Inspiring Lives with " Lavish Lauren " CEO For Fashion Gxd Magazine
Written By: Samantha Cee
This week we sat down with the CEO of Lavish Lauren. Lavish Lauren is a small, black and women-owned business that specializes in handmade skin and body care products. Take a look at the exclusive interview Fashion Gxd Magazine obtained with the rising brand.
Instagram: @__lavishlauren & Twitter: @lavishlauren2
Website: www.lavishlauren.net
Q: How did the idea for your business come about?
A: Well I’ve struggled with acne and I wanted to help others with the same problem. I was always interested in skincare and at the time was in the process of getting my aesthetics license, so my desire was to help people not just look beautiful but also provide them with knowledge about their skin.
Q: How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?
A: Right now, I am the sole proprietor and employee of Lavish Lauren. I’ve only been in business since January of 2018 however, as my business continues to grow and expand, I know that I’ll need more hands than just mine. When that time does come I’ll be looking for those that will love my brand as much as I do and treat it like it’s their own.
Q: What three pieces of advice would you give to other children who want to become entrepreneurs?
A: First you have to choose something that you love to do or something that you’re really interested in. If you don’t, you’ll get bored easily and eventually stop working at it because it just doesn’t bring you joy. The second thing I would say is to have patience. Businesses don’t start making money immediately so if your business isn’t taking off right away, don’t get upset because everything takes time. The last piece of advice I would give is to plan. One thing that I’ve learned so far is that jumping right into things, isn’t the best way. So taking the time to plan what you want to sell and organize your thoughts and ideas is extremely beneficial.
Q: If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
A:If I started over I definitely would’ve waited a few more months just to give myself more time to organize and prepare. I started Lavish Lauren when I was 18 so I had little experience with how a business runs and how much work it takes so if I knew then what I know now, I would’ve given myself more time.
Q: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A: You’ll definitely need patience because having your own business isn’t as easy as it may seem. You also need to make sure you are knowledgeable regarding technology and social media. Social media plays a huge part in most businesses today so knowing certain things like what to post, when to post, who your audience is and things like that are extremely beneficial. One of the most important skills is customer service and knowing how to talk and interact with your customers. I’ve learned that having great customer service is one of the reasons people continue to buy your products and even recommend your business to others.
Q: What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
A:I think of one of my biggest failures so far is putting out a product that I think people will like, and it doesn’t get the interest I was hoping for. To combat this, I’ve learned that doing research is very, very important. You have to know what your customers like and what they’re looking for.
Q: How many hours do you work a day on average?
A: Well 4 days out of the week I work for A-List Skin and Lash Lounge where we specialize in skin care, eyelash extensions, eyebrow styling, waxing, etc. I use my evenings and days off to focus on Lavish Lauren and creating new ideas for my brand.
Q: Describe/outline your typical day?
A: I typically start my day with my skin care regimen. Once I’ve gotten dressed and had breakfast I’m either off to work at A-List Skin and Lash Lounge or on my laptop with my notebook researching new products and ingredients that I can incorporate into my business.
Q: How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
A: While I’m not married and don’t have any children, my parents and other family members have been very supportive and that means the world to me. When I need advice on something or even if I need help testing a product they’re always there when I need them.
Q: What motivates you?
A: Something that has been a constant motivation for me is simply knowing the potential for growth and expansion of my business. January 2020 will make two years that I’ve been in business and even knowing that I came this far motivates me to keep going and do better.
Q: How do you generate new ideas?
A: Most of the time if I have an idea I’ll ask friends and family what they think about it. Sometimes they agree with me and sometimes they don’t but they also give me ideas on what they know people are looking for or are interested in. I take those suggestions and do my own research and try to combine both ideas together.
Q: What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
A: So far one of the biggest sacrifices I’ve had to make was putting money back into my business. This means that things like shopping sprees and eating out sometimes need to be put on the back burner because I know I have to purchase things essential for my business.
Q: Where do you see yourself and your business in 10 years? 20 years?
A: Ten years from now I would love to not only see my products in stores, but on the shelves as a well known brand. I want people to know who I am, what my brand is and what it’s about. Twenty years from now I want to be able to share my success story as a mentor to others who desire to become entrepreneurs. My hope is to help and inspire others.
