Curly Hair Crisis - Christie Champaign
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christie Champaign, Founder of Curly Hair Crisis, located in Washington, DC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Curly Hair Crisis is an all-natural hair care product company.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a witness that setbacks can be a blessing in disguise. It may hurt… you may cry… and your closest friends and family may not understand, but if you weather the storm, there just might be an unimaginable business opportunity on the other side! My business started with a freak accident that caused me to lose my waist-length hair. I remember it like yesterday. I washed my hair with a new product, and it immediately caused severe matting and a million tangled knots. I went to war with these matted knots and tried to comb them out for over 60 days. I finally accepted defeat and had a stylist cut my hair because my mother was so over my crisis. I cried and cried like the biggest baby because my hair was a part of the definition of me and who I presented to the world. My friends thought I should share my horrific hair experience with others and post a video on YouTube. Well, I posted the video and also shared that I achieved waist-length hair growth by taking a herb called fenugreek.
The rest is history! Subscribers were so interested in fenugreek, its benefits of it, and how I use and take it daily. I thought I could help my subscribers in their personal hair growth journeys by creating fenugreek products that increased nutrient availability and actually tasted good. I also wanted to create convenient products because fenugreek oil and/or infused fenugreek products are not popular enough to line the shelves in the hair care section of stores. I get so excited when I hear that my subscribers are benefiting from the fenugreek products and from the information I post on my YouTube channel. The sky is absolutely the limit when it comes to all-natural, organic, and herbal health care. I cannot wait to continue to grow in this retail space and help millions achieve the healthiest hair of their dreams!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment to date is surviving in business for over a year. So many businesses fail in their first year, so I'm extremely happy to still be in the game! I jumped into this business with a half-baked do-it-yourself plan. And in reality, it has taken so many people to support and assist me in keeping my business afloat.
I have mentors and friends who have invested hours of their time. I have professionals that have allowed me to share their stories and their information about hair on my channel, etc. It's unfortunate to think that you can run a business, work a full-time job, and handle your family and friends all at the same time. So for that, I feel accomplished!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One challenge for me as a business owner is "pace." There are three spaces in which most people thrive: Future, Present, and Past. I am a Future person. I have a new idea not just every day but more like every 3 hours. I want to try so many new things and accomplish so many things all at once. I can see so far out into the future, which is beautiful; however, I struggle with the structure and momentum of the present. I also tend to lack contextual information from the past. So again, I believe an entrepreneur can benefit from having a team. If I was running my business on my own without the help and support from those who love me enough to challenge my ideas, I most likely would not have achieved what I have so far.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My top three words of success for anyone looking to become an entrepreneur is START, LEARN, and FLEX.
I know so many people that dream about having their own business. They plan, read books, attend conferences, and do so many things to prepare, and yet they are waiting for this golden moment to begin. I say there is no time like the present. Just do it! Jump into the entrepreneurial waters and START!
As far as learning, you have to embrace all types of knowledge and criticism. LEARN about yourself, your passions, your strengths, and your blind spots. Learn how to lead a team, learn about new software, learn how others are implementing systems, and most importantly, learn to fail. Failure is the optimal learning opportunity, you're either learning or winning and in that way, you never really fail. So always keep an open mind and allow all information to come in freely and simply filter it. Nothing is personal; it is just business.
And finally, FLEX. I think anyone who wants to start a business needs to keep their entrepreneurial muscles flexible. You may plan for things to go one way, but things just don't work out 100 percent as planned. You need to be ready to innovate and flex at all times. Change the way you reach out to customers, change how you deliver information, change how you provide service; you may need to even change your team members. The pandemic is an amazing case study for businesses that have had to flex. Always be ready to change things up for the betterment of your business, and you'll reach your desired level of success.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I have to say that if you are reading this article, you are already in the right place! I wish I had taken the time to find a community like this to surround myself with before I started my business. The information provided and the comfort of knowing that there is a community that has amazing advice and support for you to conquer any business stressor are priceless.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://curlyhaircrisis.myshopify.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curlyhaircrisis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curlyhaircrisis/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiedchampaign/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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