Jewel Sharp has created a line of products perfect the current times. Whether working hard or indulging in “herbal therapy”, Hair Scentz deodorants allow you to smell your best throughout your day.
Your Hair Scentz product line is very unique. Share with us what inspired it.
Hair Scentz was inspired by me not being able to find a product that refreshed and deodorized my hair without making it oily. After the gym, or a night out with friends, I would hate the odor in my hair but didn’t want to wash it to get rid of it because the style was still just fine. I needed something that would simply eliminate the smells and voila, the birth of Hair Scentz.
There are so many challenges in launching a brand, what was you biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
I would say my biggest obstacle was obtaining the capital I needed to start this brand. I was a 24 year old college dropout, trying to figure out my next move when I came up with this idea. I had some money saved up but not enough. Then God stepped in by bringing me an unexpected investor. I was presenting Hair Scentz in a restaurant to gain some feedback for my idea, they overheard it and wrote me 25 thousand dollar check. Without that hand up, I don’t believe I would be sitting here talking to you about Hair Scentz. Raising capital as a black woman is tough and what keeps a lot of us away from entrepreneurship. I don’t believe I did much to overcome it, outside of being patient and prepared when God sent me the opportunity. So I guess you could say I overcame it, by working even when I didn’t know if it was going to pay off.
The deodorants come in four incredible scents. Describe the selection process.
I flew to LA, met with a cosmetic chemist and we played with the formula for a few weeks until we got the perfect one. I picked scents that I knew would linger because, I am not a fan of scents that smack you in your face when you walk in the room. My selection was also a tad limited because Hair Scentz is a natural, paraben free product The best seller is Flirt, which I would describe as a rosy, flowery scent. The natural girls are loving, Wicked, which is bold and spicy. We also have our newest scent, Carribean that gives you island vibes. Lastly, we have, what I guess you could call our gender neutral scent, Smoke Out. Barbers and guys love using this after fresh cuts and for their beards.
You discovered an untapped market, how did you research your target demographic?
I think I had a unique advantage because I am my target demographic. I knew my complaints, conducted, focus groups to hear the feedback of others and researched a ton of other products. I utilized the internet of course but, I talked to a lot of people. I know we’re in this era of doing everything digitally, but nothing beats face time with people and I’m not talking apple facetime. Sitting down and building connections is still undefeated.
Everything about your brand is professional from the product placement to packaging, do you oversee every part of the operation?
Yes, I am very involved in every aspect of my business. Up until this year it was just me but, we’ve grown so fast that I had to start building a team. I also have another business Pregame barber supply, that delivers to barbershops in the DFW metro area, which I’m very involved in as well. Having two businesses take off at the same time, is a lot of work but a great problem to have.
What advice would you offer aspiring entrepreneurs?
My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to prepare, persevere, and be patient. While I was building my business plans and getting my life together, after deciding college wasn’t for me, I eliminated all distractions including, my social media and kept my mind focused on things that would take me where I wanted to go. It is so easy to get caught up in what you see everybody else doing and lose sight of the path God lit up for you to walk. Nothing worth having is going to happen overnight, do the necessary work on yourself and your craft, when it is your time, you’ll end up in the right place in front of the right people.
BE’N ORIGINAL
