We recently connected with Ramona Adkins and have shared our conversation below.

Ramona, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

My story goes back to high school. I have been an eyewear lover since I was a teen. Sir Elton John was my idol regarding eyewear styles and still is a staple for my frame choices today.

My eyes were always very sun sensitive, and I wore glasses to help turn down the light intact. As I got older, it became customary for me to wear sunglasses or cute clear frames. I collected the most excellent glasses I could afford throughout my youth and college years. I was a broke college student, so my glasses were cheap but stylish. My collection to date is about 60 pairs of frames, from sunglasses to prescriptions. The cost of my collection ranges from $5 to $350 for designer frames.

One day, I spoke to my mother about glasses around 2016, and my mother said, “Why don’t you start your own eyewear company?”. I immediately thought and said to her, “Who Me?”. I did not know a thing about starting or running a business. I did not give it another thought until 2020 after I graduated with my MBA and in the height of the pandemic.

I began to research how to start a sunglasses company. In my research, I learned there were only a few independently black-owned eyewear companies. One major company dominates the industry with about 75%-80% of the business and makes almost all of the designer eyewear we see today and well-known retailers. The other 20% are people like myself. Even though they are the dynasty in the eye world, I wanted to put my feet in this big pond.

Ramona, 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 entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker. I worked in the corporate world for the last 17 years and, like many Americans, was laid off during the pandemic. I had already started the business when I left the company. The layoff was a gift in my eyes. It made me realize that if I can make money for a big company, why can’t I make it myself?

I learned many transferable skill sets from my previous employer that I use in my business. My biggest skill was customer service comprehension. I understand customer needs, the importance of customer satisfaction driving repeat revenue, and word-of-mouth marketing. At Succulent Eyez, we put customer needs first. I don’t just sell them glasses, but I have tailored pairs of glasses to their request. I follow up for satisfaction and gain their feedback after a purchase to see where I can improve.

Succulent Eyez Eyewear has been in business for two years and it has been a fun ride. Learning technology, face shape, and the best fit for a person’s face have been more of enjoyment than work. The initial launch was a pre-launch to assist in funding the sales platform and purchasing glasses. I have changed platforms a few times, but now I have a platform allowing me to fill prescriptions soon.

Changing lives through glasses may sound crazy, but when you have people that use sunglasses for more than blocking the sun, you want the world to see the other side. Sunglasses assist in helping people with social anxiety. There is comfort in having on glasses to bring the tension down especially with an amber color. Or people who are colorblind and have never seen our vibrant world. There are glasses called EnChroma technology. The technology allows a person to see vibrant colors. Glasses that are not only fashionable but can change a person’s mental health and wellness, sign me up.

By 2024, the goal is also to sell EnChroma eyewear. I am excited about this journey.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I was very green about funding and understanding it. I had no business credit and needed to learn how to establish it for a startup. Another skill I acquired from my previous employer was knowing avenues that businesses had to take to have their credit run for service with us. I reached out to a friend who was a financial guru for his independently-owned company. He advised me of the steps to take with resources. That night I began reading, and one key point stood out: pre-launching to gain immediate capital for your product. That day, I set a date for pre-launch. The launch gained me enough funding to cover the money I put into expenses and products within two months.

As the business grew, I took the first year only to reinvest all money earned. As the company gained followers, I had some friends sow into my dream, no payment back, but wanted to see me win. The next venture of personalized glasses with my company logo on the rise, I have the capital to move forward. I aim to get a business loan only if it is for a storefront. My fingers crossed for that victory.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Our mission at Succulent Eyez Eyewear is for the customer to walk away satisfied with their product and the experience. I recently started conducting live interviews on social media about customer experience and how we can improve our service. I know it’s risky to live that out loud with your customers, but I was listening for tips and tricks. I received great feedback from the customers and the audience tuning in. This method also gained new customers and followers. The customers were candid in the experience, and I loved every minute.

Another reputation builder is the uniqueness of the eyewear. I place into the inventory glasses that stand out and make bold statements. I do not get your standard everyday glasses. The glasses carried are multicolored, uniquely shaped, and allow you to be you without you seeing the same glasses on others. The distinctive looks have kept customers returning for more, especially new releases.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.succulenteyez.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/succulent_eyez/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SucculentEyez/
• Other: www.ramonaadkins.net

Image Credits
Jennifer Williams Jada Bright