Podcast Summary
Starting small and focusing on passions: Starting small and focusing on what you're good at or passionate about can lead to building a successful business. Perseverance and resilience are essential in overcoming challenges and achieving success.
Starting small and focusing on what you're good at or passionate about can lead to building a successful business, even if it starts as a way to earn a living. As heard in the story of Wiedo and her husband Peter, who turned their passion for curly hair into a multi-million dollar brand, WeDod. Despite facing challenges and starting small, they divided and conquered, with Peter handling operations and accounting, and Wiedo cutting hair and developing products. Their dedication and hard work eventually paid off, leading to the sale of their brand to a private equity firm. Additionally, the importance of perseverance and resilience was highlighted in Wiedo's personal story of immigrating to the US as a child and facing bullying and language barriers. Despite these challenges, she found solace and a passion in hairdressing, leading her to build a successful business.
Curly Hair Revolution: During the late 60s and early 70s, societal norms led to a lack of appreciation for curly hair, but one woman's passion and determination led to a revolution in the industry, making it fashionable and desirable.
During the late 60s and early 70s, there was a lack of understanding and appreciation for curly hair in the beauty industry. Women with curly hair were often required to straighten it, as that was the societal norm at the time. The speaker, despite facing opposition from her teachers and even her mother, pursued her passion for curly hair and became an influential figure in the industry. She started her career as an apprentice in a Providence salon under her mentor, David Schwerie, and later divided her time between Providence and New York, working with commercial hairstylists for the entertainment industry. Her determination and passion led her to work on high-profile projects, including with Barbara Streisand and Dudley Moore, and she became known for her expertise in curly hair.
Instincts and self-trust: Trusting your instincts and staying true to yourself can lead to unique experiences and opportunities, including meeting your future partner and building a successful business.
Trusting your instincts and staying true to yourself can lead to unique and wonderful experiences, even if the path is uncertain. The speaker, a hair and makeup artist, shared her story of working in the industry and encountering difficult clients. Despite feeling unsure about her future, she refused a 10-year contract offer and instead built her own portfolio and career as a freelance artist. She also met her future husband, Peter, during this time, and the two eventually started a business together. Their decision to flip a coin to determine the type of business they would start shows their commitment and willingness to take risks. The speaker's experiences demonstrate the importance of trusting oneself and staying true to one's goals, even in the face of uncertainty.
Determination and creativity: Despite financial struggles and skepticism, determination and creativity led WeDod's founders to build a successful curly hair salon through innovative marketing and bartering
Determination and creativity can lead to success even when faced with financial struggles and skepticism from others. The story of WeDod, a salon specializing in curly hair, illustrates this well. The founders, Lee and Jane, had no money to start their business and faced rejection from banks and landlords. However, they persevered and eventually received a grant from the Small Business Administration. They couldn't afford to build the salon themselves, so they bartered with a friend's construction family. Despite the challenges, they named their salon "WeDod," which was met with confusion at first. But with hard work and innovative marketing, they managed to attract customers and build a successful business. Their story serves as a reminder that with grit and ingenuity, it's possible to turn an idea into a reality, no matter the obstacles.
Customer focus, Word-of-mouth marketing: Focusing on a specific customer need and providing a unique solution can lead to satisfied customers and word-of-mouth marketing, as demonstrated by a salon owner in the 1980s who formulated her own hair treatment and grew her business through client recommendations and catalog advertising.
Focusing on the customer experience and providing a unique solution to a specific need can lead to word-of-mouth marketing and the growth of a business. The story shared involves a salon that opened in the 1980s, with the owner having curly hair and struggling to find effective hair treatments for it. She formulated her own deep treatment, which became popular among clients and led to the start of a business. The business grew through word-of-mouth and the use of catalogs for advertising. As the orders grew, they sought the help of a manufacturer to produce their products. The business continued to grow and eventually, the owners moved to Connecticut to run the mail order business from a larger space. This success came from their focus on the customer and providing a solution to a specific need, which led to satisfied customers and word-of-mouth marketing.
Curly Hair Education: Successful business owners can expand their revenue streams by offering education programs and building deep relationships with their clients.
For Weird Fish and her husband Peter, their successful hair salon in New York and thriving line of hair care products were not enough. They saw an opportunity to teach other stylists how to cut curly hair, launching an education program that became a new revenue stream. This wasn't just about the money, but the connection and depth of the relationships they built with their clients. Even when faced with challenges like commuting between New York and Connecticut for years, they stayed committed to their vision. Their dedication paid off when they released the climate control collection, which opened doors to partnerships with major beauty companies. And in the face of tragedy on September 11, 2001, their salon became a refuge for those affected, further solidifying their commitment to their community.
Perseverance and Passions: Successfully running a business through personal challenges requires perseverance and a strong focus on one's passions. Partnerships can also bring benefits and complexities during growth.
The salon owner's experience of running a successful business despite personal challenges, including a cancer diagnosis, demonstrates the importance of perseverance and maintaining focus on one's passions. The owner's reluctance to bring in external investors and her eventual decision to do so, shows the complexities and benefits of growth through partnerships. Despite the challenges, the owner's dedication to her craft and her team helped her build a thriving business that expanded beyond the salon walls, ultimately reaching a wider audience through retail partnerships.
Hard work, timing, and connections: Hard work, collaboration, and the right timing can lead to significant business success. Seize opportunities and stay passionate about your industry.
Hard work, timing, and connections can lead to significant business success. WeDod Wise, the co-founder of WeDod salons and hair care products, shares her story of building a successful brand for curly hair. She attributes her success to her husband's business acumen and her creative vision, as well as their ability to stay in their respective roles and collaborate effectively. However, she also acknowledges the importance of timing and luck in their journey. After selling the company, Wise continues to consult with other women entrepreneurs, giving back and finding joy in their growth. Despite the challenges of retirement, she remains passionate about her industry and the impact she can make. Overall, Wise's story highlights the importance of perseverance, collaboration, and seizing opportunities when they arise.