Today we’d like to introduce you to Lexus Allen.
Hi Lexus, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, thanks for having me! My story to becoming a beauty supply owner starts at 19 years old, I was a sophomore in college (LMU 2015). That is when I began learning more about my natural hair, exploring natural hair products, and hairstyles. Over time I became a bit of a product junkie and realized taking care of my hair was a passion of mine. That’s when the idea of having a beauty supply store of my own came to me. I figured this would be the best way to share my passion and expertise with others.
Beauty supply stores have been a staple in the African American community for some time now, a black girl safe haven if you will. Except they weren’t quite “safe” because we often have faced discrimination and disrespect from the owners of these stores. These owners were profiting from us but not respecting us and also don’t know anything about products they are selling.
That’s why it was so important for me as a black woman to one day own a beauty supply store of my own. Again, this idea came to me when I was in college and I didn’t think it was something I could attain until I was in my 30’s at least. However, after my father passed away in 2018, I realized life is extremely short. So, I decided to go after my dream sooner than later. In January 2019, I came up with my store name and opened my store in July 2019. The rest is history!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! Finding a location and getting the store set-up was the easiest part. Again, I opened my store after my father passed, so I kind of rushed into it out of grief without doing much research on what it actually takes to run a successful beauty supply store. I figured I was passionate enough and this was a market that would always be around and lucrative. I thought you open the store in a good location and the customers will come automatically, wrong! Initially, building my customer base was a struggle, the store was really slow the first couple of months. I then began doing a lot of advertising and marketing via social media. I also began physically handing out flyers any and everywhere, and just promoting my business every chance I got. I literally became a walking billboard. Eventually the traffic picked up and began flowing more organically. Another big challenge I was faced was having consistent cash flow to keep consistent employees. Finding dependent trustworthy employees is also hard in itself. For a while it was just me working in the store alone, but I quickly got burnt out. My mom and a couple of friends began helping me when they could, and now I have one amazing employee which helps a lot more than you think. I struggled with other things but I think those two were my greatest challenges, but it created a huge learning curve. I’ve learned a lot in a short amount of time and still have a lot to learn. Honestly, being an entrepreneur is not a smooth road or for the weak but I do believe it’s worth it in the end. I got to where I am today by the grace of God because I opened my business with no formal business background or knowledge. Then a pandemic hit my first year in business but we are still open which is truly mind-blowing. Shoutout to my amazing loyal customers who helped keep me in business this year.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Whew, I do it all! Most businesses have a team of employees to delegate different tasks to but I don’t yet (prayerfully soon) so I do literally everything. I work the register, I do inventory, I’m the graphic designer, I’m the marketing manager, customer service representative, the packaging and delivery worker, the store custodian, and so much more.
Blessed is a modern and boutique style beauty supply store. Black-owned and woman operated! It is a very warm and feminine space that promotes embracing your unique beauty. We are known for our wide variety of natural hair products, our luxury human hair extensions (Blessed Bundles), and our exceptional customer service. Right now, I am most proud of our customer service because I don’t really have a customer service background, I’ve never worked retail so I think it really speaks to my character. I go above and beyond to make sure my customers are satisfied, and I will always make sure my employees do the same.
I feel my store name and mission sets us apart. When deciding a name for my store, I really liked “Blessed” because I felt like I was extremely blessed throughout my life and I wanted to share that experience by being a blessing to others. I like to give back and pay it forward when I can, and I made that a part of my mission. So far, I’ve donated to Hollywood High School and Rosemary Children’s Services (an all-girls group home). This year we began our first annual Breast Cancer Awareness Wig Giveaway, where we donate a human hair wig to breast cancer warriors who lost their hair to treatment. I wanted to show that the beauty industry can be conscious and philanthropic, it’s more than just amazing hair and looks. We have actually donated to two breast cancer warriors, and they were both so happy and appreciative. It was good to know we could bless them in that way, and bring some joy to them in such a dark and trying time. This is just the beginning though; I hope to do a lot more with my store and for others in the near future.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Not really. I read the Bible and a devotional book (that book varies), and I pray every morning. That really helps set the tone for my day and keeps me grounded. I also think social media is a good tool. I follow people/pages that inspire me and that I can learn from. Don’t be too serious, laugh often, and rest when you need to. That’s what helps me do my best day to day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blessedbeautysupply.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/buyblessed
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/buyblessed
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/buyblessed
Image Credits
Photographer: JustaSHOTProductions
