We were lucky to catch up with Charnae Ware recently and have shared our conversation below.

Charnae, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

I believe that Corporate America in the marketing world has a lot of gaps to fill when it comes to inclusiveness and diversity. Diversity is not just about having different races and ethnicity. It is about including all cultural opinions and expertise along with allowing those to have a role regardless of their age. I think that sometimes Millennials or Gen Z thinkers often do not have a voice in these larger corporations because they are looked at as lack of tenure or experience. I think a marketing career is one of those exceptions to years of experience and is focused more on the actual experience and knowledge of the subject.

Due to the fact that social media and marketing trends evolve almost every day, a person with over ten years of experience may not know more than an employee with 3 years of experience for the simple fact that what worked back then may not work now. That employee with fewer years of experience may have more knowledge or keeps up a little more with the market trends than the other. Both can be knowledgeable and both can bring something to the table to learn from. No experience is too little or invalid. I think marketing is all about the amount of effort put into researching, keeping up with the evolving trends, and being consistent. It is also about being inclusive and diverse with the way of thinking.

Charnae, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an innovative thinker that focuses on inclusive environments where all people can grow. I have been in several different industries that including television, film, healthcare, environmental, model, pageantry, and so much more. In those experiences, I identified ways that I can grow my personal goals while also finding ways to bridge the gaps in that specific industry. I think we all play a major role in developing and growing wherever we are. Every experience I have had whether professional or personal has taught me something important for my journey as an entrepreneur and as a corporate employee.

My journey is unique because even though it is all over the place, it all connects somehow. For example, I started doing makeup in 2013, Which led me to compete in my very first pageant in high school. At that time I had no idea I would go on to become a pageant girl. In my head, it was just something fun to do and showcase my newfound love for makeup. Now fast forward 9 years later I am on a National Pageant stage placing Top 20! I was blown away. Besides all the glitz and glamour those experiences taught me that I am a really good public speaker and am really good at building connections through visual storytelling and marketing. So, through that, I build my two businesses Flawless Image Artistry a makeup and lash business as well as Flawless Image Marketing Agency to help build marketing portfolios for clients. Those two businesses started as hobbies while I worked full-time jobs but now are thriving businesses because I found the connection and made a choice to be bold enough to get involved and put myself out there.

I got into many of those fields by being curious. Being courageous enough to try something new even if I failed, because I knew if I failed it didn’t mean I was not good at it, it just meant that I needed to further my skill and push harder. Which ultimately helped me discover I am really good at marketing and helping others find their unique path or sharing their stories. I believe what sets me apart is that I tap into those uncomfortable places to find a FLAWLESS and beautiful story that someone else can relate to. Marketing is like a chain of events when one person connects, another person connects to them and the story continues.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Funding is always a tough topic, especially as an entrepreneur. Many people decide not to go into business because they feel like they do not have the start-up money or they have to have a large sum of money to get started. Well, I am here to tell you that is not the case. I did not have a large investment of money nor a big investment from a bank or private investor. All I had was my passion and my skill and a support system that believed in me.

My advice is to start somewhere! JUST START! Even if you do not have a physical location find something that takes a low investment to start and build capital by selling or offering that service to develop clients. Starting with just one small thing is better than sitting on an idea and waiting for the funding to come. You may miss the market for your skill or product by waiting, so research and find ways to do a small start-up and don’t give up

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy is authenticity. Clients are more likely to spend money or patronize your business when they can relate to your true authentic self. I have had success by being authentic and not conforming to what everyone else may be doing. I stay true to my brand and always show them that it is about service and gratitude and not just the money they are spending with me. I am happy when they are happy. Not everyone will like or support it, and my brand is made for everyone but may not fit everyone I understand that which is important.

A strategy I use is creating messaging campaigns, sharing stories from other successful clients, and fostering relationships with important stakeholders. Understanding two things: buyers persona and buyers journey. Those are two things a lot of small businesses do not focus on but are very important. They help you identify how and why clients connect with your business. I will be teaching a class on both to help businesses understand how to grow effectively and sustainably.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cware817.wixsite.com/mysite/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naethemua_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flawlessimagemarketing
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/charnae-ware-59a059139
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqQRbNVzVFQHf1SW2Gv298w