Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelbie Foster.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Fueled by the desire to find a bonnet that was large enough to contain my big natural hair, sturdy enough to weather the storm of a good night’s sleep, and aesthetically pleasing, I created The Bon Don!
I have always been a creative spirit who’s found joy in sewing, painting, and just creating in general. I love buying fabric and turning it into something magical, so when I realized that there were no bonnets that met my hair’s needs in local stores, it was only natural that I took the issue up with my favorite fabric store and sewing machine. Between the three of us, we created a bonnet that made sense for me. It wasn’t until a close friend of mine asked me to sew her a bonnet as well because she too was having a hard time finding a good quality bonnet that I began to realize that this may be something that a lot of people could benefit from. With word quickly spreading about my hand-sewn bonnets, the orders began to roll in quickly.
It was at this stage that I realized that I had to create a platform upon which people could invest in a bonnet made with them in mind. It became clear that because we all value our hair, we in turn also value what we put on it. As a fourth-year pharmacy student at the time, I launched The Bon Don. Working to sew bonnets with love and attention to detail, it was my goal fill the void that’s been in the hair maintenance industry for so long, and to meet the needs of people just like me.
Has it been a smooth road?
Launching and maintaining The Bon Don has not been a smooth road. At the launch of The Bon Don, I was a fourth-year pharmacy student in the midst of clinical rotations, applying to residency programs, working as a pharmacy intern, studying, and preparing for graduation and board exams. As a student, I also had a very limited income, and thus had very little seed money to sew into my business. I would often times have to compromise on things such as packaging and marketing, and I had no money to hire help with the growing demand for my product. To compensate I would study more at work when I could so that I would have more time to sew when I got off. I would brainstorm new marketing strategies and new sewing techniques to improve my bonnets’ quality in between working up patients and on lunch during my clinical rotations. I would enlist the help of family and friends to help with marketing, and shipping so that I could focus more on making my bonnets when I had a free moment.
I would save money by meal prepping and limiting unnecessary spending to ensure that the money that I had could be used to buy high-quality, bold, new, patterned fabric to introduce a wider variety of bonnet options for my customers. I am still in the stage where the vast majority of my business’s earnings are poured right back into making The Bon Don even better than it was the very moment prior. There have been many more struggles including finding consistent, high-quality fabric distributors, determining dependable small-batch manufacturers, and so much more. While serving as a difficult journey, The Bon Don is nothing short of a passion project. I truly love my business, and I would happily do it all the same way again for The Bon Don, and for the beautiful people who love the brand so much.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Bon Don – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Bon Don produces high-quality, hand-sewn satin & silk bonnets. We specialize in bonnets that are equally high in both quality and style. The Bon Don is different from other hair maintenance companies in that the products are made by people who use bonnets every day, and who thus understand the integral role of a good hair maintenance product in our daily routines. Our products are created with fabrics and materials hand-selected for not only their aesthetic but also for their ability to reduce friction and breakage of natural hair. I am most proud of the fact that my business has continued to grow with the help and gifts of some really talented people around me. Many components of my business (i.e., my website, bonnet design ideas, marketing, etc.) are inspired or executed by my very talented friends and family. It is my goal to continue to develop The Bon Don in a way that improves the quality and variety of products offered all while continuing to serve as a platform for others to display their gifts and talent.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the diversity that Atlanta offers! It’s a great place for creatives to grow and explore, and the food is absolutely delicious.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebondon.com
- Email: contactme@thebondon.com
- Instagram: @thebondon
- Twitter: @thebondon_
Image Credit:
Website created by/photos edited by: Bria Gabrielle (instagram: @briagabrielle)
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
