Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Briana Mason. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Briana , thanks for joining us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?
The best thing that I’ve done for my customers was run what’s called a 30 for 30. I’m not sure if you are aware, ESPN films a series of documentaries highlighting interesting people and events in sports history and the title of the series is called 30 for 30. August 27th, 2022 I turned 30 years old and all I could think about was how far I’d come and how blessed I was to make it to 30 years old. I realized that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for God, the people that I’ve encountered throught my life, my clients, and my family. For some reason 30 for 30 just kept popping up in my head. It suddenly came to me. I want my clients to celebrate with me for the entire month of August! I can run a $30 off special for 30 days because I’m turning 30… Why wouldn’t they love that? At that time, my heart was filled with joy because me being a business owner was something that I had never seen for myself. Celebrating has always been something that I loved doing. I knew that this deed would please my customers and give new clients an opportunity to get a good quality style at a discounted rate. School usually starts in August so the parents were super excited about the 30 for 30 also. I knew this would be a good idea because back to school can get pretty expensive. $30 off a kids style would be a way of me showing my appreciation. When I released the content about the deal, I was booked for the whole month. My clients left feeling pleased and appreciated!
Briana , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hey everyone, I’m Briana better known as Braids By Bri. I am a self taught braider and business owner. I have been braiding hair since about 9 years old. I was born in Belleville, Illinois right outside of St. Louis and raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 14, I later relocated to Springfield, Illinois about 3 hours away from chicago to finish my high school years.
Hair was always a big deal to me growing up but it wasn’t until I graduated high school that I started to perform multiple styles on family and friends. Hair was something that I did for fun just because I knew how to do it. One day, my cousin asked me to try a popular braiding style that we now know as “feedin” braids, not knowing that this style of braiding would become one of the best styles that I perform to this day. I did 5 feedin braids to the back and it came out so good that my boyfriend at the time had encouraged me to post it on Facebook. When I posted the pictures, the notifications and comments came in like a flood. Before I knew it, people were inboxing me asking how much did I charge and when could they get an appointment, something that I hadn’t prepared myself for. I honestly thought that they would compliment the style and keep it moving. I guess God had other plans… I can remember giving clients a price as low as $40 to $50 dollars, telling them which hair to purchase, sending them my address and the rest became history. Before I knew it, I had a few clients, products and built good relationships with people that I didn’t even know.
In 2018, I worked at a hair salon for about 6 months to get familiar with the braiding industry. Working under the salon owner taught me alot about branding and marketing, how to run and keep a business and the not so good things that come with being a business owner. That same year 2018 of December, I relocated to Texas for a new enviornment and better opportunities. I landed a job working in health care and started my career as a traveling braider on the side. I was determined to set a name for myself. I worked as a wellness receptionist at Job Corps for about a year until covid hit. When covid hit, the students had to leave the campus, I felt like my job description wasn’t being fulfilled, I wasn’t serving in the area that was destined for me. I thought about it for months and then came up with the idea of taking a leap of faith and quitting my job to become a full-time braider. Months prior to me working at the shop the owner of the salon was looking to hire one more girl to complete her team but I had the 9 to 5 so I couldn’t take the position even though that was what I wanted to do. God said delayed not denied…. I asked her if she was still hiring several months later and I literally started about 2 weeks after we spoke.
Things started to happen so fast for me. I learned time management, braiding techniques and money management. Ironically, I stayed at this shop for 6 months as well. I learned very quickly that working with certain personality types could make or break your salon stay. The tools that I learned were beneficial for my journey. As I transitioned from working in the salon I revisited my career as a traveling braider. That’s when I realised, I need a nice space for my clients to call home and working for myself wouldn’t be a bad idea.
In May of 2021 I invested in myself by launching Braids By Bri and getting my first salon suite. This has been one of my greatest accomplishments thus far. God has given me the wisdom and knowledge to serve my community. Being a business owner can sometimes be a struggle because you are the boss,the janitor,the laundry lady, the teacher, the counsler and more. The list is never ending. In the teacher role, I’ve had to discipline myself by managing my finances for the good of my business. You can make all of the money in the world but if you aren’t managing it well it’s like the money was never made. I am now very strategic when It comes to making financial decisions.
I take my craft and my business serious. When a client request a specialty style, I make it my business to go over and beyond on the request. My perfectionist characteristic kick in and take over. I’m always complimented on the neatness of my work. From the braids to how crisp the parts are. That’s what sets me apart from others. Most braiders pride themselves on how fast they’re able to get the job done. As for me, I am all about quality! I cater each braiding experience to their individual hair texture and personality ensuring that the clients hair is well protected to produce maximum growth.
There are times when clients come to me with problems such as alopecia, balding and thinning edges. When this happens I would put on my health care hat and construct a healthy treatment plan that fits the client. By the end of the session, the problem was solved. I started to notice that when people look good, they feel good. I didn’t have a mission when I first launched my business but over time, I saw that the mission was to serve. Having a mission motivates you to keep pushing. If you don’t have a why? Your gut will tell you that it’s too much to handle. Having a reason behind striving for the best will always keep me in a straight line. God wants me to serve… my duty is to serve his people rather it’s plates or braiding. He’s brought me so far that giving up could never be an option. He shows me daily why he chose me to serve. Each day I am honored that I am the chosen one.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I believe that anytime there is growth, change comes right beside it. I stopped working my 9 to 5 at a crucial time. People were out of jobs due to covid, families were sick in the hospital, and people were dying. Times were rough! I can remember my mom asking me how would I be able to survive without constant income… of course I thought about it but I had a gut feeling that this would be a great time for me to change careers. At this moment, I knew life would change for me in a major way.
For this journey, I really had to walk a different walk. I had to trust and believe that God would provide my needs and wants. Starting out with only a few clients and the uncertainty of not knowing if I would see the fruits my labor made me work smarter. I had to discipline myself big time when it came to finances. Getting a check every 2 weeks was guaranteed, being an upcoming entrepreneur wasn’t.
This is where my crazy faith kicked in. I had to have a strong mind. I kept telling myself, if God gave me this gift, why wouldn’t he give me the tools that I need to be successful in this industry. I prayed for guidance constantly because I seriously had no clue what I was doing. Before I knew it, I quickly transitioned into a business woman.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me would be social media. My company has grown so much through Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. I have constant feedback from people all over the world supporting my work just through a simple post and a few hashtags. Good marketing skills will take your business places that you could never imagine. I’ve noticed that when I post any style male or female, I get an inquiry or a booking immediately.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.braidsbybri.com
- Instagram: braids_bybri_
- Facebook: Braidsbybri