Press Release "Creating the Knoxville LGBTQ Friendly Business Directory"

January 1, 2023

Beau Knowles

Knoxville LGBTQ Friendly Business Directory

PO Box 22081 Knoxville TN 37933

knoxlgbtbusinesses@gmail.com

Beau Knowles, is the owner of Knox LGBT Businesses' and the creator of the Knoxville LGBTQ Friendly Business Directory on her website. Ms. Knowles studied marketing in college but attributes many of her abilities to "self-taught" Google Academy, Social Media classes, Youtube Tutorials and going with her gut instinct.

Ms. Knowles returned to her home state of Tennessee from North Carolina in the early 2000's.  For many years she was a stay-at-home mother caring for her children. one of which is Autistic.  When Beau became a single mother 12 years ago, she took a job with a telephone sales marketing company to make ends meet. Even though studied Marketing and Communications in College she did not seek out a Marketing industry position. She stated "I didn't try to go back to school or look for a career as a full time Marketing Manager because they typically work 60 hrs. a week or more. I took a job that gave me flexibility to be available to my children." 

Beau is known in the LGBTQ Community of Knoxville as an LGBTQ Advocate. She declared, " I have worked with many organizations, advised nonprofits, provided marketing and promotion information for free, and if nothing else provided a listening ear."

In 2020, Beau was furloughed from the marketing company that she had worked at for 8 yrs. She reassures us, "I found myself at home like many other workers. I was not essential but thankfully so because my special needs son was also at home. I will forever be grateful to the essential workers and everyone that kept our country moving during that time. " While at home she did as many of the others did, reorganized her house, worked in her yard. When offered the opportunity to return to work she declined, "It was the scariest thing I've ever done, I felt it wasn't safe for me to be in the workplace yet. I have responsibilities that go beyond those of average parents." 

As Beau was finding her way through budgeting her savings to see how long she could pay her bills without working outside the home, she happened upon an online only, Women’s Empowerment Business Course. That coaching experience began to show her that other paths to employment were possible. It even gave her access to the tools to create her own job, as she had a passion for helping people. She states," During my advocacy years, I had gathered a large list of resources, finding myself with so much free time, I thought why not share the information widely? "

Beau credits her abilities to gather information to computer courses she took in the early 1990's. She said, "Key word searches back then were drilled into our brains, we learned what words would get the best information." "I may seem like I'm ahead of the game on my search engine capabilities but I'm actually just using old techniques." 

When asked about her directory website Beau states, " To save costs I built the website myself. It's been quite a learning curve as it was my first large scale website. It has over 70 sections. There are over 750 listings. I didn't use a directory template. I add to it almost daily as new information becomes available to me. The last business I added was Frog Juice Boocherie, who sent me an email telling me they offered a queer safe space that was also a sober space. I added them to the directory under Nightlife/Breweries section then I visited their location on Sutherland Ave this week to take photos. "

When asked how is the business going? Beau answers, "I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to the website. I had wanted to make sure everything was perfect before going public with its existence. However, that's not possible as there is always something to add or an area to rework." She continues "Sponsorships are slowly coming in. I have some great sponsors so far. Building this website was a very much "Field of Dreams" movie moment for me, I was going with "Build it and they will come" mindset." My current sponsors are Natalie Saunders Realty, Ed McGimley Tek Inspections, jennifer Egelston Attorney at Law and Susan Cothran Coral Reef Insureance. 

"I thought my website would be in demand just for resources, but I have since added "News" and "Business Reviews". Recently I added a section for job listings which are very prevalent right now. I had not planned to add LGBTQ Friendly Employers to my website yet, however, last week I met with the hiring manager for Wendy's Restaurants, the Wen Jai Group to discuss advertising space for hiring in East Tennessee." "Going on the theme of hiring opportunities, I even went to my old company on a whim after a Halloween Trunk or Treat. I was dressed as Fiona from Shrek. I found that my old company also had a trunk or treat. While visiting I saw the director of our branch. I asked him who would I contact about advertising space on my website as I already knew the company was LGBTQ Friendly. He gave me the Company Recruiter's name. "

When asked what the future holds for her company Beau says, "I own several web domains under this brand concept. I plan to continue to build websites that can be accessed for resources on the internet. Though my joy is helping people, I love providing resources, helping small businesses figure out why their "google my business isn't working" and various other things. I say I am an “Empower-er” versus an Influencer as I’m willing to help businesses learn how to navigate social media, and internet search engines so that they can be independent of assistance. "

When asked what would you like people to know about your business? "Knox LGBT Businesses is an organization that prides itself on customer service. We search for businesses that are no less than FRIENDLY to the LGBTQ Community. "The businesses that we list do not have to be owned by the LGBTQ Community, but they must be LGBTQ Friendly or accepting of the individuals and families that will utilize them. We expect exemplary customer service. "There is a plethora of customers that want to shop and receive services where they feel accepted."

When asked her final words Beau said, " I've learned a ton of things mainly by making mistakes, but this has been the most unforeseen, magical and best path I could take for myself and my family.  I'm available to my son any time he needs me now. I can work my own hours which allows me to pick up at a moment's notice to take him hiking. This was a huge gamble for me but now I see it for its limitless possibilities."

Beau Knowles knoxlgbtqdirectory.com knoxlgbtbusinesses.com BeauKnowleslgbt.com knoxchalkcar.com

 #knoxlgbtbusinesses #knoxlgbtdirectory #easttnlgbt #easttnlgbtbusinesses #easttndirectory #knoxpride

I do have a buy me coffee account www.buymecoffee.com/beauknowles or you can ask how to sponsor one of my directory websites."

Beau Knowles

Phone 865-236-0521

KnoxLGBTBusinesses@Gmail.com

KnoxLGBTBusinesses.com

KnoxLGBTQDirectory.com

Knox LGBT Businesses

Knox LGBTQ Directory

Knox Chalk Car

PO Box 22081 Knoxville TN 37933

knoxchalkcar@gmail.com

Many know me as a lgbtq advocate and owner of this Knoxville LGBTQ Friendly Business Directory however I also own the #KnoxChalkCar. 

The Knox Chalk Car is funky little Chalkboard Paint Car in East Tennessee. We park the car at festivals, parties and on the street so people can draw on it.  If you have an opinion this is the time to write it on the car. We make YouTube, TikTok and Facebook reels videos from the art left on the car.

I painted my first car in 2018, the car was hand-me-down vehicle from my parents who had stated "they wanted me to drive a dependable car, as my love of old cars had often landed my car in the repair shop". The new car a Honda was gray. On a whim I decided to  paint the car a different color. Being innuative I decided to paint the car myself. After researching how to paint a car. I came upon a story about a school teacher who painted her car with chalkboard paint then let her students draw on it. In the decision to paint the car I also decided to use chalk board paint to match my fingernail polish verses going with the standard black chalkboard paint. The first car, a Honda Element, was a Turquoise Blue. The next one, a Honda Civic is OPI Sassy Violet.

Once I painted the first car I found it fun to leave the chalk out at the park to let people draw on the car. I received great response from anyone that drew on the car. Once again on a whim I thought to share the car at a festival. I painted the car in June 2019. I had heard that Maryville TN was going to have a pride festival. I asked the organizers if I could bring our chalkboard car. During that communication we decided to park the car in the Children's section of the festival. IThat event Blount Pride Festival was our first festival of any sort. We were there all day,  Children did draw on the car but also did adults. At that event I decided to that since we were an Autism and Rainbow family, that the mission of our car would be to promote INCLUSION, ACCEPTANCE and DIVERSITY.

2022: Last year you might have seen our car at Pride Picnic Lgbt+ in Cleveland, TN Blount Pride in Maryville TN , SoKno Pride in South Knoxville TN, in the Knox Pride Parade, parked in front of South Press Coffee or parked at a park, or at a shopping center.

2023: So far we are scheduled for KNOX CHALK CAR AT CARS AND COFFEE APRIL 23 2023 ,  KNOX CHALK CAR AT SOKNO PRIDE SOUTH KNOXVILLE  SoKno Pride. I expect to be at Blount Pride. We would love to come to other evnts. 

WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION:

INVITES: Please invite us to your events. Email me at Knoxchalkcar@gmail.com

FOLLOWERS: Though the car was created in 2018, after the 2019 summer season we were before we could begin 2020 as most of the world we were safer at home.

Followers help us get sponsors for maintenance of the car and travel expenses. This is our Facebook page, we post Facebook Reels and photos of things people have drawn on the car. I would love to get 1000 followers on this page. Knox Chalk Car  https://www.facebook.com/knoxchalkcar

This is our Tiktok page. We make videos from the art that is drawn on the car. I try very hard to make all the videos positive vibes and pg 13. I have 17,600 views on my hashtag but only about 80 followers.  https://www.tiktok.com/@knoxchalkcar

YOUTUBE CHANNEL: I have just started building our youtube channel. Social media is such a learning curve for us old people. lol https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2016_Fe5LxKdKEBxGLTkg

WEBSITE: I created a website for the car. I've added Autism resources section to the website which I hope to build on.  www.knoxchalkcar.com

FACEBOOK GROUP: I created a facebook group to share photos of the car and positive posts. Knox Chalk Car Fan Club

PATREON-ISH: As all this was new to me I didn't realize that I should be added photos and videos to our donations page. I have recently started adding photos to the Gallery section. There is a Membership section to receive email updates on our posts and journey, a Wish list and Commissions section. I can draw messages on the car if you aren't available to draw on it yourself and have done decent copies of logos. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/knoxchalkcar

In the end the car has been a fun adventure that turned into a mission. We would like this journey to continue far into the future.

Beau Knowles

Phone 865-236-0521

KnoxchalkcarKnoxchalkcar@Gmail.com

Knoxchalkcar.com