We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Desiree Greenwood. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Desiree below.

Alright, Desiree thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

The name of my brand is Desiree Danielle. It is my first and middle name. When I 1st started out in full time entrepreneurship back in 2015, I had just open my 1st salon suite. I have always been creative and even though I was only doing hair at the time I felt like at some point I would venture off into different things. I felt like if I named by business something hair related I would put myself in a box of only being able to flow in the beauty lane. I decided to go with Desiree Danielle. Why? Because I am the brand. As long as my lanes of business are creative businesses they fall under the organizational structure of Desiree Danielle, because that is my creative business. I Am a creative who has the liberty to create in multiple ways.

Desiree, 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 was born and raised in Enterprise Al. I started my college career out at a local community college on a basketball scholarship. After graduating I moved to Birmingham to attend The University of Alabama at Birmingham as a pre-nursing major. And to be honest I chose nursing because I thought that was what you were suppose to do. You know, go to college, get a degree and a Good steady job. How many of us have heard that before? The interesting thing is, I have always been creative with my hands. All throughout elementary, junior high and high school I was into drawing and painting, and let me mention I started braiding hair when I was 12 years old. No body really said “Hey, this is an area that you can explore and actually make a living enjoy doing something you love”. So I did the normal thing and enrolled in college. Now hear my hear, there is nothing wrong with going to college. I just believe that there are alternative paths depending on your purpose and your life’s mission.

While I was at UAB I worked my part-time job at Walmart in the photo lab, I was doing hair in my dorm and and client’s homes all while going to class. In 2010 I graduated from UAB with a BS in Communication Management and a minor in Art Studio. Even as I was trying to figure things out in life, there was still a love for creative things. Like, there was still something churning on the inside. After graduating I started working at a portrait studio called Portrait Innovations. I worked there for about a year in a half until I decided to enroll in Cosmetology school. In September 2012 I started at Paul Mitchell the School Birmingham in their night program. I had no clue how much you could do in the world of cosmetology. Being in that environment allowed my mind to expand to different possibilities.

If I really look back over my life, little creative seeds were planted all along the way, and I am now being able to see the fruit of those seeds. As a licensed cosmetologist, photographer, and creative I get to help brands and business owners show up authentically themselves for their audiences. Through Photography, videography, and podcasting they get to capture the essence of who they are and solve problems for those who they are called to reach.

The main thing I want to leave you with is the importance of truly understanding your purpose and living that out. As a believer I believe that we were all created for a purpose on purpose. There is something on the inside of you thats waiting to be released to the world. Not only does it give you a great sense of being but it also helps and unlocks something for others. When I really started to lean into the gifts inside and started to love and help people from a genuine place, things just started to open up. All of our journeys are different because we are fearfully and wonderfully made to be unique. I am finally started to embrace it!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

When I started out in full time entrepreneurship, I honestly didn’t know much about business or really building clientele. But what I did have is a heart to serve people. I thought about my experiences growing up in hair salons and different interactions that I had with other businesses. I began to create an environment and business that focused on people. The most effective strategy that I have used in growing my clientele is customer service and the customer experience. When people fell like you care and you give a great product and or service they will share it with others. My salon was built off word of mouth because people loved coming into the space.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the joy it brings others. Creativity comes in sooo many ways. It isn’t just physical art. I have really been enjoying watching cake decorating videos and those sped up videos of people building things. I get so inspired by watching other people share their creativity. Creativity inspires, empowers, and unlocks things within us as well as those who come into contact with the creations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.desireedanielle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desireedanie11e/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desireedanie11e/