We were lucky to catch up with Vanna Collins recently and have shared our conversation below.
Vanna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
Well that depends on how you find success. Personally- success is when I can affect someones life positively and it creates a forever memory. That is the most valuable success. The fact that I do so on a daily and for a living is the icing of the cake- and I like buttercream so its heavy baby! (wink)
Vanna, 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?
Hey ya’ll! I’m Vanna Collins- professional braid stylist and creator of TuffBaby’s Organic Essentials. I have over 20 years of experience in the hair industry and have serviced over 500 clients. I offer my clients painless braid and protective style experiences with a focus on developing a healthy hair routine. I’m very serious about healthy hair maintenance which is why I created TuffBabys Organic Essentials, an all natural and organic stimulating hair oil that helps thicken, strengthen and prevent hair loss while fighting against itching and dandruff.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been word of mouth! It’s simple- I would like to think that I offer my clients great customer service. I’m very transparent on options with styles and maintenance. I advise on what may/may not work, how long a style should last and etc. I really just treat them each according to their personalities while also keeping effective communication at the forefront.
Simply treating my clients the way that I like to be treated has boasted me into a space where they’re always willing to share my information for someone in need of my services. Referrals are the BEST which is why I’m booked out 4-6 weeks.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
Yes- I self manufacture my own products. Well, not just me but myself, Tuff (my son) and Baby (my daughter). Yes lol, I named my product after my children.
I created TuffBaby’s because a lot of my clients were dealing with hair loss and would always ask for a product suggestion. At the time when I began full time as a braid professional in 2016 there was nothing on the market that I loved. The one product that actually worked for growing hair was also very thick so over time it would clog hair follicles. So, I began to do my own research to develop a lightweight stimulating hair oil.
I had NO clue on how to manufacture a product so each step was an is definitely a learning experience. I’ve invested in learning courses and have learned quite a bit.
Contact Info:
- Website: TuffBabysOrganics.com
- Instagram: @TuffBabys
- Facebook: @TuffBabysOrganicEssentials
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTsrf7tS-fdieD4TIoBqklQ
Image Credits
Kauwuane Burton