We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Harris a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school
As a college student, I have been through various trials and tribulations that have led me to learn the most significant lessons in my life. Being in college has paved the way for me to truly know who I am by understanding my purpose & what I have to offer in this world. One of the major lessons I have learned on my college journey taught me to love myself and put myself first. I was always the go-to person many people would confide in just to let their issues off and to gain more clarity on whatever pain they were going through. It took me some time to become aware that when times became tough for me, I had no one to trust or talk to about my struggles but God fully. This put me in the position to protect myself at all costs by consciously picking my friendships and relationships wisely. Many people come into our lives to teach us lessons about ourselves. When a person enters our life they can either be life or death. They can bring you life by adding value or they can subtract by taking away from your life. Your life becomes their life in a sense by connecting each other’s worlds. I understand that letting the wrong person into my life can steer me off my track to success or choosing the right person can help me reach success and enlightenment at a faster rate. Putting time and effort into making conscious decisions about who I let into my life has brought me peace. I no longer carry the baggage of others. This has affected me in a way that I can now fully focus on myself and love myself properly. I encourage everyone to make the best decisions for themselves by being aware of their surroundings. We are all partaking in a self-love journey that is infinite.
Sarah, 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 name is Sarah Harris I am a full-time business owner and a college student majoring in agricultural science. My business Afro Empire Company is a plant-based skincare brand that helps those with sensitive skin who are against chemical-based products. I first got into the beauty and self-care industry back in May 2020. I began my brand Afro Empire Company because I wanted to try something new by offering the world the best natural skincare alternatives that will help rid of hyperpigmentation, moisturizes dry skin, and heal scarring. I am most proud of my ability to never give up and improve in areas where I need help. Taking a risk by starting a business can be intimidating and extremely hard at times. Although, the fact that I am willing to sacrifice by learning and growing as much as I can is a clear indication that I am passionate about creating a legacy that will be here long after my departure from this world.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
I sell and push my products through my Shopify site as of now this is my only source for marketing and sales. I want to eventually sell on marketplaces such as Etsy, eBay, and Amazon. I have seller accounts through them but I need to take the extra step to start selling on these platforms. I feel as though this would help generate more revenue. The pros and cons of having an account through Shopify is that Shopify has it’s own SEO configurations. You can track your sales, inventory, and know your profit margins through the site to gain more clarity. The downside to Shopify is the monlthy bill. To a small business owner that does not make a lot of sales each month this could be detrimental to them and their expenses.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
The key to branding yourself and your business on social media is by being consistent and providing your audience with knowledge that will reel them in. The social media algorithm works well with creators. Big name social media pages like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & YouTube are now providing more tools for business owners and creators to use their platforms. Try not to get caught up on not receiving enough likes or views on your posts. The only thing that matters is your drive to be consistent.
Contact Info:
- Website: afroempirecompany.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/afroempirecompany
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfroEmpireCompany
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/afroempireco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBnAVVS0fsBB-DRYS0qcB1Q