We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vanessa Reyes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vanessa below.
Hi Vanessa, thanks for joining us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today
If i was able to start over, I would do so many things differently. The knowledge i had then vs what i have now are two very different things. i always had the gist of things when it came to business, i knew the basics but i didn’t know how to apply it. If I knew marketing played such a huge role in the business i was pursuing i would’ve took marketing courses way sooner ! I would’ve also sped up the process on almost everything i did, including restocking on inventory, properly marketing them, and releasing them, instead of waiting for feedback from people. Although feedback is always good to have, when you’re trying to make a name for YOURSELF, no body but your opinion should matter. There are 7 billion people in the world, you can sell ANYTHING. i will also be the first to admit i was never good at being consistent. My consistency and procrastination are the 2 biggest things that i would change if i was able to start over.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Vanessa Reyes. I started out by selling durags when i was 16 years old on instagram. As my social media presence grew, so did my audience. I would sell them to kids from my school and even people outside of school at the time. After my durag era, i transitioned to more feminine products and started with false mink lashes. I loved seeing people wear my products and i loved it even more when people would compliment them on me ! I sold mink lashes for a while just because of how many girls would always come back for more ! As time went on i eventually wanted to expand my business so i decided to open an online store with clothes for women. And with me being in the modeling industry i used it as an opportunity to also help my self learn and grow as a model/business owner. What i want to say sets me apart is that I’ll never steer girls in the wrong direction. I love fashion and I love looking good so everything that i sell is top quality & nothing you wouldn’t see me in!
Have you ever had to pivot?
As i mentioned i started out selling durags. Although i did have some customers who were women, 80% of my customers were men. So when i started selling lashes, i had to do a complete 180. I went from selling to men, to women, and this was probably one of the hardest things i had to do. But i still hope my male audience is there, i have too many projects in the works.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Time waits for no one. No matter what you go through, who you lose, or how bad it gets, time waits for no one. 2021 i put a lot of things off or waited a very long time to do things and before i knew it months went by. Months in which i could’ve been so ahead in and accomplished so much if i was to just have focused a little more. But things happen and you live and you learn. I’ll never make the same mistake twice.
Contact Info:
- Website: thenessaffect.com
- Instagram: thenessaffect
- Facebook: t.n.a
Image Credits
@rawimage on Instagram