tell their story on social media. What began as a side-hustle, became my full-time job in early 2022 via Shelly Teal Media. I was helping several clients build their social media presence and educate their online audiences!
In April 2022, my husband and I moved to South Florida, from Connecticut, and I was excited to continue creating content for my personal page and my clients. As a newcomer to the city, I was looking to establish myself here and make connections and friendships. I met several new friends who shared the same sentiment – there was a need for easy ways to meet friends when you are new to a city.
I knew that my event planning experience could be helpful in putting together experiences for the women of Fort Lauderdale to find friends… and FTL Gals was born!
FTL Gals’ first event was a walk, with over 100 people in attendance. Since our first event in August 2022, we have hosted several events, partnered with local businesses and helped many, many women create lasting friendships.
Today, my career has many facets, and FTL Gals is a large part of that. I continue to share food and Fort Lauderdale lifestyle content on my page @shellyteal, and help my clients tell their brand story via Shelly Teal Media.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my online presence has a purpose, THIS IS IT! I share my experiences eating, living and enjoying all that South Florida has to offer so visitors and locals alike can make the most of it…. there’s so much to see and do!
When friends are coming to town, I first focus on the beach. Everyone coming to Fort Lauderdale, must put their feet in the sand and dip their toes in the ocean. When it comes time for dinner, you can’t go wrong with one of the many amazing restaurants on the beach, but a local spot like Bandoleros Taqueria really showcases the what Fort Lauderdale has to offer.
The next morning, we would wake up early to see the sunrise, enjoy an acai bowl, or walk along Las Olas. If it’s a weekend, we might head to Las Olas Oceanside Park for the Market to grab some fruit or snacks! Dining along the intercoastal at a place like Boatyard is always enjoyable too. As a first timer to Fort Lauderdale, jumping on the Water Taxi is a hit as are activities like a glass blowing class at Hollywood Hot Glass.
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?
I’d love to dedicate this shoutout to FTL Gals and the women in the group!
Website: www.shellyteal.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/shellyteal