We recently connected with Nkonye M. and have shared our conversation below.

Nkonye, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Choosing my business name was surprisingly straightforward. I wanted to reflect the essence of my brand: ‘New’ represents the elevated braiding experience, ‘Village’ embodies the community aspect, and ‘Braid’ honors the timeless art form. The name also resonates with my African heritage and the nostalgic significance of returning to one’s village, making it a meaningful and fitting choice.

Nkonye, 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?

Originally founded as a braid salon concept, the focus shifted to providing a healthier and more sustainable approach to braiding hair. As we uncovered more learnings on the dangers and toxicity of most braiding hair on the market, the mission became more clear and New Village Braid eco-braiding hair was born.

We have taken the time to do the research for better hair braiding extensions. We provide lab tested PVC-free braiding hair extensions that are made from skin-friendly, hypoallergenic materials that limit scalp irritation.

Our mission is to provide safer braiding hair alternatives to braid lovers around the world, and to spread education and awareness that fuels more responsible consumer behavior.

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

Growing my social media audience has been a gradual journey. Initially, it felt daunting, and progress was slow. Without a strong personal online presence or industry background, I started from scratch. However early on I committed to organic growth with authentic content, creating and posting content myself, and engaging with others. Although it took time – reaching 50 and then 100 followers felt like huge milestones – I celebrated each step forward. After a couple of years, I hired a social media manager to help scale my presence. Now, five years in (and a few social media managers later), I’m approaching close to a respectable 5,000 followers on Instagram. While my follower count may not be high compared to others, I’ve learned that it’s not directly correlated to revenue. I’m proud of my progress and appreciate the journey.”

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Reputation, trust, and loyalty are deeply intertwined for my brand. Every customer interaction matters, from social media to website browsing, customer journey, and customer support inquiries. We prioritize transparency, education, and personalized service, striving to make customers feel like they’re interacting with a trusted friend.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://newvillagebraid.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newvillagebraid/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newvillagebraid
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-village-braid
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAlYEiUhSvuIdv2HlISJgVg

Image Credits

Bobbi Brown
Uptown Studios Mwanza
Danny Luchele Braids
Pankii Braids