Meet The SHEeo: Candice Cox Of The Artisanal Jewelry & Home Decor Line CanDid Art
With the rise of more and more black women breaking away from traditional 9-5s to become their own bosses, the CEO is getting a revamp as the SHEeo. In the Meet The SHEeo series, we talk to melanated mavens leveling up and glowing up, all while redefining what it means to be a boss.
The Oakland-based creative started CanDid Art in 2011 after learning how to make jewelry via YouTube. With little knowledge of the fashion industry, Cox hit the ground running and attended trade shows to reach a broader retail audience. Nearly a decade later, the African-inspired artisanal jewelry line has expanded beyond California, landing an account with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and gaining international customers who wear her unique conversation-starter pieces worldwide. Her funky, urban-chic designs have graced the pages of ESSENCE, GQ, San Francisco Magazine, Pynk and Rolling Stone, and have been worn by many celebrities.
In this week's feature, meet Candice Cox of CanDid Art.
Courtesy of Candice Cox
Title: CEO of CanDid Art
Year Founded: 2011
Location: Oakland, CA
# of Employees: 1
30-Second Pitch: CanDid Art is an artisanal jewelry and modern home decor line based in Oakland, CA. We create unique conversation-starter pieces that spark trends and are accessible by a diverse customer base around the world. Our jewelry and home products are made from sustainably sourced materials and is inspired by cosmic geometry and African culture.
What inspired you to start your brand?
I'm an artist at heart and I wanted the freedom to create and be happy. My dad was also an entrepreneur all my life and I loved how he made moves in life as a boss, with no one to answer too (but my mom, lol) and I wanted that freedom.
What was your a-ha moment that brought your idea into reality?
I've always been a fan of handmade jewelry and after quitting my corporate job and relocating to Brooklyn, NY, I had a phone conversation with a girl who always made these cute crochet earrings. And she was like you could buy some wholesale from me and sell to your friends. Then, something clicked in my head and I was like, I could learn how to make jewelry on YouTube and sell my own work. And that's what I did and it grew from there.
Who is your ideal customer?
Women between the ages of 27-55 that are fearless fashion enthusiasts who desire to make a statement without saying a word and are looking to adorn their body in unconventional ways.
What makes your business different?
I design with references to cosmic geometry and African Visual Culture, so my jewelry pieces tend to be very unique and one of a kind. The most common comment that I get is, "I've have never seen anything like this."
What obstacles did you have to overcome while launching and growing your brand? How were you able to overcome them?
My obstacles would be lack of knowledge in the fashion industry which allowed me to not make smart investments in the right areas of my business in the beginning. I was able to overcome them by doing lots of research throughout the years, by reading and asking other designers that had more experience than me. A lot of it was also trial and error. When I saw that an idea or investment wasn't working, I would switch up what I was doing until I felt it was right.
What was the defining moment in your entrepreneurial journey?
The defining moment for me was understanding the power of a tradeshow. I didn't realize how valuable a tradeshow was in terms of the exposure for your brand. You could showcase your products to hundreds of boutiques, stores and museums from around the world. At my first tradeshow, I ended up landing an account with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History in culture and they have been carrying my line since in the Museum store.
"I now have customers internationally and that's when I realized I need to focus on getting bigger wholesale accounts to truly scale my business."
Where do you see your company in 5-10 years?
I see my company growing into a larger, highly recognized brand made up of jewelry, home decor, greeting cards with an emphasis on kids' line of bedding, baby accessories and clothing. I see a lack of African Americans that run large children brands and after having my own daughter, I see the value in that industry. I want to have presence in hundreds of major retailers all over the world such as Target, Anthropologie, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and large museums.
Where have you seen the biggest return on investment?
I have gotten so much business from vending over the years and it has been instrumental in my growth. I am a people person and I love interacting with my customers and conducting my own market research through a hands-on approach.
Do you have a mentor? If so, who?
I do not have a mentor in my industry (and would love one), but I do have an overall business mentor through this awesome company called Runway Project Oakland. Her name is Rani Langer-Croager and she is the founder of Uptima Business Bootcamp in Oakland.
Biggest lesson you’ve learned in business?
You must NEVER be complacent. You will always need to continue to reinvent yourself and shift within this ever-changing society. One minute, you could be the hottest thing out there and the next minute, you're not. You have to be forward-thinking and have your next five years planned out.
Anything else you would like for people to know, or take away from your entrepreneurial story?
This sh*t isnt easy! You have to stay focused, self-motivated and work VERY HARD. Also having a community of like-minded entrepreneurial friends is a necessity. I love my tribe of entrepreneurial friends, because we can bounce ideas off each other, collaborate, share resources and vent.
For more of Candice and CandidArt, follow her on social: @candid_art.
- Closetista presents CanDid Art designer Candice Cox - YouTube ›
- Candice Cox - Owner - CanDid Art Accessories | LinkedIn ›
- Candice Cox - CanDid Art ›
- CanDid Art (@candid_art) • Instagram photos and videos ›
- Closetista presents CanDid Art designer Candice Cox - video ... ›
- Black women entrepreneurs find strength in creativity - SFChronicle ... ›
- CanDid Art - CanDid Art Accessories ›
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
7 Black Men On TikTok Making Everyday Living Look ThirstTrappy
You know how many of us, ladies, keep wondering why men don’t have the same sexy, handsome looks of yesteryear? That look from the ‘60s to the ‘90s? I FOUND THEM. And guess what? They’re doing what “real” men do best…simply making themselves handy (and not just in the traditional, gendered sense of the word). These fellas make it easy to fantasize about the reality that there are still good men out there – men who come into the lives of women and make it easier and softer by contributing every day but meaningful ways.
No, I don’t know them in real life because I found them via TikTok, but that’s the fun of fantasizing. You get to take one piece of the pie and make up the rest of it as you go alone. It’s like a game of MASH–choose your fighter and then go from there.
When I was watching their videos, I was totally unaware that my libido had been laying so low OR how attractive a useful man was until I tuned in to these guys (it started with Cam, and you’ll see why shortly). And I don’t mean to make it sound like men are only as good as what they can do for you, but I think it’s safe to say that far too many men are weaponizing their incompetence and enjoy being cared for but aren’t as quick to pour back into the women keeping their day-to-day afloat. Not even in minimal ways.
That said, these men seem to be a breath of fresh air on a sunshiny day. And, allow me to be wholesome and candid for a minute but they made me optimistic that there is hope for us after all. That we can find husbands and fathers who allow us to exist in this world with less harm and hope.
And, on a less wholesome note… never mind. I choose to keep it cute, but you’ll soon know exactly why this feels like a helluva task in just a moment. The other refreshing thing about many of these videos is the ASMR vibes – very cathartic to watch; really brings a sense of peace and calm over you. And, not to gas it, but if watching a man in action in that way via TikTok does that, JUST imagine what having the real thing would be like. My God.
Here are seven Black men on TikTok making everyday living look thirstrappy AF.
Cam
@renaissancecam subsist ⚙️ #vlog #dailyvlog #sundayvlog #peace #adayinthelife #gardening #handyman #rotties #bbq #pitmaster #juicing #health #healthy #fruit #fyp #explore #foryou #viral #menshealth #farming #country #outdoors #dogs #landscaping #food #vibes
Not only does Cam (28 and single) understand the assignment when it comes to carefully selecting Sunday’s cleaning playlist but he also was handcrafted by God himself, giving us #TradMan in only the best ways possible. Based on my lurking/Inspector Gadget deep dive through his content, he chops wood, gardens, fishes, and cooks–it’s no mistake that his handle is Renaissance Cam. And, ladies, I was able to get a few other little details about him because we all know curiosity kills the cat. No need to stay curious when we can just know. Yes, he’s single. He’s a Leo. And his ideal first date is a picnic at his favorite sunset island near one of the spots where he likes to fish.
Derwynn
@lifeofdwho Look how dirty my washing machine was 🤢🤮 . . #sundayreset #sundayroutine #cleaninghacks #cleaningmotivation #homefragrance #fyp #explorepage
Next up is Derwynn, who is more of a modern man. His content centers on his Sunday resets which entail deep cleaning his home–and, if you know, you know–Black household law is that this type of cleaning must occur on Sundays. And, man, ol’ man, does he make cleaning look good. It’s no wonder more men don’t do this willingly. Most have speculated that he’s a Virgo, but he’s actually a Cancer (but maybe he has other Virgo placements throughout?)
Deon
@chakmahtheking Brcome someone you woukd be proud of‼️ Don’t settle, you’re a KING! Follw me on IG @chakmahtheking #fyp #diy #motivation #jackofalltrades #king
Mister DIY himself, in living color! Admittedly, I did have to mute that Rocky music, but all the fix-it action 100 percent makes up for that. I don’t know him, but it’s giving “my man, my man, my man” type of delusion the minute I saw him handle that power tool (like my little pun). Unlike the first two, Deon isn’t quite as subtle in his understanding that he is indeed a prize (not to be confused with thee prize, y’all). But, he is, in fact, a man that adds value in many ways. And, this is what we mean when we say bring back these men – the good with their hands, easy on the eyes type men – and we’ll bust out the apron and the table settings.
Oklahoma Cowboys
@oklahomacowboys0 🤠 #oklahomacowboys #rodeo #blackcowboys #fyp #explorepage #cowboy #blacktiktok #fypシ #losangeles #countryboy #billpickettrodeo #race
When Destiny’s Child said, “they always be talkin’ that country slang,” I imagine these are the type of men they had in mind. Cause the video alone gone bring out my Southern ancestors in my spirit, and I was born and raised in Michigan. Babbbby, this is a retro type of man, and I’m here for it. It’s also a personal belief of mine that it speaks volumes about a man’s ability to nurture in the way that they care for animals and, in turn, the way animals respond to them. What’s that they say about animals and children being the best judges of character? Unfortunately, we don’t have a name for this cowboy, but fortunately, this page is action-packed with other cowboys.
John Doe
@atvmvp #honda #hondaaccord #carsoftiktok #cars #bodywork #painting #spraypaint #restoration #accidentrepair #southcarolina #blackmen #cartok #cartiktok #7thgenaccord #blackentrepreneur #blackdudes #budgetfriendly #voiceover #countryboy
While it’s always safest to have a bald-headed daddy to handle all your car issues, it definitely doesn’t hurt to have a car-fixing zaddy on call, too. Well, here you go! Out in the garage, in the hoop shorts and the slides – now him coming inside smelling like outside, car parts, and fading cologne. We also stan a frugal, problem-solving king! Peep how he purchased a used car and a five-dollar can of spray paint and got to work. The definition of getting it out the mud, if you ask me.
Stephen
@styleunrivaled #fyp #trending #viral #atx #car #ignitioncoil
Impressive, I must say. This gentleman, Stephen, walks us through replacing his ignition coils, but he also makes himself useful in other ways. That’s word to his other TikTok, where he offers the young fellas who want to argue about why women aren’t submissive instead of giving them something worth submitting to advice.
Lee
@leeshomeimprovement Deck for the chicken coop #fyp #foryou #dmv #blacktiktok #watchthis #explore #HousestoHomes #HomeImprovement #BuildingstoCompanies #blackmenbuilds #building #constructing #StayFocused #menwithdreads #follow #share #baltimore #HGTV
While this video doesn’t quite show Lee’s face, it does show his craftsmanship. I mean, it looks secure enough–I don’t know too much about building decks, but I do know this looks about right.. As for the rest, I scoped out the facecard on his other videos, and he is worthy of this list.
These men were difficult to come by, and I’m not sure if it has to do with the ratio of podcast mics to rakes/power drills/etc. Or because they’re simply not documenting themselves. But you should know that we’re looking for some more of these men folk to lust after while they check off the one honey-do list item within their reach through the internet … the one with my Rosé. Send more over! Tag them. I might even start a Make Men Great Again campaign on behalf of these brothas.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by @renaissancecam/ Instagram, @steviie_j/ Instagram, @derwynnwho/ Instagram