March Member Monday Recap
Meet Hailey Gillingwater of George & Co and Shop Teeta
Hello! I’m Hailey Gillingwater, a mom to a two-year-old and a four-month-old, and the founder of two businesses. I own George & Co, an online childrens retail and monogram storefront, as well as Shop Teeta, a wholesale children’s smocked clothing brand. I started Shop Teeta after graduating college during COVID while searching for a creative outlet, beginning by making sweet pieces for my nephews. What began as a passion project has since grown into a brand now carried in over 125 stores across the United States.
https://shopgeorgeandco.com/
https://shopteeta.com/
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined TSC to connect with other women entrepreneurs and be part of a community that truly understands the challenges and rewards of building a business.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
Apple of My Isla, Picket Fences, and Maisonette.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
My children inspire me every day—both creatively and in the way I approach my work and business.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
“It’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.” — Jonathan Ive
Meet Lisa Ellis of Lisa Ellis Design, Hawthorne House, and Scope Lighting Group
I translate dreams and intentions into physical environments that turn the imagined into lived experience, shaping memories to come.
I’m Lisa Ellis, founder of Lisa Ellis Design, Hawthorne House, and Scope Lighting Group. My design firm’s portfolio spans architecture, interiors, furnishings, and lighting for residential, vacation investment, and commercial projects, with studios based in the Athens and Atlanta area and projects across the country.
Hawthorne House and Scope Lighting together provide furnishings and lighting for designers and trade partners, as well as homeowners and real estate investors, through a showroom-based and virtual model rooted in technical fluency and thoughtful integration.
Across all of my work, I favor longevity over trends, creating spaces that support life, hold memory, and are meant to be lived into over time.
https://lisaellisdesign.com/about
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined The Southern C very early in its inception solely because of Whitney and Cheri. I didn’t know what these ladies were building at the time, but I knew that whatever they were doing, I wanted to be a part of it.
What keeps me here is the integrity and quality of the women in this group and the forum Whitney and Cheri have created. The Southern C has offered me something I have not found easily in my entrepreneurial journey: a place of real trust and support among women. It’s a space where people can be honest about what’s working and what isn’t, share advice and perspective freely, and show up for one another with generosity and humor. That sense of openness, intelligence, and mutual respect is rare, and it’s what has made this community so meaningful over time.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
I’m lucky to be surrounded by entrepreneurs and creatives, many of whom are close friends. I love supporting their work in everyday ways, from collaborating on projects to placing art and furnishings. That includes partners like Hable Construction and creatives like Christy Bush, whose work I admire and return to often.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
Travel, always. And books. I have an extensive decorative arts library filled with coffee table books and out-of-print volumes that explore the history, periods, and construction of the decorative arts. When I feel lost on a project, I return to my library. The ideas I gather through travel, paired with what I rediscover in books, are where my imagination is most fully engaged.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
Take the first step. Start it. Get out of your head.
Meet Christina Wallace of Monkee’s of Richmond and Monkee’s of Williamsburg
Hello, I’m Christina! It is so nice to meet you. I’m the owner of Monkee’s of Richmond and Monkee’s of Williamsburg (Virginia). My husband and I live in Williamsburg with our 7-year-old daughter, Waverly, and our two dogs, Rosie and Sydney. I opened my first store in 2024 and have recently expanded to Richmond with a second store. My stores are my passion, but spending time with my family is what I love most. My daughter is my mini-me, and there is no greater joy than watching her grow up.
https://monkeesofrichmond.com/
https://monkeesofwilliamsburg.com/
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I learned about TSC through Instagram, and I was immediately intrigued (and impressed) by the sense of community I felt. I love that this group is a meeting place for women in small business. It gives us a way to empower and support each other — and that is so important. I’m excited to meet more members of this community and create meaningful connections.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
It has always been so important to me to support small, local businesses. It is one of the main platforms of our business. We support local vendors, artists, and businesses with trunk shows, events, contests, etc. Locally, my favorite small business to support is Colonial Aesthetics, but I also love Kadi Bakes — she is such a talented baker and pastry chef. @colonial_aesthetics @kadibakes
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
I’m a visual person, and I’m drawn to things that are beautiful to the eye — bright colors, bold patterns, elegant design. I find my ideas in many places, but especially on Instagram and Pinterest. I also love to browse periodicals — magazines and newspapers. I find so much inspiration in those pages. Sometimes it just takes a couple of words to spark a brilliant idea.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” I think this is such an important piece of advice. We all do this because we have a passion for it — not because it is easy. It may not always be smooth sailing, but those difficult moments are where we grow the most — both personally and professionally.
Meet Anna Shackleford, Photographer
Anna Shackleford is a Fine Arts–trained photographer with over fifteen years of experience documenting luxury weddings with intention and heart. Known for her thoughtful approach and calm, kind presence, Anna is drawn to the in-between moments that make a story feel honest and enduring. Her work has been featured in BRIDES, Harper’s Bazaar, Martha Stewart Weddings, Southern Living, Style Me Pretty, and The Knot.
Now expanding into brand photography, Anna partners with businesses that value elevated imagery rooted in authenticity. She believes beautiful photographs should not only look refined, but feel real. Based in Athens, Georgia, she spends her days photographing, gardening alongside her husband, raising two boys, and tending to a lively flock of chickens.
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined The Southern C to be surrounded by creative, driven women who are building beautiful things with intention. The best part of being a member has been the sense of shared purpose. It is inspiring to gather with women who value collaboration over competition and who genuinely want to bring more beauty, integrity, and goodness into their work and the world.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
Stamped and Finch is a favorite small business I love to support. Their jewelry is timeless and meaningful, and their mission behind the brand makes every piece feel even more special.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
Right now, I find so much inspiration in the quiet growth happening in my own garden. There is something grounding about watching sunlight move across the day, tending to small things faithfully, and seeing beauty unfold slowly. That rhythm of patience and growth deeply influences the way I approach both photography and business.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
The best business advice I have ever received is to work with like-minded people who share your values and long-term vision. When goals and integrity align, collaboration becomes energizing rather than draining, and the work becomes more meaningful for everyone involved.
Meet Weezie Boiles of Weezie B. Studio
Hi! I’m Weezie Boiles, an Alabama-based artist and founder of Weezie B. Studio. I create fine art–inspired stationery, custom illustrations, and paper and party goods for weddings, families, and life’s meaningful moments. This was my first year attending the Summit and I LOVED it! As a Mom is twin 14 year old boys, it was a great break from the every day to get inspired and rejuvenated for the next year in my business.
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined TSC while attending the Summit this year — something I’d wanted to do for years. I went to the Summit hoping for clarity for the next steps in my business, and I left with it!
The best part of membership has been the community. Being in a small town, it is excited to be in a group of women building intentional businesses at all stages.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
Local business in my small town of Guntersville, Alabama (which also support some TSC vendors!). @shop.blossom.boutique @stachcompany Plus, small business in Birmingham, Chattanooga and Huntsville.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
I’ve always found inspiration through travel — the colors, architecture, fabrics, and little details that make a place feel special. I’m also inspired by whatever season my family and friends are in — weddings, new babies, birthdays, traditions we’re building. Having lived through many of those stages (or hearing directly from friends and clients in the middle of them) gives me insight into what’s needed at those times. Designing around real life keeps my work personal and meaningful.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
“Make what you’re already doing excellent before adding something new.”
That advice shifted everything for me this year. Instead of chasing new directions, I’m focusing on refining my systems, streamlining my offerings, and strengthening the foundation of my current business.
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