We recently connected with Claycee Bonjá and have shared our conversation below.

Claycee, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit I’d like to say. I’ve always been a hustler and I’ve always been super creative. Growing up I would express myself or show my personality through my crazy hair colors or my fly outfits. Ending my high school career with 2 jobs, I was a cashier at Champs Sports and Boutique Associate at Francesca’s, I was not happy with my parents telling me they didn’t want me to work my freshmen year of college. I had gotten a taste of making my own money and doing what I wanted with it that I wanted to keep that going. I started brainstorming on what I could do that would be authentic to me that’ll make me some good money while I’m in college.

Fast forward to my first Christmas in college I hit my family up like “Look don’t buy me anything for Christmas, I want to start my own hair company selling hair extensions so just invest that money into me.” Now, the year is 2016, the market wasn’t as saturated yet so me telling them this wasn’t the craziest idea in the world and at the time I had previously been a brand ambassador for a hair company, the best of the best in Atlanta were my hairstylists, my hair colors were going viral like I was already apart of the hair community in a sense. I started doing some research to see what it would actually take for me to start a hair business right. The legal aspect of it was the easy part, the hard part was finding a good reliable hair vendor. I had never ran a business before let alone having to find a business partner in another country. A lot of trial and error. A lot of money wasted on samples from various wholesale vendors and getting scammed but that was apart of my journey.

For Christmas 2016 my dad invested into my first wholesale order for inventory and the rest is history. I loved coloring hair so I’d offer hair coloring services as an add on to purchasing hair extensions from me. I knew how to make wigs so that was an add on as well. There were certain aspects I included into my business that set me apart from my competitors but also made consumers want to support. Like I was just having fun, I had turned a hobby of mine into a business.

I’m now 6 months into owning my first company Cvbello by ClvyDope (clvydope was my Instagram name at the time) but I wanted to take it a step further. I’m living in LA at the time. Full time college student at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising). I literally live walking distance from the Fashion District. I’d occasionally walk through the district just in awe wishing I could go in the showrooms and shop but not as a customer, as a boutique owner. So here we are again, researching and learning what it would take for me to own my own boutique. Google literally is my best friend okay! I had saved up a little money from running my hair company to where I was okay taking the risk and starting my boutique. I did not have as much trial and error with this business because all the resources I needed were steps away from my home. It’s like God placed me right where I needed to be. My second business DopeSZN an online women’s boutique was born, I think for me in the beginning of my career, I was fearless. I wasn’t scared to take calculated risks to make my desires my reality and I was making money off of my interests. Like I mentioned earlier hair and fashion were always my thing. Those 2 businesses got me started, they got things rolling for me. 4 years after launching my businesses I became 100% self employed.

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

I like to tell people I didn’t find my industry, my industry found me. I am currently a hairstylist and hair company owner, I sell high quality hair extensions from bundles to clip ins to wigs. Along with extensions we also sell hair styling tools such as a cordless portable travel flat iron and crimping beach wave iron. I also own an online women’s boutique named DopeSZN and I’m an author. I released an ebook for aspiring hairstylist and hair company owners called ‘10 Things I Wish I Knew About The Hair Industry’ giving insight from my experience in the hair industry almost a decade.

Unlike most hairstylist, I did not start out doing hair before owning a hair company and I haven’t been doing hair 20 years *laughs* I’ve always knew how to do hair just on myself. Even in high school I would dye my peers hair extensions for a couple dollars but never saw myself as a hairstylist. 3 years after starting my hair company I had constant and I mean constant inquiries from my customers wanting me to do their hair because they know I did my own. It was always “Clay your hair looks so good, who did it?” I couldn’t ignore what I felt like God was guiding me to so I took the risk and started promoting that I’d be taking clients. I started out doing hair in my mom’s kitchen before eventually stepping out on faith and getting my own salon suite. Here I am, many many years later a successful self taught hairstylist.

I built businesses around my interests rather than building something solely for the money which is why I say my industries found me, I didn’t find them. As I got started running my businesses it became second nature to me as if I was doing exactly what I was suppose to be doing. Not saying I haven’t experienced any obstacles, failures, or setbacks because I have just like any other entrepreneur, however my journey always feels worth it because my businesses are authentic to who I am.

As a hairstylist I think what sets me apart from most is the fact I really have a relationship with my clients. They aren’t just coming to me because they love their hair (which is definitely most important *laughs*) but they genuinely enjoy the experience they have when sitting in my chair. As for my boutique as well, I have customers who I’ve provided bomb looks for numerous special or important occasions for them which makes me a reliable option when it’s time to shop. I don’t make my customers or clients feel like they are just a dollar amount and they appreciate that. I think building community and relationships with the women who believe in me and my business and trust me to execute for them is something I continuously strive to do.

That desire to continue building community is what pushed me to release an ebook. I want to be what I didn’t have when I first entered this industry. I also want to teach and help guide anyone I can from sharing my personal experiences. My ebook was a big step towards committing to what I say I want to do.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Oh baby right now. I am pivoting as we speak. I’m at an age now 26 years young where I want to be more purposeful not saying there is a certain age to have this epiphany but I’m getting older. I’ve been hustling for a long time. I want to do something more impactful. Like I said previously it’s not just about the money for me. Whatever I wake up and do everyday I want to be passionate about it. Hair and fashion will always be interests of mine but I feel like I’m reaching my ceiling where I currently am. I’ve done everything from working on sets, movies, tv shows, video shoots, photos shoots, styling, set production, personal shopping, now business owner to where I sit back and feel like I can be of greater use than how I am currently presenting myself. I shared with you how I feel like my ebook is the first step into the new direction I want to take. I have a story and I want to share it and there maybe someone who’s impacted by me sharing my successes and setbacks of my journey. I have a few new ideas. I guess you’d just have to sit back and watch the transition to find out what happens next.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I love Sarah Jakes Roberts. I just finished her Power Moves book. I also went to the book tour, completely fan girling right now but I love her down. Women Evolve was the first book I read of hers and that’s def a fav too. I read her books and feel like she’s speaking directly to me but she also makes me feel like I’m not alone. She speaks from her personal experiences and feelings as an entrepreneur, women of God, author, etc to where it makes me feel like I’ve found my tribe. I read her books sometimes like “omg Sarah, are we the same person???!” She just does it for me. Her books, sermons on YouTube, and podcast has definitely helped me along my journey. Business and personal.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.BonjaBeauty.com
• Instagram: @ClayceeBonja
• Youtube: AllThingsDope

Image Credits

Javier Crump
Tanya Oliver