We recently connected with Taneika Williams and have shared our conversation below.

Taneika , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

My business is Neikasbeauty and my slogan is Arrive and leave your stamp! Growing up my moto was stay ready so you don’t ever have to get ready. Where ever I went I got dressed. My slogan arrive and leave your stamp to me means, where ever you are you should leave a impression in that room. Show up with confidence and be unapologetically yourself. Inner beauty is so important and I knew that I would be helping by changing the stereotype, that women who wear makeup aren’t confident within themselves. Fast forward during covid, I wasn’t able to do makeup for weddings so I was looking for other options to make up for that lost revenue. I decided to add makeup products to my business. My makeup product names are affirmations, that speak life into yourself. How I came up with that was from my own life experience. Growing up I wish I focused on my attitude towards things a lot more. So I like to call myself the mindful makeup artist. I like to reiterate that inner beauty is so important! When we feel good we want to look good and that’s where I come in at. I know mental health is very important, but it was even more important during covid. We hadn’t experienced anything like that and we all needed something to help us. I’ve been so excited about how my audience has been responding to my approach with the pivot I took. I’m just excited to expand with it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Taneika, I go by Neika. My brand is Neikasbeauty and growing up I was always into hair. Makeup wasn’t my thing. I wasn’t into anything beauty until senior year. I actually was a tom boy. In 2015 I starting my loc hair journey and that’s what really got me interested in makeup. I felt with my hair being so short, that I wanted to wear makeup. So I would sit on utube for hours and hours watching makeup video after makeup video. Until finally one day I thought let me give this a try. I headed to ulta with my list of products and once I got home to apply the makeup it looked nothing like the videos lol. I kept practicing and then one day I wanted to try on someone else so I did and I feel in love with applying it on others. I then attended a makeup training school and kept my career going from there. Constantly practicing, taking master classes, and watching makeup videos.

The services that I currently offer are for weddings, events, one on one lessons and I also sell makeup products. Currently lashes, lipsticks, eye brow pencils, brow gel, and lip liners. Most of my clients come to me because it’s either their first time wearing makeup or they need to be glammed up for an event. I believe what sets me apart is my skill to achieve a natural enhancement makeup look that doesn’t change how one looks completely. I hear far to often I would like my makeup done but I don’t want to look like a different person. What also sets me apart is my customer service skills. I can say my customers happiness is my top concern. I want people to know that when it comes to my brand and makeup products I keep my clients in mind. I want others to know that I take pride in my work, being punctual, and having great customer service! I’m most proud of just my growth in my business overall and the highly spoke of referrals I receive.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m always pivoting in both business and life. At one point I thought I wanted to get my cosmetology license and at the time my daughter was young and I was working fulltime. The school schedule didn’t work with my work schedule so I had to go back to the drawing board on that one. After not being able to go it gave me time to see if that was what I wanted to do and just ends up I no longer wanted to do it.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

For me it’s been me showing up as myself, and making customer service the number 1 thing in my business. Half of my clientele are from word of mouth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.neikasbeauty.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/neikasbeauty