Do you want to know how we used manifestation/visualization to take our beauty care brand from my mother’s kitchen to the shelves of Target?
It all began with a single picture…
We were 2 years into our small business journey and things were stalling out.
- No real progression.
- Sales going down.
- Inspiration at an all-time low.
We were questioning was this even the right path for us anymore. We were tired and frustrated and, to be honest, we were going to close up shop. I can remember me and my now fiancé, John, just sitting on a couch holding our laptops in silence. It was a CRUSHING moment.
Then out of nowhere he said, “Grab a jar… and hop in the car with me.”
I looked at him crazy tryna figure out why, but I got the jar and got in the car. We drove up to the local Target in Inglewood and walked right in straight to the beauty section.
“Be the lookout… imma put the jar on the shelf and take a couple pictures.”
I laughed because it felt like a secret mission and it was kind of fun having a second to escape the business funk we were in. This moment meant we were not giving up. We got the shots we needed and left.
We took this exact picture and each made it our laptop backgrounds so everyday we would SEE our goal before us. We didn’t even know what we were tapping into, but the power would soon make itself real. Less than a year later we went from a brand being made on the counters of my Mama’s kitchen to launching on the shelves of Target.
Sounds crazy, right? We had to pinch ourselves to make sure we weren’t dreaming. How could a tiny, black-owned business started by two people who are first-generation entrepreneurs from the hoods of Los Angeles get an opportunity like this? There are KEY lessons to how all of this happened.
Lesson #1: “if you want it you have to see it with a clear-eyed view.”
It was about seeing exactly what we wanted and putting it before us.
- Doubt couldn’t cloud that picture.
- Depression couldn’t fade it out.
Get that dream out of your head and before you. You are capable of fulfilling your mission, your vision, and your purpose.
Lesson #2: LET. IT. GO.
State your intentions, put it before you, then let it go and trust that it will materialize for you. We didn’t become obsessive over getting into a big name brand retailer because it would have been a waste of energy and mental peace. This is called TRUSTING THE PROCESS. Continue to move forward and know your steps are ordered.
Lesson #3: What is for YOU… is FOR YOU.
Cannot tell you how many times we almost lost the opportunity.
- Almost missed the application deadline by five minutes.
- Our pitch presentation malfunctioned.
Yet, we were still selected amongst far more qualified businesses that were already in other retailers. Despite our flaws and rookie mistakes, they said they loved our story and they wanted to feature the Kyra’s Shea Medleys line in stores.
Lesson #4: Being WILLING matters more than being ready.
Let me give you a breakdown of where Kyra’s Shea Medleys stood when we got the approval message from Target:
- We didn’t have the best business plan.
- We didn’t know much about business at all, especially not retail and wholesale.
- We had no idea how to work with Target.
- We had no third party manufacturers.
- We definitely didn’t have the best sales.
But we were WILLING to move forward in spite of it all. I don’t think we have ever been 100% ready for any opportunity that came our way and to say we know how to work under pressure is an understatement. What we do know is that blessings happen outside of our comfort zones. Entrepreneurship requires grit!
I say all of this to say that this is less about what WE did and more about what’s AVAILABLE TO YOU. Over that hill of fear, doubt, naysayers, feeling of unworthiness, sorrow, and pain…are the goals and visions of your heart waiting for YOU.
Not sure who this is for but THIS IS YOUR TIME.
If people don’t want to go with you… then GO ALONE.
If they gone talk about you… LET THEM TALK.
If negative thoughts come in your mind… let them pass just as they came and KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
THE WORLD IS WAITING ON YOUR GIFTS TO BE FULLY UTILIZED.
Your journey will reveal more than you would ever imagine. It has placed us in front of Stevie Wonder, Gary Vaynerchuk, Daymond John, Maxine Waters, and all the way to Good Morning America and more.
Everything started by just acting on a little bit of faith. (Jeremiah 29:11) I hope that this blog helps you keep your faith in yourself and the opportunities that are awaiting you. I will end with some of the pictures that mean the most to me:
1. Us shipping out our first wholesale shipment to Target
2. Me and my Dad inside Target the day we first launched
3. A customer actually reorganizing our display at Target after it was ruined.
4. Being able to donate to the Downtown Women’s Center in LA.
5. Sharing our story to Professor Manyweather’s Entrepreneurship class at LA Southwest College
TRIBE.
We have since moved all operations in-house and online here at kyrashea.com. Yes, we pride ourselves on crafting the best multi-use natural hair and skincare products. PERIOD.
Our heart is for those who dare to dream and to go after it. We stand WITH YOU
If you have any questions… please don’t hesitate to ASK! (More than happy to help)
Thanks for reading and see you all at the top!
– Kyra
