Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Forrest.
Nicole, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was in the 7th grade my school at the time participated in a 7th-grade dance. I remember that day like it was yesterday. My mother was always the lenient mom, so asking to get my hair and nails done was not an issue for me. She let me go to one of my classmate’s homes and from there, we went to get our nails done. While in the salon, I would see ladies walking in and out. They were either coming in to get their nails done or leaving from getting their hair done. As I sat in my nail techs chair at the time Mrs. Debbie (God bless her soul) I would not only look at the beautiful nail art she was doing on my nails, but also the hairstylist who were either doing ladies hair or applying false eyelashes to them while applying their makeup. Now I was there getting my nails done, and as you may, now it usually takes only 30-45 minutes, so I could not really stay and watch the hairstylist as much as I wanted to because I had a dance to get to. But leaving that salon, the image of hair, nails, and makeup never left my headspace.
All through high school, I would wear braids, weaves, and occasionally get my nails done. It was not always often that my nails were done, but best believe my hair was ALWAYS done. To be honest, hair was not a huge deal in high school. We all would wear what was suitable for us and looked our age. Now you know in high school, those are usually the years that your parents would ask you “what is it that you want to do with your life” or questions like ” where do you see your self in the next five years ” or the infamous one ” Do you plan on going to college ” . Now for me at the time my question had come from my father, and it usually sounded like this ” When do you plan on starting a business Nicole ” or I would hear the statement ” you can’t work for people your entire life you have to leave something behind for your kids. Keep in mind your talking to a 15/16-year-old young lady. Do you honestly think starting a business was what I seen myself doing or even wanted to do NOPE! Now mind you, my father is the most HARD WORKING MAN I have ever came across in my life. Not to mention my father has had his own business for over 20 years and it’s still successful and running. So with that being said, Entrepreneurship was something that was stressed a lot in my household.
Throughout those years, my father would still ask me occasionally about starting a business and what not, but that’s just was not what I wanted to do. I did not see myself running a business. I originally wanted to be a police officer. My mother did not want that. My father was not to mad about it only because he was also in the military, so he kind of understood more then she did. My mom thought about me being on the road with angry people or being in the jails with the individuals who were incarcerated. For me, I was like, ” look this is what I want to and that’s that.” Eventually, she got on board and I started taking college courses for the major of Criminal Justice. My mother even set up for me to sit down with some officers. I even networked with a couple of ladies and was able to do a tour of the Broward County Jail with one of the Lieutenants. When I did the tour and walked through that jail, I then knew that place was not a career fit for me. I started to actually think about the conversations my mother and I would have about that job and everything she said to me started to click. Not only that, shortly after, we started to have all these issues with police killing innocent people or officers getting killed. That right there for me was my nail in the coffin. Nicole being a police officer was not it.
So here we are in 2017 and the image of the hair salons comes back into play. Now I used to sit in several ladies’ chairs to get my hair done. I also went to different studios, of course, to get my makeup done for certain occasions. As I would sit in the chair, I would think to myself, hmm these ladies are making a living off of doing hair and makeup. I knew for sure that doing hair was something I did not want to do, so I had to question myself. Keep in mind that not only do you have to pay to get your hair done, but guess what you have to purchase hair as well. Where do we go to purchase our hair a hair store, right? Who usually OWNS the hair stores? Not an African American. Its usually males from another country. Who are usually the consumers? Us African American women. So think to yourself, how can a male really truly know the ins and outs of hair or even care for hair. They prove that to us right because in the stores when you come in the males are running the cash register and the younger African American ladies are the ones helping you decide on which hair type, color, inch, etc. So for me, a light bulb switched on. That’s what I want to do become a hair supplier!
I thought about it day and night. Saying things to myself, ” Nicole, can you really become a supplier, Could you really run a business on your own ” Of course, there were doubts but more faith than ever. With that faith, I decided to start with false eyelashes. I started with the lashes because one I wanted to first establish my business, I wanted to build a clientele so that people would trust me and my products that I would eventually launch. So what did I do I started brainstorming a name for my business. I also purchased a whole lot of hair, as well as five styles of lashes I felt would be a good fit. Once I tested the lashes to make sure the quality was what I would wear and purchase, I decided to do a soft launch for my lash collection only. With hair, it takes a lot more time because you have to test the quality, make sure it’s not a bad batch ( and trust there was a lot ), do shed tests, etc. When I launched my five styles, I was soooo scared. I remember making videos and asking my best friend, my sister, my mother and my mama number 2 LOL ( who in which they were all so supportive ) ” omg do you think this is cute, like do you think I need to do this and that ” I was freaking out. My faith overcame my fear and in March of 2018, I hit the post button on Instagram and there it was MY 5 LASH STYLE COLLECTION LAUNCHED & The Zurri Collection was here!
The responses I received from my social media brought tears to my eyes. The orders I was receiving were coming from Coworkers & Family members out of state. Then eventually, my locals started supporting. Within a week, I was SOLD OUT of every style that I launched, I remember telling my mom, “omg ma I’m sold out man I can’t believe it,” and she told me congratulations and gave me a high five and we both were soo happy. You couldn’t tell me nothing! I was on cloud 9. The Ladies would inbox me asking when I would have more in stock and things of that sort.
Right there, I knew that I was going to take this baby seriously and register my name on Sunbiz.org. On May 18, 2018, I established my business on the site and from there it was UP! I remember calling my father and telling him that I finally decided on what I wanted to do and that I took action on it. He asked me to explain the business and what all it entailed. After our conversation, he explained he was very happy for me and provided me with a lot of business tips. I’m so proud of myself. I’m happy that I did not let fear come in the way of my faith. Knowing that I will leave a legacy behind for my three-year-old daughter means everything to me. Ladies, don’t be scared to start your business especially if it’s dealing with hair. Yes a lot of ladies are in the same industry, but ask yourself, “are those ladies you “. That answer will be NO! My advice would be to take time, do a lot of research, think about if you want this to be something long term and most importantly, PRAY. Prayer got me through my process and where I’m at today. I Can honestly say the decision I made to start my business is one of my BEST ones yet.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road to building Zurri Collection was not the best but not the worst either. I know that most 1st-time business owners will run into issues, but you just have to know how to overcome them. One of my issues was with my print guy. He always had poor excuses and the time frames we always set for things to be completed, that was never the date. It was always well over a week later and an excuse behind it. I loved his work so much but had to tell myself that that’s not how you run a business. I definitely did not want to continue to spend my money with him. Especially with his work ethic, that was a NO for me. Eventually, I was on the search for a new person to print everything needed for my business. I’m so lucky to have found my new printer because we have no issues with anything!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The Zurri Collection specializes in providing 100% QUALITY hair extensions as well as QUALITY mink eye lashes. Our main goal is to have our gems looking and feeling Lavish. I know the search for quality things are not easy, but that’s why we are here. To help with any and every question our gems may have. Whether it may be about extensions, eye lashes, or flat irons, we can and will help with anything needed. I’m most proud of my growth. I would have never thought that I would be running a business at this day and age. I’m also proud at the fact that I never gave up. I always say it takes a special kind of person to run a business because it is not easy. You have to be consistent. You have to have drive, and also a dream. Don’t let anybody tell you different!
And lastly, what sets me apart from others is that I take customer service very serious & I LOVE the business I’m in. It’s not about the money and that’s where most get it twisted. People don’t understand you have to LOVE what you do in order to have continued success. Everything will come after TRUST ME!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I definitely feel like our city is a good place for the hair business, Its South Florida. We have many clubs, beaches plus beautiful ladies love to get their hair done to even sit at home. Some even wear makeup everyday. I would recommend them to start out here. I would just advise them to not get discouraged due to the fact that it is a lot of ladies out here doing the same thing. They just have to remember even though people are doing the same thing. We are all not the same.
Pricing:
- Gem Bonnet – $11.00
- Glitzy Flat iron – $65.00
- Mink Lashes – starting at $10.00
- 25 MM lashes – starting at $13.00
- Closures – starting at $60.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheZurricollection.com
- Phone: 9542616466
- Email: zurricollection@gmail.com
- Instagram: @zurricollection
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thezurricollection/
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