Today we’d like to introduce you to Markeisha Samuel.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Who would have known being diagnosed with Lupus would drive a passion to create a franchise in the making, Boss Babe Wig Cleaners, LLC? In 2002, I was diagnosed with Systemic and Discoid Lupus. When I was diagnosed, I dwelled in the negative aspect of this disease and how it affected my health. Not knowing the beauty of this disease and how it will teach me to encourage others. It was to the point where the discoid was highly active and caused me to lose a lot of hair which became overwhelming. Most women are self-conscience about hair loss and how it affects their appearance. Due to having a traumatic past, I refused to allow this disease to consume me. I educated myself on this disease and joined all the forums/blogs I could find; not being from Dallas I needed all the support I could get. I started to wear wigs and while learning how to care for my wigs properly to ensure longevity, standing on my feet to wash my wigs became a chore due to the disease also left me extremely fatigue. I figured if I was suffering from extreme fatigue, I’m sure other people with autoimmune diseases also shared the same problem. It was also hard for me to find realistic wigs that made me feel comfortable in wearing where people cannot tell it was a wig.
I was determined to find a better solution while in the process encouraging fellow Boss Babes that rather they have hair or not they are beautiful. Nowadays it seems to be a cliché that a person is catfishing because they are wearing a wig, or because you wear a wig you are bald. In the world we live in today wigs are now considered accessories. I knew in order to make the best decisions I had to get a little more business savvy. In 2014 at age of 33yrs old, I went back to school after almost 20yrs for a degree in Business Management Administration. Working a full-time job and struggling with an autoimmune disease did not make this a pleasurable experience. I stayed focus on the goal at hand and teamed up with a lot of wholesalers I have purchased from in the past.
Fast forward to the future, the pandemic hit and that made my determination that now is better than any to get my business plan in motion. I was in process of graduating which I received AAS in Business Management Administration and Certification in Human Resource c/o 2020. Pandemic put things more so than ever into perspective on how short life is. Boss Babe Wig Cleaners was established and as with any business starting from ground up in the middle of the pandemic came with rough patches. I have had people really support my vision which is contradictory from people original response. Some of the most popular and convenient innovations spent time being mocked in the limelight. With this being a niche and not really being a market out there, there is still a market for it. Many do not know how to care for their units properly and not realizing by caring for your unit the right way will save you money from buying a new unit as often. Most people think a lot of my units are new and not knowing I have had some for several years but because of how I have learned to care for my units they look like the first day I purchased them. Our mission is to allow all Boss Babes rather you have an autoimmune disease or not to feel as if they just walked out of the salon, it’s like a spa for your wig. We want to make sure you not only feel good on the inside but also look like a Boss Babe on the outside and we are here to support all.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most small businesses starting off usually have struggles but Boss Babe Wig Cleaners, LLC was established from ground up in the middle of the pandemic which made startup not so smoothly. With that being said, due to starting in the midst of the pandemic, we are still working out of a residential area until we get a brick and mortar. Having an autoimmune disease and starting in the middle of the pandemic was scary, it was already scary before the pandemic just having an autoimmune disease alone. I had to be strategic with my business plan to not only keep my customers safe but also myself. Networking on social media was my best option and even as we are coming up on 2022, I still must remain strategic when it comes to getting my business name out there. Building clientele was rocky due to not having family here and my circle is small due to that no one knew the talents that I possessed when it comes to keeping a unit looking like new again. I did link up with Ms. Jimmie Lavon who has been a great mentor and giving insight due to being inspired by the type of industry I was contributing to. In the beginning, my neighbor who is First Minit Market in Garland, TX. Allowed me to bring flyers and business cards to pass out to their customers, I am truly grateful for them. She also continues to educate me on anything she finds out when it comes to running a business smoothly. In my surrounding area, I passed out flyers from apartments to businesses that would even look at my flyers. Reached out to senior citizens’ homes and communities. Reached out to salons and beauticians to make running a business easier for them by cleaning their customers’ units at a discounted price for a certain number of units. We started with very little money, and I learned to adapt for my business to thrive. I understood a millionaire mindset you need multiple streams of income. I do customizations that contributed to helping build the finances I needed to get the business where I needed it to be. Customizations was expected to roll over to customizing attached wig caps, accessories, and headbands for wigs. My family back in Peoria, Illinois played a major role getting Boss Babe Wig Cleaners, LLC where it is today. My cousin Deandrey Robinson just signed to Bentley Records created our theme song that you can check out on our website. We even had our first interview with Dr. Linda Amerson on her podcast that brought some customers as well. Business has increased beyond our expectation over the year. Our following on social media have contributed to that and google have played a major part.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Boss Babe Wig Cleaners, LLC is the future to keeping your investments clean and revitalized. Our mission is to inspire and help autoimmune warriors in the process. Most Boss Babes do not know how to properly maintain their units (wigs) to keep from purchasing the same or similar unit because they did not maintain their units properly. Over time due to not cleaning your units properly shedding worsens which decreases density. Washing your units in laundry detergent or wrong shampoo makes your unit frizzy and takes the nourishment out. You will soon find yourself trimming your units ends because they appear split. We are known for keeping your unit looking like new, we run our business just like your local dry cleaners but with wigs. We want you to feel like you are dropping your unit off at the salon for cleaning and styling for a night on the town and/or that important business meeting. We have free shipping materials for outside of 30-mile radius and within 30-mile radius, we have curbside pickup/drop-off and delivery service that can be scheduled. Every unit (wig) purchased with us, and every wig cleaning gets a FREE Boss Babe Wig Cleaners, LLC wig storage bag for safekeeping. Some people with autoimmune diseases and/or cancer who do not have the strength to keep their unit looking good, we are here to assist them. A lot of our Boss Babes who come to us share their stories of looking for more realistic units, ones with very little preparation before installation. We have linked up with several wholesalers over the years who provides us with premium units to offer my customers without any concerns of purchasing something they did not want due to our thorough research. We take pride in what we do and with me being the owner, I am also a client which means I am a walking billboard. If I look like a Boss, you will look like a Boss.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to us is helping those who cannot help themselves or who would like to keep their units looking revitalized all the time. When I first found out I was diagnosed with lupus fatigue set in quickly and wished someone was around to keep my units clean for me when I did not have the strength. Many Boss Babes need that help and we strive to keep our Boss Babes looking good. We shed light every month on different diseases that cause hair loss and cancers and give insight and how to keep yourself healthy. We donate to those charities every month to help give to those needing financial assistance for any reason. Even though someone looks like they are not sick do not assume they are healthy.
Pricing:
- Large Wig Cleanings – $35 (16inches or longer)
- Medium Wig Cleanings – $30 (12inches – 16inches)
- Small Wig Cleanings – $25 (Face Prosthetics- 10inches)
- Same Day Service – $10 additional
- Any Other Services – Please Call
Contact Info:
- Email: bossbabewigcleaners@gmail.com
- Website: bossbabewigcleaner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bossbabewigcleaner_llc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bossbabewigcleanersllc
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bossbabewigcleanerllc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/bossbabewigcleanerllc
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/uiEvnQ8Neqz6b63u5xWJYA
