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

Sharonda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Fabulous Winks and Jewels provides affordable, quality beauty supplies and accessories via our local vending machine or via our website for customers not local. At first it always crossed my mind to get into the vending machine business to vend snacks and drinks. When I worked for local hospitals mostly night shift, I would always use the vending machine and spend a good bit of money. Usually after certain hours you can’t purchase beauty products or accessories I always worked a 9 to 5 and wanted something I could call my own, something different that was necessary. So I reached out to a vending machine supplier and I told her my idea she was excited and loved the idea of a beauty vending machine. She assisted me with the design and vision. As an added bonus my vending machine is touch screen, plays music, includes an LED light show. So it’s not your average vending machine. One thing about us women is no matter what we’re never going to stop looking good. When you look good you feel good. It always about convenience for me. I also have a cosmetology background so I figured why not do a beauty vending machine. Our vending retails Press on Nails, lashes, makeup brushes, hair styling supplies and accessories. Its located in a high traffic area here in Charleston, SC and open to shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. My inspiration came from my late parents who were dedicated and hardworking. I was always they encouraged to reach for the stars, and to think outside the box.

Sharonda, 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 Sharonda, I’ve been a single parent two children, who are now young adults. I’m a middle child, I have one brother and one sister, who are both business owners as well. I’m a born and raised Charleston, SC native. I graduated from Stall High School in 1998. I have an Associates Degree in Science and Mathematics, liscensed in nursing, cometology, life and health insurance, also a medical coding certification. I enjoy helping people and love to see people progress. I was raised to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO. The name of my business is Fabulous Winks and Jewels I Accessories beauty vending machine, we provide Press On Nails and accessories. I got into the vending machine business with snacks and drinks in mind, but that was something that we see everywhere. So I wanted something different and unique. I was in the cosmetology background and came up with the idea of a beauty vending machine. The products we retail from our vending machine are lashes, press on nails, hair styling tools, makeup tools and accessories. What sets us apart is that we’re a one stop shop. Customers can purchase affordale, quality beauty products at our convenient location, 24hours a day 7 days a week. The thing that makes me most proud is after long years of procrastination and fear, I took the initiative and brought my vision to life. I would just like to encourage everyone to keep it pushing forward no matter what, remain positive, think outside the box and focus on yourself. We have a website, www.fabulouswinksandjewels.com we’re you’re able to purchase some of quality affordable products, we retail lashes, nails, Fedoras and luxury phone cases.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Here in South Carolina to market our business, we attend Pop Events and Festivals. We pass out our business cards and show our products. Depending on the type of event determines what we retail. It could be any event, no event is too big or to small for Fabulous Winks and Jewels. Some of the events we attended are College campuses, Black Wall Street. Autism Walks, Kids Easter Parades,etc.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was to change my way of thinking and to quit thinking of the what ifs. I always wanted to have and start my own business but didn’t at first because one side of me was like what if nobody likes the idea? But I overcame my fear by just doing it and forget what anybody thinks. I started my journey by reaching out to a vending machine supplier and after sharing my idea she told me it was a bomb idea. So that built excitement for me even more and broke the mold for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fabulouswinksandjewels.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fabulouswinksandjewels?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086434602859&mibextid=ZbWKwL