- 9 months ago
On this week's episode of ESSENCE Now, Sheree Whitfield dishes on the 10th season of "Real Housewives of Atlanta," the founders of The Mane Choice and Cocotique give business tips, and we discuss the recent killing of 26 churchgoers in Texas.
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00:00I'm Akon Nobu and today on Essence Now, Sheree Whitfield is giving us all the scoop
00:10on the new season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and attention entrepreneurs.
00:16These black women CEOs have tips on how you can take your beauty or hair business from
00:20idea to reality.
00:22But right now, it's time for the hot list, the biggest stories you're buzzing about today.
00:30Tyrese, Tyrese, Tyrese, will it finally stop now?
00:38Now, after a month of social media shenanigans, beefing with Dwayne The Rock Johnson, divulging
00:43all the details of his custody battle over his 10-year-old daughter, and of course, posting
00:48that Instagram video of himself crying, it seems Tyrese's calls for his billionaire friends
00:53to help him out financially has worked.
00:56According to Tyrese, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith gave him $5 million to offset some of
01:02the costs of his legal battles.
01:03Here's what he wrote on Instagram.
01:05Our sister Jada Pinkett Smith and my brother Will Smith just sent us $5 million to keep us
01:11afloat.
01:11You guys asked me to get off and stay off the internet.
01:14Now that my daughter's legal fees will be paid, I will listen.
01:18Amina Abdul-Hawk wrote on Facebook, so they give him money to stay off the internet, and
01:23the first thing he does is post about it on the internet.
01:26Italian authorities are searching for answers in the deaths of 26 Nigerian women.
01:39Most of them were between the ages of 14 and 18, and their bodies were recovered at sea.
01:43According to reports, investigators believe that the women may have been sexually assaulted
01:48and murdered as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea, along with 375 others, all of whom were
01:55believed to be traveling by way of people smuggling gangs.
01:58Now, these gangs reportedly charge about $6,000 each, with many of the migrants claiming that
02:04they're subjected to sexual abuse, torture, and other violence during the trips.
02:09Sinodiyah wrote on Facebook,
02:10This hurts my soul.
02:12It's been so bad that these people feel the need to leave their country, risking their lives,
02:17for an attempt at a better life?
02:18Prayers.
02:24Another day, another mass shooting in America.
02:27Now, while the Air Force is admitting that its own era allowed a Texas gunman who killed
02:3226 people at a church to purchase weapons, all this, all this, despite him having a domestic
02:38violence conviction.
02:39Now, one official has a solution to end mass shootings like these.
02:43Mm, make sure the congregation is strapped.
02:46Here's with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, told Fox News.
02:50For smaller churches, and even smaller, you know, for schools and businesses, I think they
02:55need to think through their policies on what they're going to do if something like this
02:59occurs, and maybe have people in the congregation trained and prepared, because if somebody's shooting
03:04an automatic weapon, you know, if you're in a rural area, it takes 20 minutes, or even if you're
03:09in a suburban area, five to seven minutes, you're losing, you know, you know, potentially
03:13hundreds of people pretty quickly.
03:15And of course, of course, this statement drew a lot of response on social media.
03:19Shawnee Marie wrote on Facebook, because when I'm meditating about the glory of God in church,
03:24I need to have one eye on the door and a hand on my assault rifle?
03:27Well, WTF.
03:29But some folks agree with the Attorney General.
03:31LaVon Factor wrote on Facebook, this guy was stopped by a good guy with a gun.
03:36If more had carried that day, maybe less people would have been killed.
03:39Really?
03:40Really, LaVon?
03:41So what do you think?
03:42Let us know in today's Viewer poll.
03:44Would you be comfortable attending a church where members or staff carry guns?
03:48Send us your comments and votes using hashtag Essence Now, because we're talking about it
03:52next.
03:53It's Tuesday, November 7th, and it's time for Essence Now.
04:06Welcome to Essence Now.
04:08We air right here on Facebook and Essence.com every Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern with the best
04:14in entertainment, news, fashion, and more.
04:16I'm your host, Makon Lovo, and I want you to sound off on topics at any time using the
04:22Essence Now hashtag or email us at Essence Now at Essence.com.
04:26All right.
04:27Now, with the tragic murder of 26 people, many of whom were family members at a church in
04:32Texas, it has us all mourning and grasping yet again to a solution to gun violence and
04:37mass shootings.
04:38Like, seriously?
04:39Seriously?
04:40What do we do?
04:41Is the answer better gun control laws, mental health screenings, or even arming more people,
04:46particularly those gathered in large numbers in public places like churches?
04:50Well, the Texas Attorney General thinks so.
04:53Ken Paxton recently told Fox News, we need in churches at least arming of some of the parishioners
04:59or the congregation so that they can respond when something like this happens again.
05:03But many in the faith community disagree, saying that using violence to fight violence is not
05:08only unchristian, but it'll also just lead to more people being killed.
05:12Christian speaker and writer Shane Claiborne told ThinkProgress, Jesus carried a cross,
05:18not a gun.
05:18Evil is real.
05:20But Jesus teaches us to fight evil without becoming evil.
05:23So what do you think?
05:25Let us know in today's Viewer poll.
05:26Would you be comfortable attending a church where members or staff carry guns?
05:30Vote A for yes.
05:31Even churches need protection.
05:33Or B for no.
05:34Churches should be sanctuaries from violence.
05:36Send us your votes using the hashtag Essence Now and we'll read the results later on in the
05:40show.
05:41Now girl Kayla is manning our social media feeds for your comments on this topic and more.
05:46Hey Kayla, what are folks saying?
05:48I mean, truly divided so far.
05:50So a couple of people said yes, even churches need protection.
05:53Viola Moore says I would feel safer if I knew someone had a gun in church.
05:57Tara Lee Arnold says when evil showed up at the church, there was no police presence to stop it.
06:01Why wouldn't you want someone inside the church to be armed and able to stop the carnage before
06:0527 people were killed?
06:06But some people feel like no, even church, no, there's no way to keep the guns out.
06:12Tay B says keep the guns, increase the price for the bullets to $500 per bullet.
06:16That's what he says.
06:18Tomiko Bajan said vote the Republicans who received money from the NRA out of office.
06:22Yvonne Thompson says wake up America.
06:24It's not about church security, but your gun laws that you won't change.
06:27How many more lives have to be lost?
06:29That's it.
06:29And where do we draw the line?
06:30In churches and schools and concerts?
06:32It's going to be everywhere.
06:32It's ridiculous.
06:33Keep those comments coming in and we'll read more later on in the show.
06:37Now, how many of you were glued to your TV Sunday night for all the delicious messiness
06:42of Real Housewives of Atlanta?
06:44I was.
06:45Well, coming up, we're talking to our girl Sharae Whitfield about the show's 10th season
06:50and getting the tea on her love life and new prison bae.
06:53Ooh, this is going to be so good, so you don't want to miss it.
06:56But first, today is election day, which means women's reproductive rights are on the ballot
07:01in key states like Virginia.
07:03Essence Senior News and Culture Editor Christina Coleman over-explains why your vote really
07:08does matter.
07:10If you're a woman, you probably know by now that Donald Trump and his team of destructors
07:15have decided to roll back the Affordable Care Act's no-copay birth control mandate.
07:20That means that employers can now choose to stop covering contraceptives in their health
07:25care plans.
07:26The Trump administration claims religious freedom here.
07:30But remember, the ACA also allowed employers to exempt out due to religious beliefs.
07:36And that all happened while 62 million women still had reliable and affordable access to
07:42birth control.
07:43So let's be clear.
07:44This has nothing to do with religion.
07:46It has everything to do with stripping women of their rights.
07:49More than half of women on birth control don't just take it to plan their families or for
07:54pregnancy prevention.
07:56A large number use birth control for fibroids, menstrual regulation, and other issues.
08:01And by the way, fibroids are almost three times as likely to occur in Black women than any other
08:07race of women.
08:08Of the 62 million women with access to affordable birth control, 15 million are Black.
08:14And considering existing health disparities, Black women stand to lose the most.
08:19And here's the thing.
08:20Unintended pregnancies are down right now.
08:22This administration wants to demonize birth control.
08:25But where are they when women can't afford to provide for their children?
08:28Oh, right.
08:29They're complaining about the welfare state, which is also a myth.
08:34Until next time.
08:40You're watching Essence Now.
08:41I'm your host, Makon Dovu.
08:43And joining us in the studio today is a woman who is known for her fierce clapbacks.
08:48Who gon' check me, boo?
08:50Please welcome back to Essence Now, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Sheree Whitfield.
08:54Hey, Sheree.
08:55Hey, how are you?
08:56I am good.
08:57All right, all right, we're in season 10 of The Real Housewives, season 10.
09:00Season 10.
09:01Which one of the other housewives are you personally interested in and their storylines?
09:06That would be Sheree.
09:07It would be Sheree.
09:08The concern is numero uno.
09:11Yes.
09:11Yeah, I got a lot going on, so I think I have a really good storyline this season.
09:14I think people will see me, well, they will see me, the viewers will see me definitely
09:18doing something different out of my norm.
09:20Yes.
09:22And then, you know, I become an empty nester.
09:25I get my youngest daughter off to college, and it's just, it's a lot going on this season.
09:30Yeah, you're an empty nester.
09:32We got to talk about Shateau Sheree.
09:33Yes.
09:33You're in that house all by yourself?
09:35Well, you know what?
09:36I love entertaining, so I have people over all the time.
09:39And even my kids.
09:39My youngest daughter, she just went to Howard, so she's gone.
09:43But my son, he's at Morehouse, so he's still there.
09:47He comes over several times a week.
09:48My daughter, she's around the corner, so she stays there as well.
09:51And then we bring in other people, you know, other people as well, my extended family.
09:55Yeah.
09:55And the house is completed, done.
09:57The basement is finished.
09:58Well, you will see on this season, the girls had so much to say about my unfinished basement.
10:03Like, who does that?
10:04First of all, girl, you ain't even supposed to be down there.
10:06So, like, going to my unfinished basement, but now it's finished.
10:10Yes.
10:11Now it's finished.
10:11I've been working on it.
10:12So, you'll see that this season as well.
10:13So, last season, we saw Kyra Modeling, but we also saw some people accusing you of being a little messy by being involved.
10:19I know, shocker.
10:21Me?
10:21Not Sheree, but, you know, telling the other women's business.
10:24What do you say to that?
10:26Well, I wouldn't say I was telling their business.
10:27I was telling their business to their face that I got from the other person.
10:30So, don't talk.
10:32My thing is, if you're going to say something about somebody, I just want you to be held accountable for your words.
10:37So, don't tell me her business.
10:39Tell it to her.
10:40Or if you don't, I will.
10:42Right, right, right, right.
10:43And one of the people that you had some choice words with was Kenya.
10:48How's your relationship with Kenya this season?
10:50Are you guys cool?
10:50Have you reconciled?
10:51Girl, somebody that stole Kenya.
10:53Body Kenya is a different person.
10:55You don't say.
10:56How is she, Sheree?
10:57Tell me.
10:58She's actually kind of nice to me.
10:59She's nice to you?
11:01She is.
11:02It's weird.
11:03I think it's this love thing.
11:05I'm so all about love, and I love love.
11:08And what it's done for her, if that's what it is, it's amazing.
11:13We love a nice guy.
11:14She is such a more humble, easy-to-deal-with person.
11:19She's not bringing all that drama, and she's not a negative person like she was.
11:25Like she was before.
11:26Have you met her husband, though?
11:27I finally met her husband, and he was a really nice guy.
11:30Okay.
11:31He was a really nice guy.
11:32So let's talk about Phaedra, though.
11:33So is Phaedra back on this season?
11:35Is she holding a peach?
11:36I don't know.
11:37You don't know.
11:38We got to tune in to see?
11:40Yeah, you got to tune in to see.
11:40Yeah.
11:41So, you know, people accuse Phaedra, of course, of lying on the show.
11:44Everyone tells a little white lie.
11:45Do you think it was a...
11:46No?
11:47Nobody lies?
11:47Girl, that was not no white lie.
11:48That was not a white lie.
11:49That crossed the boundaries of a white lie.
11:52So you think the producers were justified in letting her go?
11:58Well, I never want to cost anybody their job or take any money out of anyone's pocket,
12:05but that went very far.
12:09That was just disgusting.
12:11Like, you can't say things like that because at the end of the day, we all have brands,
12:18and we have families.
12:19So you can't...
12:20You got to be careful with your...
12:22Yeah.
12:22Yeah.
12:23What is your relationship like with Phaedra now?
12:24Do you talk to her or do you speak to her?
12:27Do you see her out at events?
12:28No, I saw her one time at Neiman Marcus.
12:30It was shortly after we taped the reunion, and I've not seen her since.
12:35But I saw her mom recently.
12:37I saw her mom.
12:38I see her mom actually a couple times.
12:39I see her mom more than I see Phaedra.
12:41I never see Phaedra.
12:41I see her mom.
12:42So you look amazing, and I can tell there's this aura about you, Sheree.
12:46I feel like it's love.
12:47Are you in love right now?
12:50I'm enjoying life.
12:51I am happy.
12:53Is there someone who's making you happy?
12:55Someone who's bringing that glow in?
12:58He may be a little responsible for it, but I like to say my makeup artist in the back.
13:02Just kidding.
13:02Yeah.
13:02No, yeah, I got someone who is my best friend.
13:09I can talk to him about anything.
13:10He supports me.
13:12It's just he's a good guy.
13:15Yeah, he's a good guy.
13:17Even though he is incarcerated, he has...
13:19Everyone makes mistakes.
13:20Everyone makes mistakes, yeah.
13:21And I'm not saying he made a mistake, because he is still proclaiming his innocence, and
13:27his legal team has filed motions to deal with that as well.
13:32But I'm saying no one's perfect, so I'm not here to judge him or anyone else.
13:38Right, right.
13:38But it's got to add an extra layer of difficulty to be in a relationship with someone who is
13:43in prison.
13:43How do you maintain your relationship and maintain that bond?
13:46Oh, the bond is even stronger.
13:48This is probably the strongest bond I've ever had with anyone.
13:52You got to think about it.
13:52We have nothing but time to talk and get to know one another.
13:57A lot of my other relationships, we didn't communicate.
14:00It was more physical.
14:02So you take the physicality out.
14:04And me, it's always...
14:05I like to be stimulated on a deeper level.
14:09So it's kind of like a long-distance relationship, where you are forced to talk, you got to write
14:14emails, and you have to check in on deeper than an intimacy level.
14:18Were you kind of hesitant to get into the relationship, kind of looking at what Phaedra went...
14:22Yeah, what she went through.
14:23Well, not really what Phaedra went through, but it's just new for me.
14:26It's something unique that I've...
14:27You know, I've not dated someone, you know, incarcerated before.
14:31So it was definitely new for me.
14:33And, you know, then I'm very...
14:36Not really...
14:39It doesn't...
14:40It's not easy to penetrate, you know, this here.
14:44So it takes time.
14:46But we've put that time in, and, you know, it's been almost two years.
14:51It's almost two years.
14:52We've been talking.
14:53Yeah.
14:54It must be something special about him, though, to kind of penetrate in.
14:57What qualities do you love about him the most?
15:01I love his faith walk.
15:04Like, he's, you know, very spiritual.
15:06He's family-oriented, which is huge with me.
15:10He's a great communicator.
15:12He's very supportive.
15:15I mean, I can go on and on.
15:16And he is...
15:18So hopefully in a few months, we'll see maybe some of that play out on the show.
15:22Yes, you will.
15:23We'll definitely see that play out on the show.
15:24Yeah.
15:25So what we saw last season as well, going back to the last season, was your relationship
15:28with Bob and some of the difficulties that you guys shared.
15:31You were so brave in that.
15:32What is your relationship like with Bob now?
15:34Oh, we're just co-parenting.
15:35Yeah, you co-parent, and you guys are involved in each other's lives that way.
15:42Well, the kids are grown, so we really don't have to be involved in each other's lives.
15:46You do your own thing.
15:48Yeah.
15:49Yeah.
15:49How are the kids hailing from seeing, you know, sort of what they saw on TV?
15:53Did you have a conversation with them about what was going to play out?
15:56That plays out on the show, so you definitely have to tune in.
15:58It was something that was hard for me to talk to my kids about, you know, everything,
16:02because I've always tried to, you know, shelter them and actually protect their dad
16:07until, you know, that came out last season on the show.
16:12So it was hard for me to talk to them about that.
16:15What has been the most successful or profitable business for you?
16:18Because I know you're an author.
16:19You have She by Sheree, and, you know, you're into a whole bunch of stuff.
16:23What has been the most, like, what are you most passionate about?
16:25I am definitely passionate about She by Sheree.
16:28I am working on that revamping.
16:30I've revamped it.
16:31So working on that, I had T-shirts in Nordstrom that did phenomenal, phenomenal author.
16:39I've been offered another book deal with my publisher.
16:43So, I mean, it's like, and then I, you know, also want to start working on executive producing
16:50a couple of TV shows.
16:51Oh, that's awesome.
16:52Yeah, so during my time off, I will be very busy.
16:54So tell us more about executive producing.
16:56Are you thinking more reality shows, feature films, or mini-series?
17:00Where are you heading towards this?
17:01Mini-series and reality.
17:03Those are the two things.
17:04And you're an OG.
17:05Any details that you want to share with us in the game?
17:07Not yet.
17:08Not yet.
17:09I don't want to get too much yet.
17:09Okay.
17:10Definitely.
17:10I have to come back.
17:11You have to come back.
17:12No, we always have you back.
17:13Yeah.
17:14So, looking back at it, I mean, you've mentioned before that you're an OG in the Real House
17:17Five franchise.
17:18And you've shared a lot.
17:19I mean, do you ever look back and say, man, I really regret sharing that.
17:22Maybe I shouldn't have told that.
17:24I should have kept that to myself.
17:24Do you ever have moments like that?
17:28No.
17:28No.
17:29Real life is an open book.
17:31It's an open book.
17:32Mm-hmm.
17:33I signed up for this.
17:34Mm-hmm.
17:35So take it or leave it, you know?
17:36Mm-hmm.
17:37This is what it is.
17:38Yeah.
17:38I would say in the beginning, I was kind of like, but honestly, I think I was kind of
17:42forced to share a lot of the stuff that I've shared.
17:44You were forced to share, you felt like?
17:46Yeah.
17:46Yeah.
17:47So last season with the abuse, he brought that up.
17:51I never would have talked about that.
17:52I've been holding that in for over 10 years.
17:55I never would have talked about that.
17:56And then this season with Tyrone, his property was stolen, so the picture kind of leaked.
18:03So, you know, that's not something I wanted to talk about, but it is something that
18:05a lot of people deal with, whether it's a loved one, whether it's a friend or a family
18:12member.
18:13Yeah.
18:14You may know someone who's incarcerated.
18:17So, you know, just me telling my story and being real with it and how I feel, maybe,
18:23you know, it helps someone else.
18:25It's the real and reality.
18:26Yeah.
18:26You know, so speaking of Tyrone, though, would you ever be, I mean, open to remarrying or
18:31getting married again?
18:32Is that something that's a possibility?
18:33I am so open to marriage.
18:34Yeah.
18:34I love the idea or the institution of marriage.
18:38Absolutely.
18:39So, I feel like this season, season 10, we were talking about this earlier, is going
18:43to be explosive.
18:44Is there any tea?
18:45I know.
18:46I know, Sharron.
18:46Is there any tea that you can share with us?
18:49I mean, just a little something.
18:51You're trying to get me in trouble, girl.
18:51I'm not going to get you in trouble.
18:52It's just us talking.
18:54Yeah.
18:54It's, this season is so juicy.
18:58This is season 10.
18:59This is a milestone.
19:00This is the biggest.
19:01I mean, like, honestly, who thought we would be here 10 seasons later or nine seasons later?
19:06Or that you would come back.
19:07You would leave and come back.
19:08Yeah.
19:09Or that I would leave and come back.
19:10Yeah.
19:10So, you, it's not, we won't disappoint.
19:14Hold on to your wigs.
19:15Hold on to your wigs, girl.
19:16Hold on to your wigs and your wigs.
19:18Hold on to your wigs and wigs.
19:20Sharron, thank you so much for coming by.
19:22I've been waiting to say who gonna check me boo for the longest time.
19:24Okay, go ahead.
19:24Let me hear you.
19:25Hey.
19:25Who gonna check me boo?
19:27Remember, you can watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Sunday nights on Bravo.
19:33Now, coming up, I'm sitting down with some black women who have made it big in the beauty
19:37and hair industries to get their tips on how you can become an entrepreneur.
19:41More Essence Now is up next.
19:48The baddest bitches in the housewife franchise are back, and it is time for Atlanta to shine.
19:54NeNe is back.
19:56Her and her lace fronts, those wigs, honey, those wigs are back.
20:00She is back and ready to put her nose into everybody's business.
20:04Well, you know, it's a new nose.
20:05A brand new nose.
20:06She got new business.
20:07Quality nose.
20:08Come on, get it, girl.
20:10I'm excited that she's back.
20:13I'm also kind of just like...
20:16She has to stir the pot.
20:18Phaedra isn't there.
20:19So, I just feel like there's so much negativity.
20:22And this is coming from me, who is like, I'm just sometimes a negative person.
20:27Sometimes.
20:29Anywho, I feel like even NeNe is too negative for me.
20:32She's also that auntie who's like always loud and telling your business and just yelling and like saying dumb stuff.
20:38And you're just like, why are you talking?
20:40But that's also like the favorite auntie that you want to go shopping with because you know she's going to take you to get cocktails afterwards.
20:45I do not.
20:45She's going to spill some family secrets.
20:47You're going to learn all about how your uncle used to sleep with your auntie.
20:51And now it's a whole mess.
20:53I'm very much team mind your business.
20:55So, that's what I'm going to do.
20:56But it's such a glaring absence because throughout the episode, like there's a couple mentions of Phaedra.
21:05But honestly, freaking frack had to go.
21:07It had to end.
21:12They were so annoying.
21:13But who's going to be her new bestie?
21:14Maybe Kim?
21:15You're my new friend.
21:16I'm sure.
21:16No, that's funny.
21:18Portia and Kim.
21:20Their wigs are good.
21:22They do have quality wigs.
21:23Listen, Kim's wigs have come a long way.
21:25The wig glow up is so.
21:28Iconic.
21:28She got that NFL money and honey, she did not let it go.
21:31She does not know how to act now.
21:32She is tardy for every party because she got to make sure her good wig is secured.
21:36I can't wait for her to be reintroduced into the season and Marlo Hansen, my favorite, my favorite scammer of all time.
21:46The drama is going to be so real when she shows up.
21:49It's going to be so good.
21:50Are her and Mimi still friends?
21:52Are her and Sheree still on the outs?
21:54We'll have to see, I guess.
21:56Real Housewives is going to give us so much tea this season.
22:00My cup runneth over.
22:06I'm your host, Makon Jovu, and I have a question for you.
22:09Have you ever dreamed of being a hair or a beauty entrepreneur but have no idea how to take it to the next level or even how to get started?
22:16Well, our guests today have carved a lane for themselves to create beauty and hair empires, and they're here to answer all your questions about how you can do the same.
22:25Please welcome CEO and creator of Coco Teak, Dana Hill, CEO of Latched and Hooked, Tiffany Gatlin, and CEO and founder of The Main Choice, Courtney Adelaide.
22:36Welcome, everyone.
22:38Now, for those that aren't familiar with your brands, please tell us a little bit about your companies.
22:41Courtney, we can start with you.
22:43We are a healthy hair growth company.
22:45Basically, we specialize in products and fixing any hair issue that the woman may have, from hydration to moisture loss, by infusing all of our products with vitamins and nutrients.
22:57Oh, lovely.
22:58Okay.
22:59Tiffany?
22:59So, I am the CEO of Latched and Hooked Beauty, and Latched and Hooked is a black woman-owned and operated brand that prevents women from hot water burns while protective hairstyling.
23:12And our hair is chemical-free, it's synthetic, and it's so easy to use.
23:20So, yes, very...
23:21Beautiful.
23:22Yes.
23:22And Dana?
23:24I am the founder and CEO of Coco Teak, and we are a beauty box subscription company for women of color.
23:29And each month, we ship six to eight products of hair care, skin care, makeup, fragrance, all geared towards women of color.
23:37We find the best in beauty for our subscribers.
23:40Mmm, that sounds exciting.
23:41Okay, now we have questions from our viewers who want to know all about how to get their beauty empire started.
23:47Now, here's the first one from Facebook.
23:49Jeanette Little asks, this is a good one, how do I even begin?
23:54Take it over to you, Courtney.
23:55How do you even start in this business?
23:58I would definitely say, like anything else, you just have to dive in.
24:02I think sometimes we overplan things, and that can kind of cause a delay or setback, but I would definitely say dive in.
24:09You know, get your name started, get your website up, get your business cards.
24:13Once you do that, it becomes real to you, and you will put more work in.
24:16So, Dana, you have one of the few black beauty box companies.
24:19How did you go from your dream to the initial idea?
24:22How did that go down for you?
24:23A lot of research.
24:25I think when you're starting a business, you have to know your market.
24:28You have to be prepared, especially with a beauty box subscription.
24:33There's so much behind it in terms of the technology behind it.
24:36You have to find the right fulfillment partner, and also building relationships with beauty brands to get the products in the box.
24:42So, I maybe about a year and a year and a half went into the actual planning before I actually began to build the website,
24:50and then it was another eight months before the site actually launched.
24:54We have another viewer question, and Jay Lee asked on Facebook,
24:57where can I find a good cosmetic chemist to work with?
25:01Tiffany, I'll take it over to you.
25:03There's a platform called Unbox.com, and you can go on and you can find different freelancers that can actually help you
25:14depending on what it is that you're looking for, and they also give you rates.
25:19So, if you're looking for a virtual assistant, and in this viewer's case, she's looking for a chemist,
25:24she can find a whole lot of professionals who are ready for hire.
25:30So, a quick Google search, a quick Google search can really help you to uncover finding a professional.
25:40Now, the next question is from Danielle Pierre, and she says,
25:43to save our money on overhead, could kiosk or vending machines be an option?
25:47Tiffany, we'll start with you.
25:49Do you think that would be a good option for someone who wants to get started?
25:52I think that for someone who is looking to do a kiosk in a vending machine option could be relatively expensive.
26:01You definitely want to know if your product fits that type of device.
26:06What I would suggest, however, is maybe looking into drop shipping,
26:10because if you're concerned about overhead, then you don't actually have to keep the product in-house.
26:16You can actually drop ship from a manufacturer, or you can drop ship from maybe an individual who makes goods, like small goods, in-house.
26:25So, drop shipping essentially is just getting the product directly from the fulfillment center to the consumer.
26:30Correct. Exactly.
26:31Yeah.
26:31So, that's an option as well.
26:32My advice would definitely be to invest in your .com platform.
26:37So, start with that.
26:38Yes, and I think, you know, even with us, we are in over 20,000 stores, but I still put just as much effort in my website as I did day one.
26:46I think that's the area where you can win 100%, but I think sometimes people take it for granted and don't invest as much as they should in the platform,
26:56because nothing should supersede your website.
26:58So, website is key.
27:00Let's talk about some of the challenges, right?
27:02Like the general challenges that you had starting out in your business, or even where you are, and how you overcame them.
27:07I mean, I'll start with you, Tiffany.
27:09Sure.
27:09What can you share with us?
27:10I think, like any business owner, cash is important.
27:16Cash moves everything around us.
27:18Yes.
27:18Right.
27:19And so, you know, I think we tend to focus on the profit, but for me, it's more the cash flow,
27:27and making sure that I have the cash flow to purchase new inventory, to discover new products,
27:34and to present new products to the consumer, to be able to pay my employees or contractors that I work with.
27:40And if you don't have a healthy cash flow going through your business, it's going to be nearly impossible to continue to keep your business running.
27:47Sometimes you have to start things with the end in mind.
27:50And so, for me, it was a hobby that I'm like, okay, I'll turn this into a company.
27:54So, I had no idea it was going to grow as fast as it did.
27:58So, then I had to go back and rebuild my infrastructure because, at that point, my main concern was, okay, I have to order it.
28:04Let me get this to this consumer.
28:06Anything else was, like, secondary.
28:08So, putting a system in place and all those good things, like, I actually had to go back and rebuild.
28:14So, you just never know.
28:15You just have to stay ready.
28:16So, in May, you think, hey, this is a hobby.
28:19This is something I'm just trying out.
28:20But, you know, you have to start it with the end in mind because it can just take off.
28:25Dana, as a person who has a beauty box subscription business, relationships are everything.
28:30Oh, yes.
28:31How do you build those relationships with those different vendors that you work with?
28:34Because it's different every single month, right?
28:36Every month, yes.
28:37So, one, how do you find them?
28:39And, two, how do you build those relationships with them?
28:41Well, going to beauty trade shows, such as Cosmoprof.
28:45I also go to a show called ECRM.
28:47And I reach out at a cold call brands that I just love.
28:51I'm a beauty product fanatic, and I'm always researching new brands.
28:55So, it's just about networking and getting out there and, you know, just doing the work.
28:59Yeah.
28:59Do you find that there are a lot of African-American women in the business that you work with,
29:03or is it a very small kind of industry that you're in?
29:06Um, it's really, it's really small.
29:09Um, it looks big from the outside, but it's really small.
29:14You know, you can even go to, I mean, if we're talking from a retail standpoint, you can go
29:19to, like, a retail store, look on the shelf, and maybe count four, five, max, or sometimes six.
29:26This really depends on where you are.
29:28Uh, black, female-owned products that's there.
29:31I think that's one of the reasons why I created my brand is because I didn't feel when I walked into the beauty supply stores that they were educated about the products that I needed.
29:44They didn't staff, um, employees that could help me with the questions, um, that I needed.
29:49And a lot of the products weren't geared towards my specific problem areas.
29:54How do you find mentors, though, right?
29:55Because it's important to find people to look up to that can kind of guide you through the process.
30:00Yeah.
30:00Um, how did you do it, Tiffany?
30:01Just finding someone who already has kind of a foot in the particular area that you're trying, you know, that special niche that you're trying to...
30:09Make sure that you can offer them something.
30:10Yeah, and make sure that you can offer them something because their time is very valuable.
30:14Very.
30:15So we're going to end with, like, just final words of advice.
30:17Courtney, I'll start with you.
30:18What words of advice do you have?
30:20Um, I would definitely say, you know, take a step back sometimes.
30:25Do your research and give it the best that you have.
30:28Um, sometimes if you don't execute right the first time, it can hinder you.
30:33So if you have to take a step back and say, hey, I really need to get this right.
30:37It needs to be presentable.
30:39Don't rush it.
30:40Because sometimes you only get that one shot.
30:43And, you know, for us, again, just creating one product.
30:46But I put my all into it.
30:48I made sure that the packaging was right.
30:50I made sure that it looked professional.
30:52Um, I got a call from Essence and said I wanted to feature your product.
30:55And when I did not have the resources to run an ad.
30:59But if I was not ready, I would not have obtained that opportunity.
31:03So just stay ready.
31:04Stay ready.
31:04Do all your homework.
31:05Do all your research.
31:06Stay ready.
31:08Symphony.
31:08Um, I'm going to go back to the whole why thing.
31:12Um, if you're a rising entrepreneur, I would go back to why you're creating that product.
31:18Um, from my experience, I don't feel that consumers purchase what you offer.
31:23They purchase why you're offering it.
31:25So go back to the heart of why you're starting that product.
31:28Because there may be a lot of other brands that are offering the same thing.
31:32And the difference could be between why you actually started that product and how it's actually going to help the consumer.
31:37That's such a great point.
31:39The why.
31:39All right, Dana.
31:40I'll let you have the last word on it.
31:41And I would say be resilient.
31:44Um, you're going to have your good days and you're going to have your bad days.
31:47And you have to have the strength to get through that, those humps, um, putting God first, first and having faith is what keeps me going.
31:55And just, if just maintaining that and having that resilience will take you far.
31:59Yeah.
32:00Because it doesn't happen overnight.
32:01And it's nonstop.
32:02It's nonstop.
32:03But I love it.
32:04Yeah.
32:05Congratulations, ladies.
32:06Thank you so much for coming.
32:07Now, hopefully their advice has inspired some of you to start a business of your own.
32:13More Essence Now is up next.
32:15You're watching Essence Now.
32:16I'm your host, Malkon Jovu.
32:17Before we head out, let's check in with you one more time on social media.
32:21Kayla is standing by with some of your comments.
32:24Hey, Kayla.
32:25Hey.
32:25So we asked earlier, would you be comfortable attending church when the members or staff carry guns?
32:29Yes, even churches need protection.
32:31No, churches should be sanctuaries from violence.
32:33So a couple people said no, a couple.
32:36O'Shane O'Hart, more guns in the place of worship.
32:38Yeah, that'll solve the problem, sarcastically.
32:40Boyenko says this is a sad state of affairs if people have to be packing when they go to church.
32:45But the scales are tipping.
32:46So a lot of people said, no, we need protection in the church, which I was surprised by.
32:49Yeah.
32:50Pamela Beasley says my husband and I are pastors.
32:52I do believe in training, armed security.
32:55Situation like this could have been avoided.
32:57Catherine Marie says metal detectors need to be installed in all churches, movie theaters, malls, concerts.
33:01Erica Henry Mitchell says I still carry in my purse at church and everywhere else.
33:06There are too many dangers around.
33:08Jay Book had the best comment.
33:09Even Jesus' disciples carried swords.
33:12Church folks better wake up and see what it is.
33:14Oh, my gosh.
33:16Now that last one took me out.
33:17Now we've been taking your votes for today's real poll question, which in light of the recent Texas shooting is this.
33:23Would you be comfortable going to church when members or staff carry guns?
33:26Is it A for yes, even churches need protection, or B for no, no churches should be sanctuaries from violence?
33:33And here's how you voted.
33:35See how you voted on this one.
33:37Wow.
33:3767% said yes, churches need protection, and 33% said no.
33:41I'm with the 33%.
33:43You can carry your gun, but does it need to be an AR-15?
33:46Does it need to be, like, if you're not serving in war, why do you need a gun like that?
33:50It's not the solution.
33:51It's not the solution.
33:51Or the price of bullets or metal detectors.
33:54So we need to look into the reform.
33:56Let's fight it at the core.
33:57Right.
33:58The access that people have.
33:59Wow.
33:59Okay.
34:00So thank you so much to Cherie Whitfield and all our guests for coming through.
34:04Remember, if you missed any of today's show, you can catch the replay shortly on Essence.com and watch all our videos on our YouTube channel.
34:12I'm Makon Dovu, and I'll see you next Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern for an all-new Essence Now.
34:18Thank you so much for watching.
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