We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Talina Porter-Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Talina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My mission was to create a space for beauty professionals that just finished beauty school to advance in their craft. To learn the key things which to me is GOD first, then provide great customer service. Service to me is missing in so many businesses. I lived in Atlanta for almost 11 years, the south is known for southern hospitality so my mission was to bring that here to all of my businesses.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve been doing hair & make for 26 years, I knew when I was a very young girl I wanted to be in the beauty industry. I used to watch Dorothy Dandridge & Marilyn Monroe when I was little and try to duplicate the looks on my grandmother, who raised me. I worked at several cosmetic lines including Mac for 10 years, a couple hair salons, and owned my own suites for 9 years before I opened up D’Portier Beauty storefront in West Bloomfield, MI. Which happens to be the first & only black owned salon/spa in West Bloomfield. I absolutely love what I do, most of the time I don’t even feel like I’m working. I’m very blessed.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Opening up this salon/spa storefront was one of the most challenging things I’ve done. I had many moments of thinking I’m in over my head. The building’s rent was more then I imagined paying, the construction was higher then I budgeted, and on top of that I didn’t have a staff. I literally just walked by faith and followed the path I believed GOD wanted me to follow. I knew I was supposed to inspire & encourage other beauty professionals new to this industry.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
Opening up this store front I completely emptied out my savings and took out loans. I don’t come from a wealthy family nor did I have any investors. Just a woman with a vision to make something possible, that seemed impossible. And even now I work harder than I’ve ever worked lol. But I’m determined to see this salon/spa flourish. And more and more it is.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dportier.com
- Instagram: Talina Dportier
- Facebook: D’Portier Beauty Salon