You know you are in the presence of Black Girl Magic when every time words are spoken, clusters of gems are dropped and you realize you need a basket to catch them all. That's the experience I had when I interviewed three of the five founders of CurlFest, the world's largest natural beauty festival. Simone Mair, Tracey Coleman, and Melody Henderson can attest to the fact that the one thing that binds us all together as black women, is our hair. Whether it's kinky, curly, or coily, there is an unspoken connection we have with one another when we're in our natural state. We all have dealt with those difficult wash-and-gos, or the twist outs that didn't work out the way it did for that YouTuber.
Most importantly, we also know what it's like to feel the stares, or hear the negative comments in regards to how we choose to wear our crowns. The founders of CurlFest agreed that there was an undeniable need for a brand that empathized with the experiences of women of color. Melody, who acts as the design guru among the tribe, said, "It was really to fill a need, to fill a void. My background (career in marketing), my whole question was always, 'Why aren't we being seen, why aren't we part of the story?' And the five of us wanted to be part of that solution. How can we, as women of color, in our natural state, in any capacity, be a part of the story?"
Thus, the Curly Girl Collective was born.
The brand started with five women seeking to create a space for women of color to talk about their experiences with their hair, as well as others' perceptions. It was a judgment-free zone that they soon realized many other women probably need as well. Creative marketing consultant and freelance writer, Tracey Coleman, who makes up ⅕ of the Curly Girl Collective explained, "At first people (brands and press), weren't really interested just because they didn't deem it as important. And as the narrative has changed on what beauty looks like, it's a huge shift from when we started. You're seeing more women of color and women with natural hair in commercials and in movies and in leading roles and all over the world. That's when the media starts to listen, and we're a part of what's driving that."
"The media realized that this was an important story that needed to be told."
Tracey and her teammates have made it their mission to develop fun and unique ways to help multicultural women celebrate their natural beauty. The first CurlFest was launched in 2014, and in just four years, this tribe of girl bosses was able to take their at-home business and transform it into a staple event in the natural hair community.
The founders of CGC are proof that heavy is the head that wears the crown, even if that crown is a mane full of beautiful curls. Simone, who is also an award-winning volunteer, told us, "I think sometimes as women of color, we're kind of a double minority here and naturally have more to prove."
"We kind of have to work twice as hard as some of our counterparts, so there are challenges."
Despite these challenges, these queens are thriving honey, and they shared some gems with me that will help you flourish, too. I got to speak with these ladies more about their roots (both proverbial and natural), as well as how pursuing your passion can truly liberate you from the daily grind and ultimately allow you to develop a profitable business.
What is the secret to your success? How did your brand become so well known in what seems like such a short amount of time?
Tracey: The growth was interesting...there isn't some marketing campaign behind it, or a celebrity that's driving it, or something that happened that went viral. Honestly, it's the energy that people feel when they come to CurlFest and that feeling of appreciation and celebration of who they are. That comes through in what people say about the event to their friends and family, and what they say on social media.
One thing that we've learned is that you can market something all day long, but at the end of the day, it really speaks for itself. The fans actually drove the growth, they decided that they were coming back the next year. Every single year, they're telling their friends, and telling their cousins. It's a blessing not to have to have to market the event because the demand is there.
What do you think was the major turning point? How did you turn your passion into profit?
Melody: I believe that the passion and the profit actually are intertwined. I think we are where we are today because that passion never went away. There's five of us, and we are literally doing this around the clock: putting on something that can support the 30,000 people. But what's driving it is that passion. The turning point really came when brands started to realize that we were bringing them qualified leads.
It's not a commercial you're bringing to the masses. People are opting into CurlFest, people are looking forward to CurlFest for the entire year. So, knowing that from a brand perspective, when you start to talk about revenue and finances, we're telling them "This is your demographic and we're able to tell you what they need, we're able to tell you what's missing, and we're able to tell you how you can plug in."
When we had our first CurlFest, there were two brands on the lawn. So, now you fast forward to this year, it was in the mid-twenties. A lot of that is really based on fostering relationships, building a network, really holding true to what our brand is with no apology.
We typically see the glamour of what success looks like, but not so much the setbacks. With social media, everyone makes it look so easy. What have been some of the challenges that you've had building this business, and what are the ways that you've been able to overcome them?
Tracey: With that type of growth happening that fast, we had to learn really fast. We had to bring on other experts in other fields and people that could support us. We've learned that with the five of us, we all have full-time jobs. You realize that for us to maintain that and to support the growth of CurlFest that was happening so quickly, we had to tap into our village. Most entrepreneurs learn that as you grow, you have to expand to let people help you.
That's really any business, if you're trying to grow your baby, you have to let your village support that baby.
That's what we've done over the years to help us grow so fast.
What does it mean to the team to have so much support for CurlFest from black women?
Melody: A lot of times we don't realize the psychological things are happening because of how society is telling how us we should be. The fact that we're able to play a role in breaking down some of those barriers is amazing. We often marvel at the success of others wondering whether or not we also have what it takes to get into business for ourselves. Instead of being paralyzed by the fear of "what if", be empowered by it.
Turning your passion into profit IS possible. The Curly Girl Collective shows us that when you combine your passion with your drive, determination, and fearless forward progress, anything can happen. Make sure to follow the Curly Girl Collective on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and fly content from past events.
Featured image by Cincinart/Shutterstock.com
Tracee Ellis Ross is known for her quick wit, affable personality, and impeccable style as the co-star of the television mega-hit Black-ish. But what I love most about her, is her willingness to be outspoken on topics most important to her. The three-time Emmy nominated actress spoke withInStyle Magazine and dropped some major financial advice that anyone can use.
To me, one of the nastiest four-letter words is "debt"—it grabs ahold of you, and seems to to let go. From student loans to credit card bills and mortgages, debt is a part of life. And if we don't spend "smart", our financial woes will continue to pull us down. Ross says that learning this tip was her key to financial freedom:
"Spending smart is part of my motto in life...I believe that you can feel extraordinary in your life without spending tons of money. I'm a really strong advocate for living within your means and not trying to keep up with the Joneses, because then you don't have debt."
Additionally, Ross touched on the importance of establishing credit as an a rite of passage into the world of "financial maturity".
DFree / Shutterstock.com
You can't get credit without already having credit, and although it makes sense to only spend within your means, it is also important to establish your credit history early-on. That way, when you are ready to make bigger investments (like a car or home loan), you've proven that you are, in fact, credit-worthy. She shared:
"Part of learning how to be responsible with your money does require getting a credit card. If you just work with the cash that you have in your pocket, it's easier to know when that cash is done. Same with a checking account. People don't write checks anymore, but I do! Still, credit cards are really important in terms of financial maturity. I remember when I got my first credit card in college—I still have some of the credit cards from back then, actually—and I really gained an understanding of how it works. That's been important in my financial literacy as an adult."
The NAACP Image Award winner also gave some great advice when it comes to our ability to negotiate. As women, we've been pigeonholed into presumably not having this important skill, but Ross says if you know what you're worth, you need to speak on it. Demand your just due at the negotiation table. According to the award-winning actress, we can all support one another a little when it comes to learning his skill.
"Negotiating is a very scary experience because it requires a lot of courage and, to a certain extent, the willingness to lose the opportunity, which most people don't have the luxury to do. It's you saying, 'This is what I'm worth,' and as women, culturally, there isn't a training that supports us in that. That, I think, is what we are attempting to change from a systemic place. It's important to have a supportive group around you that you can use as a sounding board to be smart and creative in your negotiation. [Companies] might not be able to pay you in dollar amount, but maybe there's other ways you can be supported in the work that you do—like your travel expenses or something. There are a lot of ways you can negotiate."
As millennial women, our financial literacy is more important now than ever. We are increasingly starting more businesses than any other demographic, more likely to earn degrees, and are more often the breadwinners of the family. Tracee's advice should encourage us to start having conversations concerning women and financial independence. Tracee says that it's time to eliminate stigma surrounding these tough conversations, because in the end, knowledge is power. She said:
"Women's financial solvency, transparency, and the ability to have these conversations without being afraid are incredibly important things. We have to take the stigma away from it and actually try and make some change, and that will require us having knowledge."
It's never to early, or too late, to learn the ins-and-outs of credit and financial responsibility. It's not only a good idea to learn as much as you can about these areas, it can also be the difference between trying to keep up with the Joneses and actually becoming one of them.
To read more financial tips from Tracee Ellis Ross, check out her full interview here.
Featured image by DFree / Shutterstock.com
Article originally published on July 13, 2018
While juggling work, pursuing my passions and being the best mom I can be, it can be tricky keeping all the balls in the air. One of the most important links in this puzzle has been having a reliable car to shuffle the kids to and from school, getting around for my obligations and errands, and, once in a while, making time for the self-care all parents need. "Reliable" is the optimal word because my car is old, and every time something breaks down, that's an extra bag I have to come up off of. It would be a dream to have a brand new car, but the hassle of finding the right one and the idea of the credit check and potential down payment has stopped me from even thinking about hopping into a new whip.
For over 100 single mothers in the New York area, PTG365 Auto understands how important reliable transportation is to most families' livelihoods. Founded by Brandon Medford, Dave Obaseki, and Eric Whitehead, PTG365 is an automotive dealership that specializes in luxury car rentals in addition to helping low-income families get their dream cars.
These three millennial men have combined their passion for cars with their purpose of giving back to the community. The men are committed to helping women find affordable transportation, as well as repairing and building their credit which, in the long run, will help these women better provide for their children. The team also caters to a host of celebrity clients, but what makes them the ultimate go-to car dealership is their quick turnaround time and connection with various car manufacturers and banks. Within just a year of business, they have managed to build a $1.2 million dollar company.
xoNecole had the opportunity to speak with Eric and Dave about their business, why helping single moms is one of their top priorities, and how passion led them to their purpose.
Business-minded people tend to have one thing in common: a vision. For Eric and Dave, both already had a passion for the car business. Eric says that in addition to his affinity for sales, he also wanted to help people. Eric told xoNecole, "I personally would say passion, hunger, and unity started PTG365. [The three of us] were successful in the same field and we came together with this brilliant idea to take over the car industry and help individuals all over the world."
The most intriguing service these men provide is their willingness to use their expertise and connections to help single mothers secure their own reliable transportation. Because the men aren't from single parent homes, many would wonder what motivated them to go in this direction. For Eric, it was simple. "I don't like the idea of a mother raising children on her own," he shares. "I have female relatives who are single and raising beautiful children, so I know the day-to-day struggles some of them face, so I do what I can to go the extra mile to assist single female parents."
So many single parents work so hard to keep it all together, that from the outside looking in, it may not seem like they need the help. But Dave recognizes that there is a lot that goes into being a single mother and that helping these women gives him a feeling that he normally wouldn't get from simply selling cars. He said, "Helping single mothers get into vehicles gave us a different kind of satisfaction. The reason being, single mothers go through a lot of turmoil and need as much help as possible."
He continued, "Black women are queens in my eyes. I watched my mother raise me, two other kings and one other queen. Being from a foreign country, she did it all using her culture. My mom made sure we were on the right track with school and always stayed out of trouble. She did an amazing job; I love my mother. She reminds me of all the other Black women out there trying to make a way for their families."
"Black women are queens in my eyes. I watched my mother raise me, two other kings and one other queen. She reminds me of all the other Black women out there trying to make a way for their families."
Dave also revealed that the most rewarding part of his job is helping mothers gain and maintain their own financial independence. "Out of all the women I've helped, one of my favorite clients has to be Tamara Taylor, mother of two. It was her first car, and her father didn't want her to have the car. She did everything in her power to get the vehicle on her own without having him cosign on the loan, and I made sure the bank approved her. It was so rewarding to see."
With reliable transportation, moms can get the kids to school on time, run the errands, make it to work and back, all without having to worry about public transportation, the weather, and the host of other issues one might run into when you don't have the keys to your own whip. The men have helped over 100 single moms not only get a new car, but they've also helped them and countless other customers establish/repair their credit as well.
Eric mentioned that most customers, regardless of their financial status, often need some credit tweaking in order to qualify for a vehicle. He shared, "In addition to the mothers, we have many entertainers and athletes we've assisted with credit repair as well. Just because you're a celebrity doesn't mean you're knowledgeable on credit and wealth management."
For some, credit can read like a foreign language, but at PT365, they have a team of credit attorneys that can help. According to Dave, "We have them work closely with our credit attorneys to remove any collections or derogatory accounts from their credit. Then we have them work with our credit specialists to educate them on how to raise their credit."
Credit is king, or queen, in America. There is very little you can do without it, and having a good credit rating is just as important as the cash you have in the bank. The guys gave us a few tips when it comes to establishing and maintain a good credit rating that anyone can use. Eric had these words of financial advice for our readers:
"My advice on credit is to prioritize. Cash in hand is good, but the buying power of credit goes a very long way."
When it comes to our needs versus our wants, sometimes we have to be willing to have some self-control. He says, "Always pay your bills on time even if you have to sacrifice! An 800 credit score has more buying power than $50,000 in cash!"
And for all our budding entrepreneurs out there, Dave reminds us that it will be a grind, but we have to not only be ready for the ups-and-downs of entrepreneurship but also be willing to pivot when the time is right. "Never quit! Be prepared for hurdles and leaps throughout your journey," Dave enthusiastically reminds us. "Success will take a jab at you even when you think everything is going perfectly. Never stay comfortable! Business always innovates, and when it does, you do the same."
Duly noted!
Here's another great example of melding your passion with your purpose. We love to see Black men in a position to not only empower themselves but also being able to translate that into empowering others, especially Black women. Looking at my car right now, I might have to give them a call myself.
To find out more about PTG365 Auto, click here. To keep up with these millennial moguls on social media, follow @ptg365!
