We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danasha Simmons a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Danasha, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Growing up I was the youngest of my siblings and the only girl. I was raised with a hustler mentality. My dad would always reiterate to us “You can’t be lazy. You can’t succeed like that.” til this day, I live by that. Very early on, I knew I wanted to have a business of my own. I’ve always been independent and found satisfaction in accomplising my own perosnal goals. Like the late Nipsey Hussle said, “I don’t want no help ain’t no fun in that.” In 2016 I graduated college with my degree, a year later I opened my first business” LoreneSzn”. I knew the medical field wasn’t always going to be fulfilling for me– don’t get me wrong, I love what I do but I wanted generational wealth. I’m a boss and I didn’t want to work for someone for the rest of my life. In 2021, I launched my second business “ Dime N Smiles”. Both of my brands are flourishing. It hasn’t always been easy, but I wouldn’t give this journey up for anything. Being able to witness and experience the “growing pains” daily is what keeps me pushing for my mission. It’s not a race, it’s a marathon.

Danasha, 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?

I’m Danasha Simmons my friends and family call me Nasha. I started my career in the medical field in 2016 but I knew I had a higher calling in my life and being in the medical field wasn’t my last stop. I knew I wanted my own business so I started to make a business plan in my journal until it finally came to life. I now have 2 businesses. In 2017, I launched LoreneSzn as my first business. LoreneSzn offers 100% raw bundles, wigs, frontals, closures, and lipgloss. Dime N Smiles is my second business started in 2021. Dime N smiles offer teeth whitening and tooth gems. To get the smile you desire, you can book either a 30 min or 90 min session at Dime N Smiles. All of my products are high-grade and of high quality. Your smile is safe with me!

For my customers and clients, I want them to leave feeling more confident and complete after making a purchase or getting service from me. You know the saying… “Treat yourself! Don’t cheat yourself.” It’s all about having confidence and embracing yourself.

My attentiveness and attention to detail are qualities that set me apart from others. Customer service is a top priority in my businesses because I understand the value that is deserved when making a purchase or receiving a service from any establishment. There is a sense of gratitude in the client relationships that I build. I’d say that my resilience sets me apart as well. Despite how much I want to give up or the obstacles got in my way, I kept going. Especially on the days when I don’t feel motivated… I keep going!

I take pride in my growth, my faith, and my consistency. I’ve seen the evolution of my businesses first hand. The gratification wasn’t instant but the journey was worth it. I want my future clients and customers to know that they are in good hands and I’m confident that they will leave feeling that way.

We are always looking for brand ambassadors. If anyone is interested in the opportunity please reach out.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for me has been word of mouth. People feel more comfortable trying new things when it’s been recommended by a trusted source. I also leave my business cards everywhere. You never know who may stumble across one.

On social platforms, reels and TikToks have been the most beneficial in scaling my businesses.

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

Running two businesses and working full-time as a Nurse/Surgical Tech isn’t the lightest load to carry. I am a small brand, which means there’s no marketing team, and there’s no assistant. It’s just me, fighting for my dreams. I’ve spent countless hours working overtime, dealing with day-to-day life occurrences, and feeling stretched thin but I can see the bigger picture. In moments when I feel overwhelmed or defeated, I choose to lean into my faith. I choose to follow my own path and my own journey. Life doesn’t stop for anyone and in accepting that statement, I’ve found comfort. At the end of the day, I know both of my brands will be highly successful because I refuse to give up on myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: LoreneSzn.com
• Instagram: @loreneszn_ & @Dimensmiles_
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100063622540969/
• Other: My other website for booking Dime N Smiles https://dimensmilesbooking.as.me/schedule.php Facebook : https://m.facebook.com/100067976335691/