We were lucky to catch up with Jasmine Fuller recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

When I was in high school back in 2014 I took a entrepreneur corse that thought me how to start a business, registering your business name, and getting a EIN number. I was fascinated, but what really made me fall in love was as this online business simulation that gave you control to grow your own store. I remember thinking “I can see myself doing this”. Also when I was in high school weave sew-ins we’re very popular back then and EVERYONE was wearing that style. I use to always get compliments and questions on my sew-in/hair, the idea came to my head about selling hair. So in July of 2019 when I was in college I decided to take a leap of faith and created Jae’s Hair closet.

Jasmine, 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 grew up in a single parent household being the youngest of three children. My mother was working a full time job, going back to school to get her masters, and taking care of her three young children. Growing up and seeing her determination and resilience built character in me that helps me in every aspect in my life today. Her crazy work ethic molded me to have discipline and to keep going. I think that’s the main component about being an entrepreneur, you have to keep going no matter what it looks like. Things are always rough in the beginning and it feels as everything is working against you, but I believe that’s the beauty of entrepreneurship. Knowing that you never stopped and you won’t break.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn was family and friends will not support you, even when they say they will. Like I said earlier, starting out was rough. I had a family member who had too started a hair business around the same time that was way older then me. I remember asking her for some business advice and she did not help me. She did what most people call now “gate keeping”. In the beginning when I would try to sell to close friends and family no one would support me except my mother, my sister, and my best friend. It took me going to my first pop shop and make a sell to a complete stranger to realize I don’t need the support from family and friends. There are plenty of people who don’t know me yet who would love to support me.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

I do manufacture my wigs, but I do have a option on my site where I also make custom wigs by hand. Having a manufacture helps with speedy deliveries and turnaround time. Finding my own manufacture was hard. I spent a lot of time doing research of what I wanted and what I did not. I also spent a lot of money on testing out the product to making sure it would up hold to my standards. The lesson I have learned with finding my own manufacture is do your research first then take your time when talking to these big companies and ask every question that come to mind.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jaeshaircloset
• Facebook: Jae’s Hair Closet
• Youtube: Just Jae To You
• Other: TikTok: @justjae2you

Image Credits
Photos: Point Shoot Media Arif Mills