We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ja’nya Maple. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ja’nya below.

Alright, Ja’nya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Starting my business the most valuable thing I learned was that going from idea to execution is way easier than most people think. It is important to take a leap of faith, invest in yourself, and be patient even if things seem impossible. Initially I was not specifically looking to create a hairstyling business – I was only looking to learn how to manage my hair and save money. Thats when the idea was given to me by one of my close friends. She asked me if I could do her hair, and she was so in love with the results that she urged me to offer my services to others. At first the idea seemed so foreign to me, but now it’s a huge part of my life. She saw potential in me that I didn’t see in myself. I was still in high school, so I promoted by business to my peers, through social media, and through flyers. Soon enough word was spread and I was gaining loyal clients slowly but surely. In order to keep my business afloat I had to perfect my craft so I was constantly practicing on myself, and giving discounts to people that were willing to model my styles. It took many hours of patience and frustration, but I love looking at pictures of my old work versus my most recent work. All I think about is growth. There is no such thing as perfection, but I still have confidence that my work will continue to get better and better after each style. In the beginning business was slow and inconsistent. After I learned how to build relationships with my clients, know their likes, dislikes, and preferences, it was easy to keep a steady flow of happy clients. Up to date I have only had one bad experience with a client, so I value the relationships that I have built with everyone who supports me. Now that I’m experiencing consistency and stability within my business I would love to research different ways to take it a step further, and grow into something beautiful.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Ja’nya Maple, owner of business StyledbyNie. I am a hairstylist who specializes in braids, natural hair care, and loc hair. I offer each and every one of my clients levels of attention to detail that they’ve never experienced before in a stylist. Although my craft started off as a hobby, it became a wonderful business. I would never change the way things turned out, and I still enjoy every second of styling. It has never felt like a job to me. I am most proud of myself for building my business from nothing to everything I wanted it to be. I never would have expected this, but it seems just right.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After reaching consistency I relocated to a new city for college, causing me to have to start off completely new. This scared me, but I was up for the challenge. I started my promotion and exposure early, and this caused me to hit the ground running when I arrived. It feels like I picked up where I left off and I am only 2 months into my move. I am grateful to have clientele and success in two different cities.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building my social media presence was one of the most important steps in making my business known. My biggest tip would be to never stop posting. Although it may seem hard to juggle a business and make content, it is not impossible. Even if your posts don’t get likes, post frequently. It is important for people to have up to date references to your business and see that you are active. Another method that helps me build my social media presence was simply being pleasant to my clients. When people are 100% satisfied they would hesitate to show their support by reposting and interacting with you social media to increase its exposure.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stylesbyniee.square.site/
• Instagram: @styledbyniee
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@niee4l