We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sade Hall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sade below.
Sade, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?
What a great topic prompt, very significant to me because had this lesson never been revealed I’m almost certain I would have not started Fetching Hair Co. One of my last jobs was working for an organization/business to which I will not name. I worked there as a cashier selling entry tickets to visitors. A daily shift was six hours with a thirty-minute lunch break. In a day’s shift I would cash my drawer in at around 8k. Keep that number in your mind as it will become very imperative later in the story. One Wednesday afternoon not too long before closing, I remember sitting and chatting alongside of my coworkers, an older woman who had been working at this particular organization/business for 13 years. My initial thought was, “Geesh she must love what she does, and I know she is getting paid well after all these years.”. I was floored when she went on to say she had just gotten a raise and was now making $13.25 an hour. I couldn’t believe it she had been here for thirteen years making $1.75 more than my hourly pay and I hadn’t even been there thirteen weeks. I knew right then in that moment, that I couldn’t get stuck and if I wanted the lifestyle I dreamed of, I was going to have to work really smart not just hard to do it. On top of the physically motivation of seeing women 2-3x my age basically in the same boat or further behind due to family expansion and just life period, there was an additional pressing factor that I just couldn’t ignore. After two weeks of cashing in around 8k per shift my check after taxes would be $450 on average. It was like my future played out right before my eyes. I was entering a rat race that I would never get out of. That same day I went home and told my family and close friends that I was going to quit my job and start braiding hair full time to save up for a multiservice salon. If you’ve read my first Voyage article then I’m sure you’re very familiar with the actual “Come-Up” story and how I enrolled in YouTube University and used the resources around me to become the self-made boss that I am today, but if you haven’t yet, go ahead and check it out. I say all this to say, never get stuck, and always work smarter and not just harder,
Sade, 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 those who I haven’t been blessed to meet yet, I am Sade, a self taught braider and Salon owner, born and raised in Houston, TX. I provide braiding services to all hair types and textures starting as young as 4 years old. Known for having a gentle touch and fast and neat braiding technique, I would love to slay you instead of tell you. I started braiding my own hair as a teen and it was always just a hobby of mines. However, after dropping out of college and working a few odd jobs here and there. I quickly realized that I was did not want to spend my life building someone’s else’s dream. I wanted to be in charge of my future and therefore I became obsessed with entrepreneurs and owning my own business. Braiding was something that I enjoyed doing but at the time I was not very good at it. I didn’t have the time of funds to enroll in a cosmetology program so I decided to enroll into YouTube University and teach myself. The more I practiced the better I got it. Before I knew it, I was getting request from more and more strangers saying they had seen one of my cousins or friends to whom I was just practicing on at the time. Following a life lesson at one of my last jobs I just decided to go all the way. I quit my job, planned out my road to success, put my head down while I worked towards it and didn’t look up until I had obtained everything I imagined and then some. It was a slow start for the first 2 years I was braiding hair out of my home, my mother’s home, traveling to clients, etc. Year 3 was pivotal I begin venturing into salon spaces, co leasing space from other tenants in salons and business buildings. Year 4 was monumental, with the help of my business partner and lash technician I opened a 1050sqft multiservice salon in Houston’s Galleria area next to Kamp Houston. We house braiders, lash technicians, makeup artists, clothing brands, accessories, and everything else you need to slay. I am most proud of how much my business has grown via “word of mouth”. To me that says that I am both good at braiding and I’m making real connections with my clients. Thats something I could never put a price tag on.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I am currently “pivoting”. I am at the phase of business where I am trying to obtain funding for scaling purposes including and mostly for a brick-and-mortar address. A place that can be the salons home address for decades. A place that will continue to grow with the community and city. However, up until recently I knew nothing about business credit. Everything that I invested in Fetching Hair Co. came directly from my personal capital. Now that I know better, I’m moving better. I would estimate I’m about 6-8 months from having really good business credit and will qualify for the funding and assistance I need to make my dream become my legacy. So, with that being known and real estate rising everywhere I’ve decided to pivot. I am renting an apartment near NRG Stadium (center of the city) and transformed it into a salon. The rental rate of the apartment is 1/3 of the rental rate of the 1050sqft salon suite I currently lease. Additionally, in less than I year I will qualify for more than enough funding to achieve my goal of a storefront.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Pivoting my workspace to an apartment when the rental rates are going up and I have a lack of business credit to obtain funding. Some people may have said the rent is too high, but I don’t want to work out of an apartment after a salon, or maybe Ima just take a break until I can find somewhere cheaper to work, or any other excuse because that’s all it is. I learned very early just from watching others that being able to adapt in time of adversity is what all the greats I knew about had in common. So, believe me when I say this is just a minor setback for a major comeback, this is yet another example of “working smarter not harder”.
Contact Info:
- Website: fetchinghairco.as.me
- Instagram: fetchinghairco_
- Facebook: Fetching Hair Co.
Image Credits
I have the rights to these photos took them all myself on my phone