Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamaya Black.
Kamaya, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started in my living room the summer of 2019! Just finished my first year of college and was bored at home for the summer & wanted to come up with a way to make extra money. Everyone either sold lashes or sold bundles or did hair and I wanted to do something different. Typically you don’t see people in Dallas selling bonnets, let alone making their own product. Therefore, I knew it was something I had to do.
I started googling and YouTubing how to make bonnets. I learned how to sew in middle school and retaught myself over the summer. It was actually fun my parents started off funding me with the money to get started but I ideally used my school refund check to get started. I attend the university of north Texas and All my friends shared and bought bonnets from me to help get my name out and it just took off from there thanks to social media! I have to thank the Zetas for hosting their beauty expo at Unt due to that event I was able to get my name out there on campus just in the beginning of my business launch and after that inventory stayed stocked up and stayed getting sold out.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
So far everything has been going pretty good I wouldn’t say I had received any negative reviews or bad feedback from a customer when it came to bonnets. My friends say as my business continues to grow, I get better at my craft daily when it comes to obstacles I would say my worst sale month was December. After my Black Friday sale I sold a lot yet after that I didn’t Make any sales nearly the whole month of December up until the new year started and I introduced a new launch! I would say that could be because bonnets aren’t the ideal Christmas present possibly.
When I first started, my mom and dad were so excited and are so proud of me for starting my own business. You know how black parents get they tell everyone they know and start to brag on you lol. Therefore all their friends wanted to buy off the little amount of bonnets I had before I could start up my inventory. It was hard to tell them no and not post about it yet because I did not want to put anything out to the world or sale to anyone until everything for my business was 100% ready. Other than that, I believe God has blessed with a smooth-running business so far no big obstacles and I pray it stays that way!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about XclusivlyKCB – what should we know?
Xclusivlykcb specializes in creating handmade 100% luxury satin bonnets. I make all my bonnets by myself and it typically takes me around 10-15 minutes to make each bonnet if I have no distractions. Customers’ favorite bonnets would be the “Shopaholic Bonnet” & the “Galaxy Girl Bonnet” I always sell out fast from those two and they are the highly requested ones. I recently just started accepting custom made bonnet orders where a customer can get their name, any graphic picture design, or personalized fabric they want within their bonnet.
Bonnets are sold in the beauty supply house for less than $5 yet they do not stay on your head throughout the night, they do not last, and they aren’t suitable for everyone’s hair type. Compared to the other bonnet websites or Instagram sites mines are affordable, mines are local due to the fact I have not seen a bonnet business specifically in the DFW area, and mines are completely made and ran with my hands and sewing machine alone. In the future, I plan on adding handmade scrunchies, du-rags, bows, and head wraps so definitely be on the lookout for those!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel like my customers being able to reach me at any time via direct message on Instagram, email, or phone number makes them feel comfortable with requesting items from me. I feel like the fact that I am a young college student who is driven, motivated, dedicated to school and a black-owned business means something to people. I feel like the fact that I don’t put out half done bonnets or poorly stitched bonnets that fit anyone’s hairstyle is why people continue to shop with me multiple times is great because I have built that level of trust with my customers.
Pricing:
- Regular sized/Baby Bonnets are $10
- XL size bonnets are between $12-16
- Speciality custom bonnets $20+
Contact Info:
- Website: XclusivlyKCB.com
- Phone: 2146244683
- Email: kchericeblack@gmail.com
- Instagram: Xclusivlykcb
- Twitter: Kcheriice
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