BOLINGBROOK, IL — To fill a void in the attractiveness provide marketplace, a Romeoville resident started out her very own business that experienced its grand opening in Bolingbrook on Tuesday. Owner of Hair Empire Attractiveness Source, Abena Owusu-Ansah, said a “love for the neighborhood” was the inspiration guiding this keep.
“As said in our motto, ‘Feel Stunning Within and Out.’, we are below to present splendor and empowerment to the citizens of this fantastic local community,” Owusu-Ansah mentioned. “Most of the natural beauty source outlets that we store at lack personalized support, merchandise awareness, on the internet-to-offline conversion (in retail store pickup) and most of all, the outlets have an uninspiring ambiance. Hair Empire Elegance Offer was designed to address these so-referred to as deficits in the elegance business. Our vision is to generate a sacred house for all issues hair similar to prosper.”
Hair Empire has been advertising goods online due to the fact January. The on the internet alternative served provide the local community whilst the retailer-entrance area was currently being geared up.
“We were ready to infiltrate the community and distribute the mission of the retail outlet this way,” she stated.
The retail store experienced a tender opening on July 10, and the proprietor utilized this period of time to pay attention to the customers’ thoughts, solutions, and fears. With lengthy-proven companies in the place faltering owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the thought of failing “has crossed my thoughts,” Owusu-Ansah claimed, but “our resiliency will help us prosper despite the pandemic.”
“The pandemic slowed down the develop out method of the retail store and also afflicted numerous other phases of the store opening,” she stated. “Our retail store opening day was pushed again owing to this pandemic, but I am extremely glad about the workforce that I have, and we never gave up or let our doubts take above. We are right here to serve the local community.”
Every single area of Hair Empire was precisely manufactured to be unique. The shop was designed with the vision to stay clear of the muddle generally witnessed in standard splendor provide suppliers, Owusu-Ansah reported. As a man or woman that has shopped at splendor provide retailers most of “my adult daily life,” she explained she understands there are “also several needless merchandise that are current and it confuses a buyer entering the retail store as to which merchandise is actually wanted.”
“Our workforce are also precisely trained to have the products awareness of the objects in the retail store. This can be helpful in terms of educating each shopper as to which item functions ideal for their hair.,” she reported.
Hair Empire also aims to provide a diverse in-retail outlet practical experience wherever their products will regularly have interaction the 5 simple senses. Prospects can touch the hair wall extension and merchandise, see the coloration plan meticulously positioned about the store, listen to new music that they can dance to, and scent the critical oils utilised in the retailer. There will also be a tasting ingredient in the future when the pandemic is under regulate.
According to Owusu-Ansah, the most special portion of the retail store is the organic oil bar. Their manufacturer is known as Imperioils, which have an vital oil infused with natural and organic oils blended with shea butter from Ghana. There are over 20 oils to pick from, and they greatly advantage hair and pores and skin.
She mentioned the store has taken all the safety actions to preserve friends safe. Hand sanitizers have been positioned all over the place and stickers on the ground will enable with social distancing. Masks are needed to enter and curbside assistance for the buyers are also being available.
Inspite of not residing in Bolingbrook, Owusu-Ansah mentioned she selected this local community simply because of its diversity. In accordance to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 19 % of the people are Black and virtually 12 % are Asian.
“Every man or woman represented in this inhabitants will have been interested in hair things these types of as hair products, hair extensions, braiding hair, crochet hair, hair extras and oils for hair at some position in time,” she claimed. “We all have the personal option of embracing our hair, but Hair Empire’s purpose is to educate buyers about their hair, while also furnishing other alternatives to be unique such as finding a wig.”
This is a single of the few Black-owned attractiveness outlets in the village, and she stated people today have to realize that Black-owned just indicates the owner is Black, but the products are all-inclusive to any race.
“I truly feel blessed by God for giving me the opportunity to obtain and exceed my desire. I appreciate finding to know the residents of this community and the amazement that each individual shopper feels when they enter the retail outlet,” she stated. “I adore that our shoppers enjoy and are energized by the in-retail outlet working experience. I feel joy getting into the retailer every single day simply because we have worked so really hard to get to this level.”
Owusu-Ansah stated she is also happy that the store opened all through a time when the Black Life Make any difference motion has started out to develop pursuing George Floyd’s dying.
“It can be a good year for Black-owned enterprises,” she explained. “Hair Empire is hugely appreciated mainly because people are recognizing that they must assistance small companies, particularly black -owned ones.”
As a new institution, the keep will just take a though to locate its footing in the local community.
“It will choose time for the brand to choose roots and for the group to enjoy the high-quality of our store. This is the barrier we have to cross now,” Owusu-Ansah said. “This is a place where by we motivate experience attractive inside of and out. We accept all people today for who they are.”
Hair Empire Natural beauty Supply is found at 1236 W. Boughton Road. For much more information, go to the web page.