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

Jeanine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.

I took a big risk in 2019! For years I always had a side hustle to my corporate jobs. I handmade soaps, body butters and even had a gourmet brown business. In 2017, unhappy at my corporate job in VA, I signed up for beauty supply training school in ATL. I was flying down one weekend a month for training in a multibillion dollar industry. In 2019, I hit a wall in the industry I was in and was ready to make a move. I’m a doer, not a talker and decided if I wanted to have a brick-and-mortar, I should do it now before I am unable to do so. I didn’t want to be older and wondering “what if?”.

Fast forward to 2019, my partner, at the time, and myself. decided to both quit our six-figure jobs and move to Atlanta. We agreed that he will get a full-time job, in a couple of weeks, while I open a store. Once that was booming we’d open more. It took him 6 months to find a job, while we were staying with his child’s mother. YIKES! I also had a hard time finding a decent location for a decent price to open a beauty supply store. That’s when I saw CBD. was legal in GA. I have been such a supporter of CBD and alternative medicine that I began researching opening a store. I. began my research in January 2020, before the pandemic, and opened in November 2020, during the pandemic. Risky business!

During my research, I wanted to open a business that still sustains during downturns and recessions. CBD and beauty supply both did that, especially during COVID. I managed to open and be considered essential. There are a lot of people that look to CBD for health, wellness and relief. I’m now completing my second year. and continue to grow.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always had a desire to be an entrepreneur, especially while working my corporate jobs. I had several small side businesses ranging from gourmet brownies to handmade soaps and body butters.

I started out in Film/TV production over 2 decades ago in Washington, DC. When I began producing for television back in 2006, I started to experience numbness on the left side of my body that didn’t go away. This led to my Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and my main triggers were a result of increased levels of stress and a lack of rest.

After my diagnosis, I searched for alternative methods of relief and healing. With the passage of medical marijuana in DC, I obtained my own medical card. The dispensary I went to was ran by a family whose father had MS and they found the benefits of marijuana helped their father’s ailments. In the course of While speaking with them I was steered in the direction of certain CBD products that would be beneficial for my condition. That began my CBD journey.

I had been using a CBD tincture for a couple of years before moving to Georgia in 2019. I initially moved to open a beauty supply store, but I was noticing CBD products were a more important part of my life at this point. I didn’t realize CBD was legal in Georgia, but I quickly pivoted in January 2020 and began to research owning a CBD store. I stumbled upon CBD American Shaman and really enjoyed their products; specifically the extra strength water soluble and CBGo water soluble. Not only do their products have an innovative nanotechnology, but you can view lab reports on all their products. After visiting a store in northeast Georgia, I decided to sign-up as a franchisee.

Being a strong believer in the health and holistic benefits of CBD has helped individuals such as my 79-year-old father, my partner and most of all, me. I opened my doors to CBD American Shaman of Smyrna on November 27, 2020, and it is one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only am I an African American female entrepreneur, but I also get to help people get one step closer to physical and mental health rejuvenation.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

People’s words are only as good as their actions. I’ve learned to.not rely on others and their promises. I. make sure I can still do it on my own. I’ve had a lot of financial false promises from friends and family that would cause. others to give up. My ex partner left after the first year in business which caused a huge financial, emotional and physical strain on me personally and the business. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and it ended up being the best thing. I have continued to grow and expand my business.

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

Customer service, education and professionalism. I am a black/woman owned business and realize the stereotypes and obstacles. We pride ourselves in great customer service and educating our customers on the growing industry and it’s benefits. We open on time and close not a minute early.

I’ve created a spa-like atmosphere, not like typical of a smoke-shop, which customers think CBD stores are. I love to have pleasant scents and a couch and chairs for customers to relax on.

Contact Info:

• Website: CBDSmyrnaGA.com
• Instagram: @cbdofsmyrnaga
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBDSmyrnaGA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cbd-american-shaman-smyrna-smyrna?osq=cbd+american+shaman+smyrna
• Other: https://best-cbd-store-smyrna-delta8-store-smyrna.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

Image Credits
Myself