Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Areion Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Areion, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with my business idea pretty unexpectedly. I started out as a hair blogger and my page grew quickly. Areii’s Hair Products was initially created to help people who were scared to embrace their natural hair. My sophomore year of high school, I decided that I no longer wanted to damage my natural curls by using heat and extensions every chance I got. I became a hair blogger and quickly gained a major following from embracing my natural curls and trying new fun styles. I called it Areii’s hair journey. Everyone wanted to join the journey by embracing their curls and letting their natural hair grow. My influence became so heavy in the natural community that by my sophomore year of college, I was contemplating creating hair products to help people want to embrace their natural hair. I have always been into long hair, curls, straight hair, thick hair, etc. I grew up in a hair salon, that my grandmother owned and I believe that is where the love for hair came in play. Once I noticed how much of an impact I was able to make by just embracing my natural self, I realized, I could take this further. The idea was always being said to me and I always had the thought to sell products as well. I like to believe, it was God who was speaking to me through all of my supporters, family and friends. Once I dropped the products, I haven’t had a slow moment yet. It is like I was destined to help others take care of the natural hair and show my journey while doing so. I knew these products would sell, because I already had such a heavy impact on the natural hair community. Everyone likes long hair, but everyone defiantly wants that long hair to be their own. I am solving a problem, but their are others out there who are also trying to solve the same “hair growth/hair loss” problem as well. I believe the way I was brought into this industry is what sets me apart and makes my approach so unique. Starting out as a hair blogger, I had no intentions on selling any products, it was strictly for advice and showing my hair growth only. I like to believe that I gave the people what they wanted. Which was products, but not just any other products; products from me. The person they watched turn their hair into “hair goals”.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am a 22 year old entrepreneur and an up and coming business coach. I have a bachelors degree in marketing and I strive to scale my business in ways I can’t even imagine. I got into this industry by starting out as a natural hair blogger my sophomore or junior year of high school and I slowly began to gain traction from my natural hair post. I always received comments of people asking me to start selling hair products and if I have any remedies to help with hair growth. Before I had even considered it, people were already ready to cash out on products that did not even exist yet. I was ready to become the best entrepreneur out there! I started out just selling hair growth oil in a 2oz bottle, and my customers were saying that the sizes weren’t big enough. I had no idea that people loved my product that much. I was in absolute shock with how people all over the world were willing to purchase items from me. I now have to have monthly restocks, because of the high demands for my products. I sell hair growth oil, beard oil, anti itch oil, and every winter I sell hair butter to help with breakage of the ends of hair strands. I also sell satin bonnets, detangler brushes and length check shirts. Of course, the all time favorite is my hair growth oil. I believe that is what Areii’s Hair Products is known for. My hair growth oil. It’s the truth. The main problem that I solve for my customers is hair growth and confidence building. I hear from different customers all the time, about how their confidence was so slow that were depressed about their hair thinning, balding or just not long enough. I believe that is what makes me the happiest, is that not only am I able to grow their hair back, but I am also able to help them gain their confidence back. I believe I’m doing more than just selling oil. It’s deeper than that. I enjoy helping people feel beautiful, especially since I understand how it feels to not love your natural hair, I was there before too.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
My results and my customer service is what made my reputation what it is today. I like to keep things as transparent as possible with my consumers. Every hair growth result I receive, I post it with the time stamps. I am honest with my work and my customers. I feel like companies usually fabricate the truth to get a sale, but I like to keep it as real as possible. You see the result, you see the customers, and see the orders. I let them see what my business is truly about and that usually is what sales my products, honesty. I believe that ties into my customer service as well. I am very honest, if I have 300 orders to get done and I know I cannot get it out in a week, I will make it known and throw in a discount or coupon code for the next purchase. I don’t want to mislead them in anyway so I just keep it real with them. I believe that is what helped build my reputation. That and then the amount of times my products have went viral. I believe that is what helped m gain traction as well as a positive reputation in the natural hair industry.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Before I started my company, I was working part time at Victoria Secret. It was the longest amount of time, I had ever worked for a job- 2 years. I would go in everyday and sell bra and panties, I was usually the number one seller in the store. I had the thought pop in my head when I was at work, “Why am I selling lingerie when I could be selling my hair products?”. After that moment, I was putting half of my check up to invest into my business. I worked to support my business and myself and once I was able to stand successfully on my own with just my business, I quit my day job. That’s why I like to tell people, there is nothing wrong with working a 9-5. If that is what you need to sustain or start your business, then do it. It’s money. Use the money and fund your business. Invest in yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.areiihairproducts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/areiihairproducts/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/areiihairproducts/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/areion-s-jones-0b0bb8196/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/areihairproduct
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ3vwgdDmxdkWbPFsvikVEg
- Other: Portfolio: https://areionjones.wixsite.com/areionjones