Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor Peebles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Taylor, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Graduating into a pandemic and being unemployed left with plenty of time to come up with a business plan. I always knew I wanted to start a business but I hadn’t planned to start so soon. I had $1000 from graduation gifts and a vision! I knew I wanted my business to be around natural hair due to what I’ve gone through personally with my hair. Growing up, I always had long thick hair that brought attention to me everywhere I went; some good and some bad. The compliments were always a confidence booster but the questions of being mixed made me question myself. I always got questions on whether I was Indian to the point I asked my mom whether or not I was (I’m not). I wanted to create a haircare business that not only uplifts black women and men to love on their crowns but I also wanted it to be focused on education which tends to be the bigger reason for the negative attitudes towards natural hair. Originally, the name was Janae Naturals which is a play on my middle name and the use of natural ingredients. Now it is Rooted In Confidence which I feel is more fitting to what we believe in.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a business owner and licensed esthetician in Pennsylvania. I am currently in the process of finishing my second degree in Health Administration at Saint Joseph’s University. My very first business started while I was in undergrad at Lincoln University selling sugar scrubs. Once I graduated I began to do more research on starting a hair care business. I got into the hair industry due to my own personal experiences growing up with long hair as a black girl and I hope to one day become a household name in the industry. What sets me apart from other brands is the emphasis on education and loving on yourself and your hair. What I am most proud of is my very first line I am about to release. I was blessed with the opportunity of winning a scholarship to work with a black chemist on 2 products for a discounted price. This has allowed me to go from 2 products to 5. I make it my business to partner closely with other black women and black businesses. I’m currently working on a total rebrand and I am excited for the future of Rooted In Confidence. This year, I have also started a second business with a business partner selling exotic snacks online called WP Exotic Snacks.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was that all family will support you. When I first started my business I expected all my family and friends to be my first customers. While a great deal of them did support, I had to quickly realize that they were not my target audience. While the support is nice, I had to re-focus on marketing towards my actual target audience which is something I am actively working on.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I started my business June of 2020 in the heart of this new pandemic. I was an unemployed new graduate with a vision. I didn’t get to have a graduation party or take a trip so I used my monetary gifts to get inventory. Throughout the years I have definitely put more money in vs what I have profited. I am learning more about business credit and was able to get approved for business funding which I was able to use to create my first hair care line and marketing services.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rootedinconfidence.com
- Instagram: @rootedinconfidence_
- Facebook: Rooted In Confidence
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-p-4765b211b/
- Twitter: @ricxjanae
- Youtube: Rooted In Confidence
Image Credits
Images taken by Malachi Somerville, @whovisualizedyou on Instagram