Today we’d like to introduce you to Danyell Jones.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Danyell. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m an ambitious business owner and motivated mother of three. I was born and raised in the city of Compton by my father with the help of his mom and sister. Being raised by a single father was pretty different from most of my peers. I had a strict dad who said, “no” to every social event that teenagers were able to experience. Which made me a late bloomer to the social and street life. He was strict on education and so was my grandmother.
I attended elementary and junior high in Compton and high school in Los Angeles. I graduated from Washington Prep High School, 2004. I attended Academy of Art University the following fall in San Francisco. It was a tremendous experience, being in an environment that was so diverse with people from all over the world. I stayed in the co-ed international dorm for a year and moved out my sophomore year into my first apartment. I became a mother my junior year in college to a precious boy. I decided to move back home to Compton and transfer to a college in Los Angles. One year off from school and getting the hang of being a mom, I enrolled into the Art Institute of Hollywood.
After having a minor set back, I got back motivated and graduated with my BFA in Fashion Design, 2010. It was one of the most gratifying and rewarding days of my life. I worked in retail for about ten years. My last job was with Dyson. After having my third child, I decided not to return to the company. I no longer wanted to waste time with a company that didn’t evolve nor hold my passion. I knew I was meant to be greater. I had enough tenacity to make my next move, the best. Not just for me, but also for my children. I want to pass down generational wealth, buy them a home and simply provide a better quality of life. I couldn’t afford to wait for any corporate opportunities and I knew I would have to create opportunity of my own.
With the money I had saved and good credit, I was able to obtain a loan. However, I still wasn’t sure what business I wanted to invest in. In September 2018, a beauty supply in Compton was being boycotted due to a male Asian owner attacking a Black woman. I’ve heard about these situations on the news and social media but when it happened in my community, I was devastated. I immediately recognized that as an opportunity to create a space for women who look like me to shop where they are celebrated and appreciated. After a little research, I saw that the city of Compton only had one Black Owned Beauty Supply and I decided I was going to be the second.
From there, Luxe and Glam Beauty Supply was birth. What I love about being an owner in Beauty is the connection all women share, we love our hair. I also enjoy hosting Pop Up Shop at my store with other wonderful entrepreneurs. We come together to network and bounce ideals off one another while doing what we love. Since opening, I’ve been more involved with my community through some of the nonprofit organizations, TEDxComptonBlvd, Children Striving Together and Girl Space Compton. I hope to inspire young girls to never give up on their dreams.
Has it been a smooth road?
Getting into the Beauty business was a challenge, I’ve had a rough time getting a few accounts with the hair vendors. Either I was told no or I was giving a high minimum. I met my mentor Deidre Norville, who was God sent and she help me out with operations of my stores and some accounts. The other struggle was just getting people to shop with you. So, I do a lot of events and networking, and passing out flyers in the community.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Luxe & Glam Beauty Supply story. Tell us more about the business.
Luxe & Glam Beauty Supply is more of a boutique style store. What sets us apart is we provide quality service, my staff and I are very knowledgeable in all products we sell. We are friendly, we offer braid services. It’s a social atmosphere. I host events at my store a few times a year and I’m involved with my community.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see the industry growing with more small own brands and rebranding of the old. Styles will recycle like braids, wigs and natural hair. Every year the industry is booming with a new trend.
Contact Info:
- Address: 623 S. Long Beach Blvd Unit A
Compton CA 90221 - Website: lgbeautysupply.com
- Phone: 3106279676
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxe_glam18/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxe.glam.9862
Image Credit:
Jessica Taylor, Mekhi Bey
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