Today we’d like to introduce you to Khadijah Muhammad.
Hi Khadijah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my entrepreneurial journey after I completed my Academic studies in college. At the time, I was going through some vocal health issues due to overextending myself with the hours of studio work that I was putting in on work for hire projects for music producers and projects for my recording group to perform. During my break from music, I began to explore a different facet of my creativity and started Designs By Dij as a greeting card and crafts business, creating one-of-a-kind 3-dimensional cultural cards. What most people don’t know is that attending an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) is what inspired me to create the Alpha Man card for the fraternity brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. These cards sold like hotcakes and I received so many rave reviews that I “nailed it” with this one-of-a-kind design. But if it wasn’t for my experience on campus in getting a firsthand view of their “brotherhood first” stance and if I hadn’t seen other things that piqued my curiosity to learn more about fraternities and sororities, I would have never made the attempt to create what is now known as my most popular card to date and has been sold to hundreds and hundreds of people. Representation matters in every capacity and I think that the reason they really resonated with the Alpha Man card is because it’s a sentimental way of expression that’s created specifically with their organization in mind. After falling in love with the art and depth of creativity and uncovering God’s purpose for me in this space, I hit the ground running and expanded more in the lane of representation by offering a full-service gift shop of home decor and accessories that specialize in original signature art to empower, uplift and celebrate the beauty, strength, and magic of melanated people….and the rest is herstory.
Alright, 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?
The road has been anything but smooth. Being an entrepreneur is super tough and if everybody could do it, it would be a way larger percentage of people who embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. The path to purpose is never straight and narrow; it’s always very convoluted. But heavy is the head that wears the crown and Luke 12:48 says: To whom much is given, much is required. So, with those things in mind, even on those days when I’m totally exhausted with this journey, I trudge forward because this is what I am meant to do. There were definitely struggles; for instance, I struggled with finding my target audience. A wise person once told me, “If you are selling to everyone, you are selling to NO ONE” and that stuck with me. Not everybody is my targeted customer; it takes some deep reflection, analyzing and data assessing to find your customer base. I’ve also had struggles with imposter syndrome and doubt and fear. In the most opportune times, that little voice would creep up in the back of my mind and would say, “What if no one likes my products?”. Your mind will wander and roam to ridiculous places if you don’t take control of your thoughts. I actually had a moment earlier this year: I shared my ideas about an event that I was putting together and I literally had so many women supporting me and telling me that they would participate in the event. I had everything lined up and ready to go, and as the date started approaching, I talked myself out of the event. I talked myself out of something that literally could have been so effective and powerful. Imposter syndrome is a real thing and if you aren’t present in the moment enough to call it what it is, it will take over your mental state and your business will succumb to those doubts and fears. For me though, I was able to point it out and say “I’m having imposter syndrome. Let me get out of my own head.” and I’ve grown from those internal challenges and I’m proud to say that I won’t ever let me get in the way of me ever again. I know the value that I offer and how necessary my brand is and I will stop at nothing to continue this important mission that I’m on. One thing is for certain: entrepreneurship will take you through a whole mindset shift and reset. It’s literally a life-changing journey that you embark on and you really begin to uncover a lot about yourself and really get to know yourself throughout the process. You will either come out on the other side stronger and more resilient, or you will have to bow out gracefully as you learn that entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. As I continue this journey, I have noticed that I have a thicker skin, a winning mindset, and a whole new level of respect for all of my fellow business bosses in the world.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As the founder and CEO and designer of Designs By Dij, I handmake literal structural works of art called greeting cards, that are like none other on the market. I also design signature collections of lifestyle art to empower and uplift and push the culture forward, and my brand focuses on celebrating the beauty and diversity of natural hair and black culture in general. I think my most distinctive and recognizable items are my umbrellas. I remember being at a vendor event: I was bending down grabbing something from under the table, and I was out of the view of the general public. A group of ladies were walking by and I heard them go, “Oooh! You know who this is…This is Designs By Dij! I know those designs anywhere!” They all joined in the discussion and was excited to see my brand there. I am proud of the fact that my brand message is so different and unique that it’s immediately recogniz
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I was blessed to have won a full-year scholarship in a building and branding Academy that has aided me in building my business. Don’t get me wrong: I still have a ways to go, but I have come a long way since January 2021, which is when I first joined the Academy. My coaches in the Academy include, but are not limited to, a certified Shopify expert and brand strategist, a paid ads coach, an Email marketing coach, an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) coach who teaches the art of being found through google search, and more. It’s been an incredible learning experience and has provided me with the building blocks and solid foundation that I need to help scale my business and catapult me to the next level. So, my suggestion would be to find a program with proven vetted experts who really know their stuff and learn as much as you can from them, soak it all in, and implement it and you will start seeing results.
Pricing:
- Unique Umbrellas $30
- Alpha Man Card- $14
- Pillows- $35
- Backpacks- on sale for $40- buy 3 for each child and get free shipping
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Holiday Pillow & Blanket Bundle Set – $55
Contact Info:
- Email: designsbydij1@gmail.com
- Website: www.designsbydij.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/designsbydij
- Facebook: facebook.com/designsbydij
- Twitter: twitter.com/designsbydij
- Other: Facebook Group for exclusive giveaways and offers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/designsbydij
