Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashlei Shorty. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashlei, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

During Covid with all the emotions going Anxiety was at an all time high, I remember saying I need to find something to do to keep my mind busy. I seen some waist beads and thought huh maybe I can make some. I remember making my first pair and I sat and added 1 bead at a time! It took me so long to make it and I was like nope this is not for me lol. I came across a TikTok live with a young lady making waist beads with a machine and it seemed so easy so I looked up the machine and tried it again and that’s where the start of Waisted By Ajalai

Ashlei, 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?

My name is Ashlei owner of Waisted by Ajalai. I am 28 years old. I have been making waist beads for 3 years now. This is business number 3 but this is the most serious operating business for me! I come from being a hairstylist and makeup artist, started to sell hair and lashes but non of them made me feel like it was enough, until I started making waist beads. When I started making waist beads it helped so much with confidence building and I would just make me so happy to see the colors on me, I knew if it helped me I could help other women feel good. Waisted by Ajalai is not your normal waist bead vendor, I make my waist beads with the intention of helping someone feel better about themselves being out the confidence that they have when they put “ Put it On” on a Normal day. Our slogan “Let’s Get Waisted” is so catchy because it’s such a party vybe, they ladies love it!

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

The best source for new clientele is always at local events. When women walk pass and see these flashy beads hanging it makes them some over and want to touch the flashy beads. When they tell me they have to lose weight before getting waist beads is when I show them they are a waist bead body! When the ladies say they not confident enough for waist beads I show them they was help with their confidence. Or if they have never heard of them I introduce them to waist beads give them a visual trip of where waist beads come from and what they mean

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn for my business was not every event or set up is a money making set up. When I first started Waisted by Ajalai I would think oh yeah I’m coming home with some money. Well that was something that came to a hard hit very fast. I had to realize no not every time am I going to make a money goal but I may meet my new clientele goal. Passing out business cards to introduce myself to new clients and that has been a roller coaster but I’m glad i learned that early in my business

Contact Info:

• Website: Waistedbyajalai.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waistedbyajalai?igsh=cDM0aDJlaHNzODY%3D&utm_source=qr