Hey y'all! My name is Brooklynn Tate, owner and operator of Marie & Me Coffee. I am 23 years old, a mother of one beautiful baby girl, a beautiful baby boy, as well as a wife to my amazing husband, Ray — he is a HUGE reason as to why you & I are standing here at my coffee trailer today (but he will get his shine in next month's newsletter!).
I started this company to share my love for handcrafted drinks with my community. Widely, serving others has always been a passion of mine — crafting and serving beverages is more than it sounds. To do this allows me the opportunity to meet those in my community, to connect, to pour into, to bless, and to love on those that I encounter. By the grace of God, I am able to do what I love, and I am honored to have this opportunity.
I wanted a name for my company that was meaningful, but hadn't had much luck finding something. After a long day of thinking, I laid my head down for the night and prayed for guidance in choosing a name. The next morning when I woke up, the name came to me. Marie & Me.
My mother's name is Dena Marie, and I will just tell you now — she is my heart. By no means was my mom or my childhood perfect, but that never stopped her from always being my biggest supporter when it came to entrepreneurship. Having a single mom for many years of my life wasn't easy. My mom worked a lot to sustain, but for us, she would do anything — and for that I am eternally grateful.
I've always had the ambition to be my own boss. I began by selling chips and candy in the hallways of school. I moved onto baking, to bracelet making, to beginning a YouTube channel for content creation, to baking again, to cosmetology school, to crocheting, and to the moon. Guess who was behind me every single time? Marie.
Despite my failed attempts and tendency to move onto the next without the full development of the business, my mom supported me every single time without hesitation. Whether it was “how can I help you succeed with this?” or just good ole' moral support, she was down to ride.
For always having my back, and for always supporting my hustle. I love you. Cheers to Marie & Me Coffee.