Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to JaVanta Haskins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi JaVanta , thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
The biggest risk in life that I’ve ever taken was 8yrs ago when I stepped out on faith as a single mother, moving from Kentucky to Atlanta on April 25th, 2015 with two kids, no job & only 2 thousand dollars to my name. I didn’t have a plan on how I would make it with two kids on my own coming from a small town to a HUGE CITY, but I knew I wanted to be successful & I had the tools to be successful because going to school & getting good grades was nothing to me, in fact, it was pretty easy. Moving to Atlanta was not by coincidence, a dear friend whom I look up to as a sister named Latise Vaughn Davis (Marsh Vaughn) who’s originally from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, like me, reached out & guided me every step of the way when me & my kids made it to the Georgia Peach State. Latise & her husband were the gems I needed to get me out of the darkness I was facing while living in Kentucky. I call Atlanta the “BLACK AMERICAN DREAM” because where I come from in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, back then you didn’t see too many successful black, African Americans as you see here in Atlanta. Even though I was the granddaughter of the late Luevenia Watkins, who was the 1st African American Woman on Hopkinsville City Council, you still didn’t see too many black entrepreneurs & black owned businesses. After graduating with my Bachelor’s in Health Sciences & making the DEANS LIST, I decided to take an even bigger risk other than packing up with two kids & moving to another state, I started my very own business, I AM H3R SOLUTION 4 U LLC! This risk was even greater than moving to Atlanta with two kids & no concrete plan, but a vision because I just finished my Bachelor’s & was working in the medical field for 8yrs, but started a business in BEAUTY PRODUCTS & APPAREL. While working alongside some amazing doctors & bosses I met some amazing patients & people who always asked me the same questions literally like everyday from “Where’d you get your lashes, hair, lipstick, shades, etc.?” The crazy thing is I found myself always writing down the information for people & even making sticky notes for them to give them the business information. Until one day a dear friend & coworker named Renee Bryant motivated me to start my own business because the patients & people literally inquired about my appearance daily. On September 1st, 2021 I launched my business & three years later I must say, it’s been growing amazingly, at it’s own pace & I’m very thankful for the platforms & rooms my business has entered. The risks & chances I’ve taken this far has been a blessing, I literally get emotional thinking about how far I’ve come.
JaVanta , 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?
For all of those inquiring minds & individuals that would like to know a little bit more about me, I am the “TURKEY BABY” & baby girl out of six siblings on my mom’s side & the daughter of Marilyn Kendrick Jackson(Roosevelt Jackson) & Jesse Haskins(Alondra McKellum). I was born during the month of “GIVING & THANKFULNESS”, November 27, 1987 which my mom went into labor with me on Thanksgiving Day & a PROUD LEFTY I AM. Becoming a mother is never an easy job but I’m proud to say I’m one proud mother of two beautiful children named Ma’Leah & Jamar who literally makes my world go round near or far I adore them & the love I have for them is forever, that’s why I hustle legitimately daily. My all time favorite color is GREEN literally any shade of green makes me light up & my favorite holiday is of course THANKSGIVING!
How I got into the Beauty & Apparel business with launching I AM H3R SOLUTION 4 U LLC is by the motivation & encouragement from those around me after finishing my Bachelor’s. What sets my business apart from others is it’s SHEEK & UNIQUENESS from my 100% human hair mink lashes that comes in a diamond shaped magnet box, custom frames with I AM H3R customized on the left side, my I AM H3R BOSS GLOSSES that’s customized in colored crown tubes with my I AM H3R logo & more! With limited help, I strive to meet ALL my customers demands by providing samples of ALL my merchandise in person at business events & pop up shops before purchasing so that my customers can see, touch & feel what you’re buying before you but it. For my customers that order online & haven’t had the chance of an in person experience with my products, my reviews & 5 star rating on social media speaks volumes for itself. I AM H3R beauty products enhance the NATURAL BEAUTY ALL WOMEN ACQUIRE! Every woman should wake up daily feeling like H3R! It’s my mission to GIVE, SERVE & SLAY women of ALL ETHNICITIES an ULTIMATE I AM H3R EXPERIENCE by providing QUEENS QUALITY products at an AFFORDABLE price! You can’t go wrong when you allow I AM H3R to be the SOLUTION 4 U!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients for me has been by working in the medical field, interacting on social media & running errands here in Atlanta. I’ve literally been in the medical field for 12yrs now, but I’ve only been fully working consistently for 8yrs & patients love my appearance. Daily, I get patients or different people in the community when I’m out running errands who stop me inquiring about my lashes, hair, shades, lipstick & more that become new clients & customers. Instead of me having to write down other peoples business information which I was doing in the past before I launched, I now pass out my own very personalized business cards which is an ultimate yet, amazing feeling.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A story from my journey that illustrates my resilience in business that I’d like to share with others that are thinking about starting their own business one day is to NEVER QUIT OR GIVE UP ON YOU! I say this because as a single mother & business owner of 3yrs now, October 1, 2020 I started out selling just lashes. As the lashes picked up I added Mommy & Me shades, glosses, wigs, designer belts, designer headbands & more. To top it off, my first in person launch was in my sister Shamerica Winfree(Dustin Winfree) back yard in Kentucky. Now I’m doing Celebrity Pop Up Shops, Expos, Sweet Aurburn Fest & more. Most recently, I received two contracts to be apart of the Flordia Classics & Bayou Classics. I say all of this to encourage you! Just because you start off small doesn’t mean you’ll stay there, usually small businesses turn into bigger businesses if you stay persistent & consistent with what you love. If you strive for success & greatness doing the things you enjoy then a variety of doors will indeed open up for you. The number one rule & advice at all times that I’ll leave my readers, business owners & future business owners is to “ALWAYS HAVE FAITH EVEN IF IT’S AS SMALL AS A MUSTARD SEED & KEEP GOD AS THE CENTER & FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING YOU DO!”
Contact Info:
- Website: WWW.IAMH3RSOLUTION4U.COM
- Instagram: @IAMH3R27
- Facebook: I AM H3R
- Other: TikTok: I.AM.H3R
Image Credits
My Parents: Marilyn Kendrick Jackson(Roosevelt Jackson) & Jesse Haskins(Alondra McKellum) Roger Croney(Tammy Croney) My Children: Ma’Leah & Jamar My Niece: Kyla Torian My Sisters: Lydia Torian, Shamerica Kendrick Winfree(Dustin Winfree), Latise Vaughn Davis(Marsh Davis) & Renee Bryant My Photographer/Website Designer/Logo Creator: Jarvis McCollum Celerities: Yandy Smith Harris(Mendeces Harris), Rae Holliday, Cynthia Bailey, Judge Hatchet, Momma Dee,