Inspiring Lives with "A.J Bangs " for Fashion Gxd Magazine
Written By: Samantha Cee
A.J Bangs is a company that focuses on empowerment. They strive to make a difference in the confidence of their customers, create opportunities for success though fashion and beauty and challenge the definition of what is beautiful. Their company is all about YOU! Take a look at the exclusive interview with the rising brand below.
ajbangs.com // Instagram: @ajbangs/ / Facebook: @ajbangsfashion
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How did the idea for your business come about?
Answer: You know, I actually get asked this question all the time! When I was a kid I struggled with finding who I wanted to be and how to really express myself. Many people who knew me then may find it surprising that I am in the fashion and beauty industry because I was such a tomboy and you would not even catch me in a dress or anything girly unless my mother forced me to do it. As I got older and sometime around my junior year in high school I began to get more in touch with my feminine side and found I that I could express myself through what I wore and people would ask where I got certain things. I was always looking for a way to dress more unique and combine both my styles. Later in life it hit me that I could really make a difference through fashion and beauty, which is where my passion lies. And that is when A.J Bangs was born. Now when people ask me where I got my outfit and cosmetics I can say….me!
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?
Answer: When I came up with this company I knew that I wanted people to feel that they were a part of a journey. A way to view people when they are feeling their most beautiful. As a company we look for people who want to show their best selves and bring out the best in others. Our main goal is for anyone coming into the organization to continue to grow to love themselves and pursue their dreams so that in turn they can inspire others. We have already had many of our ambassadors move on to pursue their dreams in fashion or other industries and it’s amazing to watch them continue to inspire others because they felt empowered themselves. That is our true success. They fell in love with the company, simply by falling in love with and believing in themselves.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : What three pieces of advice would you give to other children who want to become entrepreneurs?
Answer: Being a mother of two girls, who now want to become entrepreneurs themselves, I am always thinking about questions like these. My first piece of advice is to find your passion, set a goal and make a plan. Two? Write it down and make it plain, make sure you can see it everywhere you go. And three, never stop believing in yourself and have fun with it. No one will ever be able to love what you do more than you.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Answer: If I had the chance to start from scratch I would have been a little more patient and really solidified a business plan. Knowledge is really power and I was too anxious to get started that I did not really study outside of my degree program. It wasn’t until about 2 years ago that I took the time to research more and solidify a plan, and that is when things began to take off!
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur ?
Answer: I would say all entrepreneurs should be passionate, adaptable and driven. When you are passionate about what you do, you will give it your all. An entrepreneur should be adaptable and always prepared for change, because things really do change all the time. And to piece everything together if you do not have the drive for success you will not be able to reach your full potential.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
Answer: Oh my goodness, so my biggest failure was thinking that my business would sell itself. I didn’t want to talk to anyone and just thought if I post a couple of times here and there people would know to order. I missed out on so much opportunity with this mind set. You have to be the one to sell your brand, but that first comes with marketing yourself, getting your name out there, and taking risks. All I wear is A.J Bangs, carry business and promotional card, not to mention my outfits always spark a good conversation!
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How many hours do you work a day on average?
Answer: Wow, definitely an interesting questions. I would say I work no less than 9 hours a day on average. I am constantly checking on orders and make sure things are moving smoothly, even on the go. But I do make sure I give myself a day off and leave sometime to spend with my family, as this is very important. Never make yourself so deep in your business that you are absent from your reality.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :Describe/outline your typical day?
Answer: My day always starts off with my girls. We have breakfast, see what we can work on on our vision boards and we make sure to pray for a positive and successful day. Once I get them off to school, I am right work. I usually start with email responses that came in through the night and then head straight to getting orders together. Once those are completed for the day I read up on changes in the market and take a look at any current trends, it is always important to know and understand your market at all times.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Answer: To be honest that was the one thing I wanted to make sure of, that this did not impact my children/family in a negative way. Work/Life Balance. I still make sure that I am able to be there for my kids, and the best part about being entrepreneur is that I get to make my own schedule. I always have my phone to be able to check on emails and orders coming in, but I make sure that they have my full attention when they need it. I want them to be able to see that even with running a business, family comes first. I also include them in any events and they are so excited to represent the brand, because one day this will be theirs.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What motivates you?
Answer: My family…they motivate me every single day. They are the reason I fight so hard to continue being successful. My girls look up to me and I can see that they now want to make a difference and impact others as well, and always come to me with their different business ideas. Outside of that seeing the confidence people have and getting messages saying that they genuinely feel that A.J Bangs is them?…yeah that’s what keeps me going.
Fashion Gxd Magazine: How do you generate new ideas?
Answer: When it comes to the fashion and cosmetic industry, you have to find a way to stand out and be creative. I always pray on it and seek guidance from God to make my vision clear. I think about what people may want to see, I draw it out and then I implement the plan. But again studying the market is key.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer: Going into entrepreneurship I knew that sacrifices were going to have to be made. Most of it was time and money. I didn’t want to recklessly spend and go places all the time like I was. Any extra money that I had, I needed to set aside to invest in myself and I needed to study and research in my free time as well to perfect my skills. I also had to sacrifice my mentality. I needed to change it and have a growth and goal oriented focus. I couldn’t continue to settle for the standard. The standard had to simply be my starting point.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : Where you see yourself and your business in 10 years? 20 years?
Answer: In 10 years A.J Bangs is going to be one of the top companies in the fashion and beauty industry and will be known for creating opportunities for people all over the country and creating a whole new definition on what is considered “beautiful”. This will be a household name and we will have our first couple of brick and mortar locations by this time. 20 years from now, we plan to have the company solidified as one that has changed lives in a unique way as well as have all of our physical locations built. These locations will provide customers with a different shopping experience than we know today.
