We were lucky to catch up with Jehda Archer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jehda, appreciate you 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.

Being a business owner is a risk in within itself. When I first started my lash and lip gloss boutique I was working as a customer service representative. I took a risk investing in my business out of my paychecks not knowing what the outcome would be if my products would sale ect . I quit my job and focused on my business full term a year later I expanded into clothes , and shoes business was picking up and it felt great to accomplish a dream I’ve had since a kid . I honestly took the risk of my business flopping, not making profit ect because my ambition just wouldn’t allow me to continue to play around with my craft. If I didn’t take them risk I would not be where I am today ,

Jehda, 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?

It all started as a kid growing up in the struggle went from not having clothes, lights, and water, to losing my oldest brother, and losing my father a year later. Leaving me and my 2 siblings with my mother. I’m going to school getting bullied for not having stylish clothes, even having to wear the same clothes water off light off I’m washing in pots of water I got from the neighbor’s the outside faucet.

Then to come home and get bullied in my household having nobody to run to all I could do was write and dream. And at the age of 14, my mother had turned to drugs my sister left went out on her own, brother was in the system. Leaving me with my mother in a hotel room.

At a young age dealing with my mother not having the money to keep us in a hotel room some days we slept on the stairs and outside the hotels sleeping on crackheads floor and still have to get up at 6 am and get ready for school. It builds up anger yes but everything I have been through build-up hunger it builds up knowledge, and so much more when I was 15 a freshman in high school.

I told my mom I want to build my own clothing brand and have my own store I had drawn out my ideas and everything I was so passionate I told her I want to do this because my dad taught me to walk for myself I want to be my own boss she said we were going to get bulk order t-shirts, said she knew what we needed to do to proceed however she never moved a muscle every time I brought it up again it was “stupid is.”

Everything I tried to do in school after school activities such I could not attend because she said no, I couldn’t stay after school for practice we stayed less than 2 mins walking from the school I walk home daily. She just wanted me home to sit with her and do an unproductive mess.

I joined dance and couldn’t attend rehearsal the last day we were about to perform ND I couldn’t perform because she wouldn’t let me stay for rehearsal which crushed me my own mother was blocking my success. Also, I’m dealing with her kicking me out whenever she gets drunk or high not giving me my legal documents, I needed to get out here and get a job. During senior year, I stopped going to school and started dealing with the wrong people for 7 months.

I did not like the person I was becoming, depression was taking over so I soon parted my ways. I had a doctor’s appointment and I see my social security number at the bottom of the paper as I’m signing it, I tear a piece of the corner write that number down, and went to the courthouse with my school id to verify me got my birth certificate, went to the social security got my social security card. By the end of that week, I had a job at a cookout. I worked my tail off and left them because it was too much with management.

I started working at crispy crème and got a second job at a pizza place downtown. I’m staying with my boyfriend and his mother for a year so, at the age of 19, I graduated high school and started wake tech for business administration I got a better job opportunity and quit the two jobs I was working October 2019 I started working at a call center. I got my own apartment. And when Covid hit I started working from home.

2 weeks in I’m like okay I can go ahead and start getting my business started I had been on Instagram seeing saving all these wholesale vendors I said I’ll start with something small and work my way up I started with lip gloss so I place an order for wholesale lip gloss starter kit. So, one day the systems kept dropping my supervisor blamed me for not being on calls I’m face timing her to show her that the systems kept dropping.

So 20 minutes later she calls and say’s “if you don’t log in bring the equipment back, you making me look bad” I said okay but it’s literally not working but okay I thought about that cried ND all I FaceTime her back you can come to pick up the equipment I can’t do this anymore I’m dealing with stuff in my personal life too and y’all system messing up and you’re going to yell at me she says I’m sorry no your crying I didn’t mean to make you cry.

I say it’s fine I just can’t let this job stress me out no more. Since that day I started focusing on my true success and where I wanted to go in life. After lip gloss and lashes, then I moved to clothes and shoes. I have been funding my business out of my pockets. No hand out no help. I always invest in myself. Nobody gonna do it for me. And I know what I’m capable of.

I know I’m creative, I know the style, I know the business, and I’m a great person I know I’m a hustler. So, I know I’ll get my money back plus some and now I have 2 businesses both registered both have LLCs my boutique and I, and my boyfriend have our clothing brand UNICA’DRIP . I love what I do. I have always had an eye for fashion.

I must admit it’s not easy however it is well worth it. Being a business owner isn’t just about making sales though, you have to know your knowledge and all that comes with it . Hiring employees , data entry , inventory, computer work ect . And you have to accept that some days you won’t make sales some days you will that don’t mean give up , continue to thrive and keep going do not let anything nor anyone discourage you .

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media really play a major role in my businesses . Marketing is very important when it comes to business and getting your business out there. I first started using my instagram for my business and tik tok . Keep it clean and professional post and promote your business/brand every day build on your audience.

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

First targeting my audience , and knowing the latest style. Going for products others bypass. And most importantly communicate and show appreciation to my clientele .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/si.es_unico?r=nametag

Image Credits
Kaynia,Mikayla,Nicole,