Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Johnson.
Hi Andrea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I had never experienced a brick-and-mortar beauty retailer with black female ownership. So I created one. My love for beauty products started at an early age with doing skincare with my mom, searching for the right products as a brown-skinned girl, and constantly switching up my hair as a way of expression. Today, like most women, I am obsessed, not with just one brand, product, or service but with the overall experience of celebrating my beauty.
My choices and experiences provided by retailers did not always reflect what I needed, and I found myself having to search high and low for products and even services. My frustration as a consumer piqued my interest in wanting to understand why finding certain products in retailers was such a challenge. I also noticed the lack of shelf space provided to certain products or brands, the imagery that goes along with marketing, and the lack of representation on the sales floor and support behind my experience as a consumer.
As I listened more to my circle, my community, and other women, there is a lot still waiting to happen and much work to be done when it comes to sharing the beauty retail space and creating an even playing field. Thus, I decided to create – MirrorMirror Beauty Center.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been an exciting and fun road, and there are moments when I panic, but I am working on having faith over fear.
I often remind myself it is part of the process as I am learning something new daily: inventory, POS, operations, marketing, funding, our clientele and community needs.
We’ve been impressed with MirrorMirror Beauty Center, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
MirrorMirror Beauty Center in Woodland Hills is a curated beauty gallery shattering the mirror, providing diversity, inclusiveness, and a welcoming shopping experience as I have also presented a new paradigm for a beauty outpost. Occupying 1,500 square feet in a desirable stretch of the San Fernando Valley and open seven days a week, we house popular brands as well as products courtesy of independent black or brown entrepreneurs. We also provide various in-house services, such as a braid bar, treatment room, and permanent jewelry. Powered by diversity, the store immediately incites trust and enthusiasm from customers, welcoming them as a family like any neighborhood staple would. I strived to create a safe space for our customers to visit, explore, and discover while feeling seen and heard. It’s about people of different backgrounds walking in and feeling seen, especially as black or brown consumers, as we have diverse concerns regarding how we utilize beauty products.
I am most proud of the community and collaborations – I have been able to build within the space. The store also serves as an event space for the community and others to network with other entrepreneurs.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I have learned to work hard and believe in yourself no matter what – whoever is meant to see you will see you. Today, others will put their doubt and expectations on you, so – stay locked in, true to yourself, and don’t be afraid to lean on your support system.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mirrormirrorbeautycenter.com
- Instagram: @mirrormirrorbeautycenter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084392880236
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mirror-mirror-beauty-center-los-angeles
