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

Emani, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I came up with this idea at school one day. I would come to school with my lip gloss and the other girls always wanted some and wanted me to share. When I ran out I came to school with mommy’s lipgloss and tried to sell it. When I realized that not only me, all girls like lipgloss, I would have my mom go to the dollar store and buy packs of lipgloss and I will share it with the girls at school until I realized I can get a Dollar from each girl and keep the money and not tell mommy. When I finally told mommy that I wanted to start my own lipgloss business, she told me if I have a plan, she will help me execute it . I have been playing in mommy’s lipgloss and lipstick for four of my five years of living. We came up with a plan and named it MissMani Lips. Mom always tell me I can do anything that I put my mind too. Although I’m 5 and just want to have fun. My mom teaches me the basics that I will need in life. I have full lips that has to stay moisturize or they will really get chapped. So, I wear lipgloss all the time since I been 1, but my dad hates the red tinted lipgloss and says I can’t wear it. Let me introduce you to Lips by MissMani sold at my very on boutique MissMani Pretty Girls Boutique LLC. Yes my own Boutique. Yes a LLC at 5 years old. Yes I’m a 5 year old business owner. Yes I will succeed.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

One day I looked in my closet and said “mom I have to many clothes to choose from” My mom and I decided to start a boutique to sell my clothes and shoes, before I can’t get my store running, there were two young girls with newborn babies that needed just about any and everything. We gave them everything… beds, rockers, strollers, shoes, clothes, toys, supplies, diapers, and hygiene products that I never used. It felt so good to help and put a smile on another girls face . The only thing I kept for myself is my lipgloss and fake cosmetics. After telling my mom I want to start my own business, she gave me a challenge. She told me to come up with a business plan. Well I did. I said my plan is to sell my lipgloss. Mom ok. I then said I want lipgloss with my name on it so girls will know it’s from me. We then started brain storming. We came up with MissMani Lips

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I currently sell on many different sites such as Amazon, Walmart, Shopify Facebook, Instagram, TikTok Pinterest marketplace, and a few more . I chose these platforms because I actually buy from and use these apps on a daily basis. Shopify has a easy set up with a lot of help and assistance from there team. Some of the pros has been able to sync all platforms together, making it easy to add the different products to the site. Some of the cons are targeting ia specific audience. I started off, targeting my current Facebook, followers and friends also family and quickly learned. There are no sells there that most sells come from strangers, people whom you never met and just shopping around.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most efficient strategy for growing my clientele has been advertising person-to-person. Everywhere I go I carry my products. If I’m on a plane, I give products to the stewardess.. if I’m at a restaurant, I provide product to the waitress. Wherever I go, my brand goes too. I wear T-shirts and hats and water bottles with my logo on it. with me being five years old, everyone ask me what is my logo, and when I tell them I have my own lipgloss line, they think I’m so cute that they buy a few tubes. I also love advertising on social media. My favorite is tick-tock. Every since the pandemic, I have mastered TikTok and I love it and now I can share my product while I’m having fun with no stress at all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://a51d44-2.myshopify.com/?_ab=0&_fd=0&_sc=1
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/missmaniprettygirlsboutique1?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissManiPrettyGirlsBoutique?mibextid=LQQJ4d