The pandemic has bred many entrepreneurs. It has created many e-commerce businesses especially black owned.
With e-commerce comes saturated industries, but of course there is enough money and support to go around for everyone.
I am Jasminne, the owner of Endless Beaute, a licensed esthetician whom has always loved cosmetics and taught myself how to do makeup by watching Youtube tutorials in order to look presentable for a then corporate position. I would remain in that business for 5 years and every morning I was either doing my makeup in the car or in the workplace bathroom.
Teaching myself how to do makeup would then turn into me taking the craft serious and pursuing a license. I was a travel makeup artist, I even was a makeup artist for the Pittsburgh Fashion Week just months after graduating beauty school.
I always knew I wanted to work for myself but I had no idea what that looked like. I just knew I didn't have the mindset to work for someone and definitely not long term.
A year and a few months after graduating beauty school and after multiple jobs of working for people, I found a suite that I could lease and serve my clients and I didn't have a boss or coworkers and I could make it my own. Design it how I wanted, make my own hours, make my own money and didn't have to split it with anyone. Endless Beaute Studio.
I didn't have no more than 5 consistent clients when I obtained this suite and I had to pay rent WEEKLY! I would uber on slow weeks and I promoted myself consistently on social media and word of mouth really helped me, I even had a campaign on Groupon. Fast forward 4 months after I was open, the pandemic hit and we were forced to close for 3 consecutive months.
I had returned to the corporate world and was able to WFH and that's when I had to come up with a new game plan and created another stream of income and something that would allow me to be an entrepreneur since this was my dream. June hit and we were able to open our doors again and I was BOOKED the whole summer and I left the corporate job and by September I had came up with Endless Beaute Luxury Lashes and Matte Lipglosses. I used my savings to order samples and try products. I watched Youtube tutorials on what items I would need to run the online business, how to make a website, how to ship orders, where to buy everything I needed on a budget.
My esthetics business funded my e-commerce. My family and friends have been so supportive since day 1. I have been an entertainment/lifestyle blogger since 2013 and that helped me with social media in itself and working my way around creating my Shopify store. I invested in myself and I took a leap of faith.
I wanted my brand to be taken serious and I made sure it was quality products, quality branding, and quality packaging. If you are reading this and you want to start a business, start now, don't try and make everything perfect before starting, don't wait until the right moment, just start! Study the competition, study the craft, do your own research, and don't be afraid to ask for help or pay someone to help you.
Social media can be intimidating and everyone looks as though they are winning but they don't show the slow days, they don't show the struggle, so be your own goals!