Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nandi Ramirez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

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

Since high school, I knew that I was interested in studying medicine. When it came time for me to apply to programs after college, I kept my options open. I submitted applications to both medical and nursing programs. Eventually, I elected to attend an accelerated dual degree nursing program which allowed me to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

Last year, during the pandemic, I took the time to reflect on my personal journey into nursing, and I realized that I encountered a lack of science professors and preceptors that looked like me. As a result, I decided to create a brand that would inspire and promote black women of all ethnicities in medicine. I wanted to remind black women that they are needed, valued, and irreplaceable in all practice areas of medicine. I genuinely believe that representation matters, and whether it is through my brand’s Instagram page or the merchandise I sell on my website, black women must know that they are not alone in their journey. I also want black women to know that there is someone who looks like them, pursuing her passion for medicine. And, I desire to encourage them to aim for their goal, never giving up as they pursue a career in medicine.

Nandi , 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?

My brand, Noire Medical Women, sells merchandise such as mugs, keychains, and white coat pins that display images of black women in the medical profession. Whenever someone uses one of my products, I hope they see themselves in the images. I aspire to remind black women that they are intelligent, capable, beautiful, and competent. Furthermore, I want to offer a safe space for black women online to network with other healthcare professionals that look like them. Hence, they remain optimistic and motivated to pursue a career in medicine. I am most proud of how much my brand has grown within the past year. The amount of support and love I have received on Instagram has been remarkable, and I am humbled and very grateful.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started building my audience on social media by following people I knew, such as close friends, family members, and people I went to college with who were already working in the healthcare field or studying to become a healthcare professional. After that, I learned that promoting yourself is vital. I would repost the pictures or videos from my business page on my personal page. I have business cards that I always carry around with me and hand out to people. I also have my own YouTube channel, titled “Nandi R.” where I promote my merchandise. Using various social media platforms to build your audience is also essential. My brand has an Instagram and Facebook page, for instance. I find utilizing the features within the platforms helpful. You can place ads on Facebook and Instagram and tag people in your posts, so people repost them, and Instagram will even let you see when most of your followers are online; therefore, you know the best time to post. All of these virtual platforms and tools have been very beneficial for me.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Instagram allows me to communicate efficiently through direct messages. I can keep in touch with clients through Instagram. However, I also have a business email account through which people can contact me. To foster brand loyalty, you must first establish brand trust. One way of developing brand trust is maintaining communication with potential customers. For instance, I am managing my brand on my own as a full-time student, so my schedule sometimes may not permit me to be as active on my business Instagram page, especially if I am working on new merchandise. I also believe that professionalism plays a significant role in establishing brand loyalty. Consequently, I try to keep my audience on Instagram in the loop by making posts telling them why I will or have been away. And, when it comes to shipping and mailing merchandise, I ensure the package is secure for the prompt shipping, answer any questions about packing and delivery, and reply to messages and emails from the purchaser.

Everything I mentioned above is essential when branding your business because people are loyal when they know you are reliable and courteous and have established high expectations for your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.noiremedicalwomen.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noiremedicalwomen/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noiremedicalwomen/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCHZ40TY6eo6vB3XAMm5IwPw

Image Credits
Darius Walls Armanko Kouchak