Meet Maliyah Morris of Lavishlee Uniques

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maliyah Morris.

Maliyah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my first business right before I turned 21 years old in August of 2019. I always worked retail and warehouse jobs but never truly found happiness with working for other people making minimum wage for people who didn’t value my time. Since I was 17, I became very passionate about the idea of one day owning my own business in something… anything I could think of I just didn’t know which route to take to achieve that goal. I worked in customer service a lot over the years and loved working with people and being able to make people satisfied by meeting their needs, whether it was feedback from a customer’s order that loved their products or at a job helping guide an older woman on the phone trying to buy her daughters clothes for Christmas. I enjoyed the whole process.

I always sold little odd things here and there growing up to make extra money but I never thought I’d be selling headwear or now even skincare products until one day after work. At a job, I did not feel valued at or my time while going to a school I did not enjoy. After days of crying and praying about how I could do something more. Build something I can do positively that I love that could also inspire others just as the people around me do.

After praying, I happened to meet someone who was a young entrepreneur a few years older than me. I sat right beside her at work and We began talking and she would put me on the game about some of the business ventures and things I would need to do in the process as she had a few successful business ventures already I felt very inspired and confirmed I needed to start my own business. I would help with one of my best friends’ moms business when I would go over, help with small tasks like packaging, and opinions on setups. Things I began to enjoy and see myself doing. I would ask so many questions. Thankfully I had a mentor and got the first-hand experience, which helped inspire me. I was researching over the years, watched so many different YouTube videos, signed up for courses. I even went to college for a few years for business management before I dropped out when I realized it was just not the time for me to go to school but I wanted to focus my time on something different. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my time in college but it was just not the time for me. Start fresh and start hands-on, and sometimes that’s okay.

I had prayed about how I wanted to just start my own business and just do it. I had to “Put Myself in the Game,” which is my business slogan. Which to me, means standing on faith and not hesitating on what God has called you to do. Before I started my first business, which I am now 23. I would have never thought I would have two businesses: Lavishlee Uniques, llc Brand and a brand new skincare line business with my longtime Bestfriend and partner of Pure Melanin Skin products.

During this process over the past year, I have gained so much knowledge and met and networked with so many great genuine people, learned so many different ways to make multiple streams of income all while supporting others and their businesses. To be able to sell headwear such as Lavish style Bonnets and Durags. Things that are not only a part of my culture and things I use as well and love. I get to sell products on my website and provide wholesale to help others with their stores and help supply them with products for their dreams and network with so many people. It’s the little things that have and will continue to help inspire not only myself but others in the long run.

Being able to inspire others to go after their dreams and listen to that voice that is telling them to start that business just by going off faith and doing what you love is important. It’s frustrating at times and takes investment. But once you love the process as you’re going through and see the end goals of each of your goals you achieve, you will only continue to depend on God and the hard work you put in. Both Brands are inspired by you all, anyone that supports these brands, small businesses and black-owned businesses without customers and supporters, we would not be able to continue to do what we love and be able to be inspired. I am excited about what the future has in store.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
During the process of building a brand has not been the easiest road. You face many struggles mentally and have some doubt when you run into days or weeks that you have no sale or even five sales in one month. Going through the process is never an easy road and maybe financially stagnant at times but it is a fulfilling one once you meet each of your goals one at a time and let the brand flow. The money will come eventually. The more you self-promote your business that one person will know somebody else and before you know it, you will be consistently fulfilling orders and letting your brand pay for itself and all your hard work. God, Patience and consistency is key.

Lavishlee Uniques – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is a small owned brand that is now integrating into a clothing line brand. I am mostly known for my Lavish Designer inspired Headwear products such as Bonnets, Durags headbands. I also supply wholesale designer inspired mask and headwear products as well to other small businesses. I’m most proud of the of is the love I’ve experienced during this process and being able to inspire and show love to others and their business ideas in such a short amount of time, my life has changed so positively. I’ve had countless people so far around me and ones that don’t even know me to reach out and tell me how they want to start a business and ask me questions on how to get started and its a great feeling and pretty cool how me just doing me and selling what I love and think is cool has such positive feedback and impact on others. I get to give the free game and help with what I’ve already experienced and may know. Plus, I’ve got to sell products and supply products for a few music videos and cool people over in different states and countries like Canada. This year networking has been the best part for me.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
So far, for me the proudest moment for me is knowing I can do what I am called to do and being a young small business owned in my community, being recognized for an article so far has been a great moment for me, but the best moment has been my little seven-year-old sister being inspired to want to sell items and start her own business. She literally tells everybody that “My sister sells Gucci Mask and headbands lol.”

Pricing:

• Lavish Designer Bonnets (Long) are $15
• Lavish Designer Durags are $15
• Pure Melanin Skin Products are under $40
• Lavish Designer headbands are $10

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lavishlee-uniques.myshopify.com/
• Email: holeewood.boutique@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavishlee.uniques/?hl=en
• Other: https://puremelaninskin.com/

Image Credit:
Kelly, Tyiese, Nae Nae, Marcee

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