Keisha Long-Watson took a gamble of exiting the corporate world to pursue her passion for designing clothes, and was one of the first tenants to join the St. Pete Pier Marketplace.
“I initially moved into the Marketplace in July 2019. It was when we were in the middle of the pandemic – but that was when I hit my peak time,” said Long-Watson, owner of InSparkle Me Bling Apparel.
Long-Watson provides custom rhinestone apparel for women, clothing she describes as having “inspirational and empowering” meaning.
She started her business in 2016 after leaving her full-time corporate job. While she expected to primarily sell her T-shirts at the St. Pete Pier Marketplace, Covid-era buying behavior shifted – and became a blessing in disguise.
“In the middle of the pandemic, business started to be slow, and then boom it was crazy because I started selling masks that I would bling. I never had any intention of selling masks, but it kept my business afloat at that time,” Long-Watson said. “I had an entire wall of masks. I had moved from my tent to my own stall and it allowed me to carry my product.”
