Founder Adecia Shumate
Business History
“The idea was first conceived during lunch with about 20 single friends in 2006. We’d just hiked Stone Mountain and gathered at a little restaurant afterward. Keith, an entrepreneur who works with tiles, expressed his frustration over not having enough time and necessary skills to manage all aspects of his life.
He needed someone just a few hours per week to manage paperwork: receipts, invoices, etc. I told him I could do that. After a minute or so, he added he needed someone to prepare wholesome meals from time to time. He frequently ate fast food and was concerned about his health. I told him I was a decent cook. I could double my recipes and freeze meals for him. Later, with no holds barred, Keith added honestly that he needed someone to clean his house too. I, a little more reluctantly this time, told him that yes, I could do that also.
I noticed two other single, blue-collar entrepreneurs at our table who seemed to nod in agreement with everything Keith said. Then, with a smile, Keith announced to the group, as if a light bulb suddenly came on, that he just needed a wife. Everyone chuckled, and I joked that I could not help him with that. The discussion soon turned to another topic, but the seed of 5 Wives was planted that day.”
In the Fall of 2007, the then dormant idea was watered over and over again in an entrepreneurship course taught by Jim Beach at Georgia State University. Roots began to grow as more thought was given to the concept. With the encouragement of good friends, 5 Wives sprouted in early February 2008 after a jingle written by Dena Gaddie was sung at a birthday party.
Upon the advice of Professor Beach, Adecia began performing key functions of 5 Wives, while maintaining her job as a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines. She purchased vacuums and cleaning supplies, networked with industry insiders, rolled up her sleeves and jumped in.
Background of Owner
Adecia Shumate, 36 and single, worked full-time and studied full-time at Georgia State University to graduate with an MBA in International Business in December 2007. In addition to the knowledge she obtained in graduate school, she holds a vast repertoire of job-related experiences which enables her to better coordinate a portfolio of supportive services. Some of her past and current jobs include: flight attendant, receptionist, airport lounge agent, accounting clerk, executive assistant, event planner, waitress, house care-taker, bank teller, teacher and landscape assistant. She is a meticulous, detailed individual with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and customer service focus.
Our Number One Priority
An impressive 55% of new companies are begun by women, which proves that women are more than capable of success in business. This surprising stat also suggests a strong discontentment of women in more traditional, male-dominated corporations. Women in the business world are told that in order to be successful, they need to be masculine: deepen their voice, wear high heels to appear taller, wear dark suits and stop smiling. This is not right, but failure to stifle feminine characteristics often results in lack of promotion.
On the other hand, women who opt for more traditional roles of becoming housewives and stay-at-home-moms are no more content. They are not respected in society; just ask a feminist. They often suffer from low self esteem because they are starved for adult conversation, totally dependant, and devoid of the opportunity to earn an income of their own. With only one spouse working, the budget is usually quite tight also.
Being productive and earning money is a powerful esteem booster, but not if a woman feels that she is “selling out.” 5 Wives will always recognize that our ladies are our number one stakeholders. Any business in customer service cannot afford to not put front-line employees at the top of their priority list. Our vision is to find an army of talented women and offer them freedom, flexibility, respect, and recognition.
We’re Different (but in a good way!)
We come from such a myriad of backgrounds (Home Manager, Realtor, Flight Attendant, Physical Therapist, M.B.A. Graduate, Recording Artist, Executive Assistant, Wedding Coordinator, School Teacher, Accounting Clerk, Event Planner, etc.) that in some ways it is easier for us to tell you who we are not, than to tell you who we are.
- We are NOT MAIDS. We are much too elegant for that title. You’ll never catch us in a huge glossy ad wearing goofy, rubber gloves and frumpy outfits, standing beside a vacuum. Instead, we are “partners” interested in the bigger picture of helping you get ahead one step at a time and invoking peace into your world. Our job, plain and simple, is to make your life easier.
- We are NOT ILLEGAL to work in the United States. All of our WIVES are either natural-born U.S. citizens or proud Green Card holders. Jack Welch, management icon and former CEO of General Electric, said it best, “Excellence and competitiveness aren’t incompatible with honesty and integrity…Integrity must be the foundation for competitiveness.”
- We are NOT MEDIOCRE. We take pride in our work and are eager to please. There is a spirit of excellence in all that we do, whether it is cleaning your house, organizing your files, washing your sheets, restocking your pantry, or picking up your dry-cleaning. We engage in best practices, adhere to efficiency, and constantly seek ways to add value to your life and provide peace of mind. “Excellence is not a gift; it is achieved by preparation and hard work,” Kay Yow, ladies’ collegiate basketball coaching legend.
Giving Back
Not only are we intelligent, honest, and hard-working, we are also empathetic and passionate about our community. We are proud supporters of local organizations such as:
- The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta www.girlscoutsnwga.org
- VOICE Today (sexual abuse prevention and survival) www.voicetoday.org
- The Real Majority (encouraging wholeness for teens one good decision at a time) www.therealmajority.com
- Royal Family Kids’ Camps (serving abused, neglected and abandoned children) www.rfkc.org