We were lucky to catch up with Armelia Cox recently and have shared our conversation below.

Armelia , appreciate you joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

First off, launching a business (during a pandemic) while I’m in college was probably the last thing on my mind at the time, but I had become so fixated on having a business. I was in college and had already took a few business courses, I also follow plenty of people who own really creative businesses on social media so I genuinely was like “I can do this” I grabbed my phone and went to doing my research. I’m already a super creative person I know for a fact I can create something from nothing. So all I had to do was come up with an idea and work towards it. Around march of 2020, I was still in class but it was just online, in my Creative Process class we had to create a business venture/idea and brand name and present it to the class. My instagram name was da.amazinarmelia so I definitely wanted my brand to be like an extent version of me! I went with calling it The AMAZIN Brand and just presented it to my class and they loved it. After we ended classes I knew I did want to keep going with my business, so I ended up grabbing some beads and putting my hands to work. Of course I needed reference pics and something to really learn from because this was my first time making and creating waist beads. Of course It was sooo much to learn behind them like sizing, measurements, and the history of waist beads. So of course I started off with a few materials (I didn’t have alot of funds for it) and started making them! The key to starting a business is to just start! and learn along the way! I’ve grown so much personally because of my business and creating for customers/clients. I know that my brand’s purpose is much bigger than me that’s why I believe in it. And as far as sales and everything, my first sales were all my friends. They really like seeing the pretty beads and everything was sparkly. It was an attention grabber! I also knew how to market myself because of courses I took in college. But you can find things out about marketing just by going to Youtube! Figure out what you want to do, do your research, write it down! make a plan and go for it! If you don’t have enough funds that’s perfectly fine long as you have a message.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Armelia Cox also known as Da Amazin Armelia! I’m a mixed media artist, designer, stylist, and writer from Kansas City, Missouri! I’m also a recent graduate from Stephens College with my bachelors in fashion ; Apparel Studies and a minor in Creative Writing. What can I say? I’m a creative girl! I’m multi talented (the only thing I havent tried yet is music, but I’ll get to that sooner or later). In college I started my business, The AMAZIN Brand which is a jewelry and apparel brand that focuses on experimentation throughout creating. Everything I have released so far is all handmade. I’m a one woman show! So everything comes straight out my pocket! But I absolutely love making my customers feel beautiful in their beads! I have alot of special things coming up for my brand as well. I recently just started taking clients for wardrobe styling and makeup! I’m really versatile!!!! The main thing I want potential clients and followers to know is there will NEVER be another me. I’m one of one meaning everything that comes from my mind is one of one meaning my brand is super unique and one of a kind. I’m always going to be separated from the crowd because I was never meant for it!!!!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Marketinggggg!!!! Although my followers for my brand page are still kind of small! At first there was none!! So I had to work towards getting my name out there. My personal page has alot more followers so I definitely used my page to post my brand. Networking as well! Tell people what you do when you meet them! You never know who needs your help!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

the most rewarding aspect of being a creative? the support from others! You could think you have made the worst jacket or worst dress ever whole time its somebody online or in person cheering you on. Alot of people may not ever have the talent or resources like you do so they rooting for you from the sidelines and that’s something I see all the time. It’s a genuinely feeling and it is what keeps me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: instagram.com/theamazinbrand
• Instagram: instagram.com/da.amazinarmelia
• Twitter: twitter.com/damazinarmelia