Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Osbourne.
Amber, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
January 2019, I was a contestant on TNT’s Snoop Dogg’s Jokers Wild. I was the grand prize winner of $52,000.00. With a desire to create generational wealth for my family knew I needed to go either the real estate or entrepreneurial route. I have for some time wanted to open a beauty supply store. I had for the past three years sold cosmetics through a company called Senegence. I began vending at various events and became greatly involved with the Black Business Women Rock Organization. The women in that organization were a wealth of support and resources, they connected me with other Black Owned Beauty Supply Store Owners. These women encouraged me and shared their knowledge. Since I was used to working vendor events with my lipstick, I decided to start there. I began doing pop up shops throughout the city bring hair and skincare product. I would set up may table and or tent and build a following. I also created a Facebook and Amazon storefront. I told everyone who would listen what I was working towards.
In June of 2019, I stumbled on a plaza in Carson, CA. I noticed a space that didn’t have a sign above it. I inquired and found my location. On August 17, 2019 I opened Temple Beauty Supply at 17531 S. Central Ave. Unit D, Carson Ca. 90746. We offer hair and skincare products, Hair tools, accessories, wigs, and braiding hair. I take pride in highlight black-owned hair care brands like Taliah Waajid, Kimberly Elise Naturals, Roots Naturalle, and our all-natural and vegan brand Scentsational Soaps Zuresh. The business is growing and we have new customers weekly but I still work a 9 to 5. My husband manages the store and we have friends and family that double as employees. My goal is to expand my store to include a salon and franchise. Eventually, I will be able to fire my boss. Black hair has always been a controversial topic and culturally we have relied on nonblack store owner that at times lack love, patience, and appreciation for our hair, our culture and our community. Temple Beauty Supply is a welcoming place where people can come to get and feel beautiful.
Has it been a smooth road?
Like many black-owned businesses that invest their own money, we struggle with capital. We have to decide between paying for marketing or buying more inventory. Finding quality employees and paying a competitive wage.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We offer hair and skincare products, Hair tools, accessories, wigs, and braiding hair. I take pride in highlight black-owned hair care brands like Taliah Waajid, Kimberly Elise Naturals, Roots Naturalle, and our all-natural and vegan brand Scentsational Soaps Zuresh. The business is growing and we have new customers weekly but I still work a 9 to 5. My husband manages the store and we have friends and family that double as employees. My goal is to expand my store to include a salon and franchise. Eventually, I will be able to fire my boss. Black hair has always been a controversial topic and culturally we have relied on nonblack store owner that at times lack love, patience, and appreciation for our hair, our culture and our community. Temple Beauty Supply is a welcoming place where people can come to get and feel beautiful.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
So Cal is everything! We are the creative trendsetters. We are the ultimate test market. There is a growing wave of black-owned beauty supply stores opening in the area. There are several reasons for this, culturally black people are becoming more informed about wealth building and they are realizing that it is not built as an employee, we are understanding the power and advantages of good credit, we are realizing the importance of recycling black dollars, and lastly the children of our counterparts have no interest in maintaining their family business, creating an opportunity for us to “pick up that baton” and start running.
Contact Info:
- Address: Temple Beauty Supply
17531 S. Central Ave. Unit D,
Carson, Ca. 90746 - Website: www.templebeautysupply.com
- Phone: 310-800-2348
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/templebeautysupply
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Templebeautysupply.com
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/temple-beauty-supply-carson?uid=8NuxQPss3z2BL-CpcxtIBw&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
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