When Bailey Thibodeaux completed her formal education, she figured the road to future career success would start with a job.

The 26-year-old Lake Charles native realized that her strategy needed to be tweaked.

“I started applying for jobs and had a couple of interviews but nothing worked out initially. Then I got a job (2020). The day I was supposed to start, the hurricane hit,” she explained.

Thibodeaux evacuated to Shreveport for two months. She had considered starting a business, but figured getting experience was necessary.

While considering her options, Thibodeaux decided to “take matters in my own hands.”

“I learned how to do branding and website work on Youtube and Google,” she said. “It all happened in the hotel lobby.”

From that point, Honeywell Creative was developed and when Thibodeaux got back to Lake Charles, she started the process of starting the enterprise.

Eventually, she was told about the Business Incubator located at the SEED Center (4310 Ryan St. in Lake Charles).

Thibodeaux met with former Incubator Director Adrian Wallace and was accepted into the facility following an application and selection process.

Honeywave Creative specializes in: one day website development; one day branding (logo, colors, fonts, icons, etc.) and a website/brand combo over two days.

Thibodeaux shares her mindset on the website (www.honeywavecrative.com) “I’m a good Ole’ Cajun girl that is absolutely obsessed with all things business, marketing and self-development. I’m a self-acclaimed professional hype-woman and am here to help YOU grow your business through purpose-driven, personalized branding and website design. WORK WITH ME.”

By the way, Thibodeaux's education fits her company. She earned a Bachelor of Marketing from the University of Louisiana-Monroe and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi.

Being based in the Incubator has been a positive experience for Thibodeaux. 

“It has been great. It is a safe place to have meetings, host classes and courses,” she said. “Also, it is nice to surround yourself with other people who are starting businesses.”

Thibodeaux also participated in business roundtables with other start-ups.

“There were once a month meetings that were very nice. You talk through problems and discover you're not the only one going through business issues alone.”

Now that Thibodeaux is in business, her next step is to grow into a strong and viable business.

She has some advice for others thinking of starting a business.

“It takes a lot of perseverance and hard work. Starting a business gets glorified a lot. It is awesome, but you have to put the work in to reach the rewards. When you experience the rewards, it is awesome, because you know you earned them.

The Incubator is a facility focused on assisting start-ups or struggling businesses to grow with confidence with: entrepreneurial training, business coaching, seminars, workshops, co-working space, pre-incubation assistance, managerial and technical assistance, and client management.

Those accepted into the Incubator facility get these services: Internet, utilities, telephone equipment, conference room access, professional address, building security, private parking, guest parking, copier/printer, office furniture, start-up office space.

If you are interested in learning more about the Incubator, contact us at 337-433-0977 or visit www..seedcenterswla.ocm.