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

Elaysha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

To be successful is to make sacrifices, for the bigger picture. Knowing that those sacrifices are small in comparison to what’s to come. It’s knowing that those sacrifices come in many forms. Being tired, failing, and lost, possibly broke! Lol, I’ve been there. Let me not forget patience, because nothing happens overnight. There are good things of course that happen along the journey. You may surprise yourself by doing what seemed impossible. Success takes perseverance. It takes strength. It’s betting on yourself when everything seems against you. Success is knowing in the end you’ll achieve it. It’s tricky because everyone’s idea of it is different. So I believe that it’s an attitude. A mindset, so to speak. If you have it, there is no doubt that it can be achieved. In any form, an individual may desire.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Elaysha, I started my business Lay Melanin my sophomore year of college. To be completely honest I was pressed for cash and needed a way to make some extra coin! What I thought was just a side hustle eventually turned into something I couldn’t have imagined. Success. As I matriculated through my college career I experienced life authentically. Meaning I transitioned from a child to a woman. That’s when Lay Melanin became so much more. As I was discovering myself, I began writing blog posts. I originally started selling waist beads and then I began making jewelry altogether. Lay Melanin now sells earrings primarily and apparel of all sorts. I also, still write from time to time. Writing blogs lead me to start my Twenty-Something Lessons podcast. Interviewing and discussing a range of topics focused on love, growing pains, and adult life. In this, I’ve come across the love I have for myself and the people of my community. My business embodies who I am and how I’ve matured as a person. It represents different parts of what I love and the joy of being able to share it with the public.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

Ecommerce plays a vital role in my business. I have my own website ( ahsyale.com) which houses my blogs and the items that I create and design. I love my website because it feels a bit more personable. I feel as though that is a key component when it comes to interacting with your audience. I do, however, have an Etsy ( http://lamelaninllc.etsy.com/ )site as well. Which provides me with a lot more exposure.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I will say, even though eCommerce plays a major role in my business When I sign up for pop shops is when I get most of my clients. There is nothing better than face-to-face contact. truly getting to see your client and or customer enjoy their purchase and ask questions. Leading to friendships and bigger opportunities. Customers also love to see and feel items in person. So it’s optimal.

Contact Info:

• Website: ahsyale.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahsyaletwo/?hl=en
• Other: Etsy: http://laymelaninllc.etsy.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Ahsyale?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=a6fe636f-7591-4499-b56b-0830d4ff8092

Image Credits
Instagram: @channelchanavntg @reneenickita