We were lucky to catch up with Brianna Downs recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brianna , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

Going into this industry is a humbling experience. You can not go into this field expecting applause. Although it is expected, it shouldn’t be what makes or breaks your vision. Only you know why you want to do it and what motivates you to get up and go hard for what you believe every day. I thought I would have a pep rally behind me when starting out. I quickly found out that those who may have claimed they will be in your corner are only there for the moment or when things are good. when you hit those lows in your business it will get lonely. some things you will have to figure out for yourself and make decisions that are best for you. Everyone might not have your or your business’s best interest at heart. Everyone might not think you will make it or simply might not want to see you succeed. I say this not to discourage you but to build character. This should be motivation. This should be a sign to keep doing what you love and learn to motivate yourself. You should be the one to give yourself a pat on the back and exceed all expectations. I was constantly expecting my friends to repost my flyers or shop with me or even book an appointment or refer someone to me. Me Knowing they wouldn’t bother me. although I had plenty of support from family and friends, even people I didn’t know. the fact that it wasn’t everyone I knew, got to me. I had to look at it like, they aren’t because they are afraid of your potential. I had to see things from a different light. They helped me get through it every time. you must develop a tough skin. That’s how you’ll survive.

Brianna , 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?

My Name is Brianna Downs, I am a 23-year-old Serial Entrepreneur, Content Creator, Beauty, Travel, & Fashion Mogul. I Branded myself to be My own Boss. I knew I was meant to stand out because I never met the status quo. I knew my purpose was bigger than what was expected of me. I own Three Businesses, I am a licensed Lash technician, I Sell High Fashion Corsets, I’m a Content Creator, and Branding Specialist Manager. I run all three pages and have grown so much in my craft. I became a licensed lash technician in May of 2021. I have always taken interest in all things beauty. I did makeup throughout high school and wanted to broaden my skill set. I decided to go through with the necessary credentials to become a lash technician. I must admit it was a tough skill to master but I got the hang of it. I created the page @majeurebeauty. The name came from @Majeurebyebony which is the sister brand. Representing empowering and motivating all walks of life. I decided to offer specials and ask people I knew to be my model so I can gain as much practice as possible. Once I bettered my craft I began to grow a loyal clientele. I kept it very transparent and let all my clients know I was just starting off. The support was immense and so appreciated. That really kept me motivated to keep going. Providing a service bigger than myself helping boost the confidence of others and making them feel good meant more to me than the money. I have grown so much and can’t wait to see where it takes me in the future.

My First love is my Corset Line. I started this brand in High school and was really dedicated to it. I loved everything about the idea. I used all my free time to market this brand to be where it is today. The growth from then to now is beyond my expectations. I started this brand with the intention to be the first corset brand in Miami. My vision was bigger than most my age at the time. I started off under the name “certifiedbabesofficial”. Looking back I appreciate that name more because that was my growth era. That is where I learned valuable lessons and took a majority of my losses. I gained some of the most money I ever made through the business within that time frame. It made us who we are today. I decided the name wasn’t what I wanted for the brand long term. I wanted something to leave a legacy. What better way to do so other than making it fit me and what I want the brand to represent? I decided on “@Majeurebyebony” Majeure in French is “Major” in English. Ebony being my middle name shows a more intimate side of me. Most don’t know my middle name and that’s what makes it “me”. I don’t refer to my business as a small business because I see that as setting myself in a categorized bubble. I would like to manifest and think of them as high end- luxury brands suitable for most. Those who are bold and think outside the box feel they deserve the creme de la creme in life. My corsets are made from the finest satins, silks, and materials overseas. Its steel bone structure and adjustable design make it one of a kind and worth every penny. they vary in design and color, perfect for any occasion. I have generated over 1,000 orders and over $10,000 in sales. I mastered my analytics and content. I have learned to cater to my target audience and grow my customer service skills. although there is always room for improvement, I am proud of where my brand is today. everything is executed carefully and I take all feedback seriously. I want to create a luxury experience for my customers. a sense of self-care. I hold my brand to a high standard and I’m happy to have left a lasting impression on all my customers.

A hidden talent that I possess is my graphic skills. I had a business where I created YouTube Intros, outros, logos, and banners. I enjoyed making different templates and designs for people. It then quickly grew to reels and Tiktoks. At the end of 2022, I decided to become a content creator because I didn’t realize how good I was at graphics. I started my YouTube channel, “sobritv”. Less than a year ago and I am close to 1,000 subscribers. That is more than most this early in their journey. I remained consistent ad reached over 20,000 published watch hours. Being able to juggle all three businesses opened my eyes to other opportunities. If I could help another business owner like me get off their feet doing something they love. that will make all the difference. If me creating content sharing my journey and my story inspires someone that will make me proud. Even if it means me sharing my knowledge and tips. I decided to look into a UGC journey and as of 2023, I managed to get 5 brand and PR deals. I created my social page under “Theinfluence herr” to motivate young creatives who are aspiring to do the same thing and grow with in themselves. This was a major yet small win for me because it showed my efforts doesn’t go unnoticed. consistency is key. keeping faith and believing you are one of a kind is essential. no matter how saturated a market may be no one can do it like you. no one can be you, you are one of a kind. With the right method, I can’t wait to see where I am a year from now.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Since I started my Journey back in 2017, I have hit a lot of highs and lows but I realized in my growth that it comes with the Territory. Running a business, especially a small business is not for the weak. Although I knew it would be hard, I knew that it’ll be worth it in the long run. I had a growing passion for being my boss and setting my standards. I knew my potential and knew how far I can go if I put my mind to it. I got a job, My very first one through my school at the time. I was in High School and got all my credits early. I had On the job training as a reward and was able to leave school early. This helped me to get work experience and of course a paycheck. I used my after-school job and my mom as funding for my business. My mom always believed in me and my vision. I did my research and found out how to start my own business. I looked for vendors, researched profit margins, my target audience, and everything needed for a successful business. I was a one-man team, and I single handily did my graphics, marketing, and branding on my own. Luckily I have always been good at Graphics. I registered for Shopify and created and designed my website. After my first launch, I made my first $2000 in 3 months after family and friends, even individuals I didn’t know personally got word that I had launched. Things were good for a while. The School and my other priorities began to hinder my performance. Eventually causing my engagement to slow down which affected my growth in sales. I realized I had to learn time management and organization play a major role in a successful business. That wasn’t a skill I developed easily. I struggled for the most part. I went through a stage where I felt I shouldn’t continue my business anymore. I even thought maybe I signed up for something I couldn’t handle. I had to realize I was able to get it to bloom and generate twice as much as I put into it. What would stop me from doing it again and gaining the same results if not better? I realized I had to get out of my way and remain resilient. I have to motivate myself to do things almost unimaginable. It was almost a sense of writer’s block. I was able to get out of that funk and told myself I revert back. Why would I waste all the hard work I put into creating this platform just to throw it away? I went back to the drawing board and rebranded myself. I managed to gain over $10,000 in sales. Orders were beginning to flow in every day. That taught me a lesson that when things start to get hard and things will get hard. Not to give up but to weather the storm because nobody said it would be easy. You are meant for a greater purpose. Your calling is beyond any situation you may face in the present.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Many businesses make the mistake of trying to reach everyone. I quickly learned that was one of my biggest mistakes. You won’t always be everyone’s cup of tea. I quickly realized I had to find my niche. I learned different marketing skills and implemented them into my business. I reviewed analytics and made it my goal to crack the algorithm. These tactics worked well for me. All my platforms grew almost overnight using this theory. I was able to make my posts go viral and draw attention. Making my talents and hobbies work for me to drive people who share similar interests to check out what I have to offer. It’s essential to keep up to date with their interests and to implement a social listening strategy to understand their wants and needs. Pre-planning content and scheduling posts saved my life and made things easier for me. Your organization plays a huge role in this. learning how to Brand yourself properly can make or break your business. Ask yourself What do you specialize in? Where can they receive the service or product?, or Why should they shop with you? Creating that bond with your customers and clients creates that transparency so they know what your brand is about and who they are shopping with. They will feel increasingly more comfortable spending money with you knowing you are relatable. You want to post relevant content that deals with what you stand for and what you are providing. You want it to be engaging and relevant. Blurred lines lead to questions and confusion and that leads to uncertainty to want to proceed with a sale or service. This just scratches the surface. In my journey, I have learned so many gems that can take any business far. I know consistency is the root of it all. I genuinely enjoyed it so much that I decided to become a content creator towards the end of 2022. I started my YouTube channel and TikTok to target lifestyle, beauty, travel, and fashion. I took it seriously and though still in the works, as of 2023 it has grown so much in such a short period. I became a UGC content creator and received over 5 brand deals in under two weeks. I practice my craft and editing skills. pre-plan content and schedule it for all my platforms. go above and beyond to meet the client’s needs. This is only the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Majeurebyebony.com
• Instagram: bbankrollbri
• Facebook: Theinfluence her
• Youtube: SoBriTv
• Other: Business socials : @Majeurebyebony // @Majeurebeauty // Theinfluence herr on Instagram .

Image Credits
@NicestyPhoto @Zay.Gotfans @leekyp.art