Mom and daughter duo behind black-owned Greek paraphernalia celebrates 35 years in business

In 1988, Betty Watkins and her daughter, Sonya, founded Betty’s Promos Plus, which would grow to become a premier destination for Greek apparel and accessories in the United States.

The company is now the leading provider of Greek paraphernalia for Divine 9 Fraternities and Sororities. It has a huge selection of apparel and accessories for every Divine 9 organization, including Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Iota Phi Theta.

“We take pride in stocking high quality, unique Greek gear that helps you stand out of the crowd. We also make custom Greek chapter gifts to allow your entire chapter to shine. We offer customizations for embroidered T-Shirts, screen printed T-Shirts, Jackets, Custom Line Jackets, Blazers, Ties, Sweatshirts, Tank-Tops, Long Sleeve T-Shirts, Hats, Visors, Shirts, and more,” the company said on its website.

Betty’s Promos Plus first opened in Orlando, Florida, and in 2013, opened its first retail location in the South Downtown district of Orlando, making it easy for customers to browse and purchase a wide range of Greek Paraphernalia. The company also plans to expand its offerings to include unique apparel and accessories for HBCUs following overwhelming customer demand.

Today, Watkins and her daughter are celebrating their 35th anniversary in business. They pride themselves on providing top-quality products and excellent customer service to the local Greek community. 

“We’re delighted to be celebrating 35 years in business and are grateful to the thousands of our loyal customers for their support over the years,” said Betty. As part of their 35th anniversary, the mother-and-daughter duo is offering special discounts and promotions throughout the year. 

Betty’s Promos Plus was first started by Betty Watkins, who has spent over 30 years in the Greek Paraphernalia industry and has since been successful as an entrepreneur. She started this business to provide a better family life for her 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

Sonya, on the other hand, is the co-owner of Betty’s Promos Plus and the company’s in-house designer. She has over 30 years of experience in designing T-Shirts, mouse pads, purses, and bags for the business. As a career-long educator, Sonya has made a habit of designing paraphernalia targeted at teachers and other professions. 

Sonya told Orlandovayager that the journey has not been easy. According to her, the company’s original location was purchased by a real estate developer who increased their rent by 300%; when they declined, they were given only 30 days to vacate the premises. 

“This forced us to close both our in-store and online sales and put all of our inventory into storage while we figured out a new plan,” she noted. “Luckily, my son, our Digital Product Manager, JaRet Watkins, had just graduated business school and was able to help restart our online sales and find our current location while he waited to start his new job.”

Thankfully, after one and a half years, the business got a new location. However, they were forced to close their doors due to the pandemic. Not only that, but they also faced financial hardship which affected how long they could last during the closure.

Looking back at their journey and how much the business has grown despite multiple challenges, this 35th-anniversary celebration marks the resilience and milestones of the company as well as the mother-daughter duo, shining a light on more successful days to come.