I don't know if I can speak for everyone when I say, that when it comes to wardrobe and fashion our hair has gotta be the first to get dressed. From the fliest and sexiest wigs, to top shelf bundles we linked up with young Extentionista' Aireal Blackburn owner and operator of Queen Melanin Extensions whose gonna tell us all about it. She has took the leap, deciding to go into business for herself to provide quality and affordable hair care products. We get into detail about what some of her inspirations are, what her reason for getting started was, and so much more. Because keeping our community #Slayed is what we do! Let's get into it.!!
FFB: Welcome! Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity for the exclusive, and providing our readers the insider's scoop. How are you and how is business?
QME: I'm amazing, and it's great actually, I am truly blessed!
FFB: That is absolutely wonderful to hear! So, the community wants to know you're new to the industry as of September this year right...
QME: Yes, September 10th, 2018 to be exact. September 10th is a date very significant to me. See my God Mother, she was an amazing woman. She stepped in when our family experienced a really traumatic incident where my mother was shot 9 times, and wasn't able to care for me properly. I was really inspired by her.
FFB: That's amazing!
QME: She truly was, that date was her birthday, and the day I decided to launch my business. My God mother Annette, she was a vibrant, beautiful dark skinned woman. She was so creative, she was style. She wore her hair in a bunch of different colors, I mean just a BOLD! woman.
FFB: Poppin!!
QME: "Laugh"Yes! That was her, and this the inspiration behind our name Queen Melanin Extensions, and business slogan "Let your Melanin Pop"...Telling that just brings back a flood of memories of before this thing all got started.
FFB: Awesome story, and in that case that takes us into the next question of what is your why? Inspirationalist say that your why should be strong enough to make you cry. Tell us your why.
QME: My why didn't start behind any sentimental scenario's as some come from. I personally love to wear extensions, and throughout my life I spent my hard earned money on hair that just wasn't it. I'd get something and within a month or less it would be tangled really bad, or thinned out. Everything was trail and error for me. Conception started there, I said I wanted to become a supplier of the lasting quality products. I wanted to build a business for queens like myself that stood behind its values and are contributors to restoring the confidence of its customers at affordable prices. Of course then solving my own problem in the process.
FFB: Right, right! Crazy how most small business owners start came from direct experience of a problem. It pushes us towards change is what I call it. Let's change it up a bit, and talk about some of the different challenges that small business owners face in the starting phase. What were some that you faced during your building phase?
QME: Well, I had been doing research for about two years to September 10. So, what I found to be the challenge was really was funding. I've invested so much money in poor grade products. It takes a designated amount of seed to make sure you're planted and able to keep your business in the green. Supply and demand, I needed stock. Following trends and doing the market research I noticed with my customers shopping habits that I had a substantial amount of last minute shoppers. For me having an abundance of stock was important. I had the supply, to keep up with my demand. This challenge helped me to create and use good strategy. The other thing was having this information benefited was there is a lot of skepticism of online shopping due to the influx of scams, me making the choice to house inventory was best for me to curbed running into that problem and losing my clientele, also having the demand. I really learned a lot from and during my starting phase.
FFB: That to me sounds like its the option where you as the owner get a lot of creative control. You get to maybe tap into your other skills like when doing something unique with your packing and shipping.
QME:Right!
FFB. Niceee!!
QME: Then there's building the clientele. I wanted (want) to build the authentic customer base without having to give up any more of myself that I had already extended; and not go further into debt.
FFB: Absolutely, without a strategy plan people are really hurting their businesses. I love that you have that knowledge, it takes that part of knowing and learning that small business owners should be taking good note on. Getting that aspect broadens the opportunities.
QME: Finding a good solid manufacturer. One to really be reliable, and trustworthy. I went in with the mindset of I know that they will get loyalty from me, I want that equal partnership and quality trait in those I'll be doing business with.
FFB: That show's that you know you'll need and have room to grow. Your mindset is the main force in building a solid business. What are you telling your kids about life, and about the community?
QME: My daughter is four years old. and all I want to do is show her that she can be anything with hard work and effort. My plan is to not give up since I've only been established for a few years now. If I did because things aren't coming as fast as I'd like or working out as I expected them to every time, I'd just be showing her that its okay to give up, and I don't want to do that. I want to be her best example.
"Life is not handed to you"
FFB: Alright, last question before we close out. As a business woman what are you looking to see in society and in the community in the future?
QME: Very good question, well I'd say partnerships. I see a lot of people in competition with each other trying to out due the next. Well its not about that because we all its about support. Too many, are headed down this route I'd like to be apart of a team that working with building relationships that support success, and to build self confidence to change the jealous mentality towards their partner. There is enough success for us all but distractions and the wrong mindset block that.
FFB: WOW! That statement was great. I hate to admit there is a lot of hate consuming our communities. That's why I like to get out there are go find these "City Changers" like you. Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a insiders edition about you and Queen Melanin Extensions.
Thank you all for reading you can find Queen Melanin on Instagram and Facebook along with visiting their store at
www.queenmelaninextensions.com
FFB: Welcome! Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity for the exclusive, and providing our readers the insider's scoop. How are you and how is business?
QME: I'm amazing, and it's great actually, I am truly blessed!
FFB: That is absolutely wonderful to hear! So, the community wants to know you're new to the industry as of September this year right...
QME: Yes, September 10th, 2018 to be exact. September 10th is a date very significant to me. See my God Mother, she was an amazing woman. She stepped in when our family experienced a really traumatic incident where my mother was shot 9 times, and wasn't able to care for me properly. I was really inspired by her.
FFB: That's amazing!
QME: She truly was, that date was her birthday, and the day I decided to launch my business. My God mother Annette, she was a vibrant, beautiful dark skinned woman. She was so creative, she was style. She wore her hair in a bunch of different colors, I mean just a BOLD! woman.
FFB: Poppin!!
QME: "Laugh"Yes! That was her, and this the inspiration behind our name Queen Melanin Extensions, and business slogan "Let your Melanin Pop"...Telling that just brings back a flood of memories of before this thing all got started.
FFB: Awesome story, and in that case that takes us into the next question of what is your why? Inspirationalist say that your why should be strong enough to make you cry. Tell us your why.
QME: My why didn't start behind any sentimental scenario's as some come from. I personally love to wear extensions, and throughout my life I spent my hard earned money on hair that just wasn't it. I'd get something and within a month or less it would be tangled really bad, or thinned out. Everything was trail and error for me. Conception started there, I said I wanted to become a supplier of the lasting quality products. I wanted to build a business for queens like myself that stood behind its values and are contributors to restoring the confidence of its customers at affordable prices. Of course then solving my own problem in the process.
FFB: Right, right! Crazy how most small business owners start came from direct experience of a problem. It pushes us towards change is what I call it. Let's change it up a bit, and talk about some of the different challenges that small business owners face in the starting phase. What were some that you faced during your building phase?
QME: Well, I had been doing research for about two years to September 10. So, what I found to be the challenge was really was funding. I've invested so much money in poor grade products. It takes a designated amount of seed to make sure you're planted and able to keep your business in the green. Supply and demand, I needed stock. Following trends and doing the market research I noticed with my customers shopping habits that I had a substantial amount of last minute shoppers. For me having an abundance of stock was important. I had the supply, to keep up with my demand. This challenge helped me to create and use good strategy. The other thing was having this information benefited was there is a lot of skepticism of online shopping due to the influx of scams, me making the choice to house inventory was best for me to curbed running into that problem and losing my clientele, also having the demand. I really learned a lot from and during my starting phase.
FFB: That to me sounds like its the option where you as the owner get a lot of creative control. You get to maybe tap into your other skills like when doing something unique with your packing and shipping.
QME:Right!
FFB. Niceee!!
QME: Then there's building the clientele. I wanted (want) to build the authentic customer base without having to give up any more of myself that I had already extended; and not go further into debt.
FFB: Absolutely, without a strategy plan people are really hurting their businesses. I love that you have that knowledge, it takes that part of knowing and learning that small business owners should be taking good note on. Getting that aspect broadens the opportunities.
QME: Finding a good solid manufacturer. One to really be reliable, and trustworthy. I went in with the mindset of I know that they will get loyalty from me, I want that equal partnership and quality trait in those I'll be doing business with.
FFB: That show's that you know you'll need and have room to grow. Your mindset is the main force in building a solid business. What are you telling your kids about life, and about the community?
QME: My daughter is four years old. and all I want to do is show her that she can be anything with hard work and effort. My plan is to not give up since I've only been established for a few years now. If I did because things aren't coming as fast as I'd like or working out as I expected them to every time, I'd just be showing her that its okay to give up, and I don't want to do that. I want to be her best example.
"Life is not handed to you"
FFB: Alright, last question before we close out. As a business woman what are you looking to see in society and in the community in the future?
QME: Very good question, well I'd say partnerships. I see a lot of people in competition with each other trying to out due the next. Well its not about that because we all its about support. Too many, are headed down this route I'd like to be apart of a team that working with building relationships that support success, and to build self confidence to change the jealous mentality towards their partner. There is enough success for us all but distractions and the wrong mindset block that.
FFB: WOW! That statement was great. I hate to admit there is a lot of hate consuming our communities. That's why I like to get out there are go find these "City Changers" like you. Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a insiders edition about you and Queen Melanin Extensions.
Thank you all for reading you can find Queen Melanin on Instagram and Facebook along with visiting their store at
www.queenmelaninextensions.com