Today we’d like to introduce you to Alton Alexis.
Hi Alton, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in the turbulent streets of New Orleans, Louisiana. I grew up in the Calliope Housing Project (CP3), located in Uptown New Orleans where violence and drug deals were the norm. Watching my father navigate through the street life made it natural for him to follow suit and pursue a life of crime. To be more specific, Drugs Deals. Being raised in the midst of the street turmoil has taught him valuable business lessons that he was able to carry over to the corporate world. I understood that business is business all the way around and the only difference is the product. Marketing, Advertising, Promotion, Distribution, Management were a few of the transferable skills that were learned while dabbling in the streets.
Unfortunately, but fortunately all superficial good things must come to an end. My father was murdered in 2002 which caused me to become more engulfed in the violence while seeking revenge. Soon thereafter, in the summer of 2003, I was sent to federal prison for being caught on camera discharging a firearm and critically injuring two people. The federal government sentenced me to 120 months (10 years) and 3 years probation. The State sentenced me to 10 years for each victim but ran the sentence concurrently with the federal time. Meaning I only had to do 10 years instead of 30. The time in prison was a blessing in disguise because the slow pace allowed me to learn about things that were of interest to me. While in prison I took a job in the prison barbershop and began to educate himself about business as a whole. One of the many business interests was the hair industry. Learning that the hair industry was a multibillion-dollar industry and continues to grow was the spark I needed to focus more on my Barber/Styling skills. Upon release from federal prison, I immediately enrolled in Delgado Community College’s Barber/Styling program and the journey began. The program stressed the technical aspect of hair and opened me up to different levels of opportunity in the industry that I was not aware of such as hair extensions.
In 2012 SweetStickyStuff LLC (rebranded to @TheBundleGang LLC) was formed as an alternative to “Juicy Couture” to cater to a woman’s provocative nature and sex appeal. The first items up to bat under the SweetStickyStuff (@TheBundleGang LLC) umbrella were T-shirts and hair extensions. Countless man hours went into learning the ins and outs of the hair business and more importantly hair itself. Fortunately for me, I had a school full of cosmetologists at my disposal to question about everything I needed to know. Using these given resources helped me create a business model focused on quality and customer service. I was able to control quality better once the Barber/Styling program was completed. Upon completion in 2014 I flew to China equipped with the broad knowledge of the industry learned over a two years period ready to negotiate. The objective was to get the best quality for the best price. I trekked around the foreign country day and night until I found the right people to do business with. To my surprise, the prices were amazing, but most importantly the quality was beyond belief. Every question was asked and every test was performed on the extensions while there, but I wanted that extra assurance. I wanted to test the product with products distributed in the United States.
After returning to America, I performed an even more rigorous test on the hair sample and they passed with flying colors. Now the real business began. With the new products received from the direct source, I was able to show love by lowering the prices even more so that the average person could afford to beautify themselves without going broke. SweetStickyStuff (@TheBundleGang LLC) storefronts were opened in prime locations allowing the company to secure a new level of success while eating into competitor’s market share. Today premium hair extensions are being distributed at www.TheBundleGang.com as well as the two brick and mortar locales: 2929 Tulane Ave. New Orleans, LA 70119 and 4311 Airline HWY, Baton Rouge LA. 70805. New hair care product line producing (Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave in Conditioner, Lace Glue, Glue Remover, Moisturizing and Curl Defining Mousse, Growth Oil and Growth Serum) are available for purchase. These products are formulated to give life back to ALL Hair Types no matter where it’s purchased or if you grew it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road, but my experience in the drug game prepared me for the rollercoaster rides. Superstitions cause me to expect things to happen in 3s. Meaning when something goes wrong I look forward to the other sh*t happening so I can get over it and move on. It takes a lot of the sting off of it when you welcome the downs. When you’re used to it your recovery time is quicker. But specific struggles for me were the lack of mentors or people willing to share information about the industry which made me dig deeper. I had to rely on information being offered from everyone outside of my community. The Chinese vendors were more than helpful and willing to teach me about everything. Initial start-up capital was low to nonexistent, but I kept flipping and flipping and flipping until things grew. I even used what was left over from financial aid to invest in inventory. Getting women to believe that a straight man understands anything about the hair game. I had to treat them like friends. I mean, the way women react when it comes to hair is similar to that of a drug addict. Being able to recognize this allows me to market and advertise in a manner familiar to me. I set up thirst traps by using a Range Rover to pass flyers out. I used to throw hundreds of flyers into crowds because somebody will pick it up and eventually inquire about the products. And the name (Sweet Sticky Stuff) and logo didn’t have anything to do with hair so that made it a conversation piece.
We’ve been impressed with TheBundleGang LLC @TheBundleGnng, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Bundle Gang LLC was built to cater to women and all like-minded people. We offer “BUNDLES, CLOSURES, FRONTALS, WIGS, and BEAUTY SUPPLIES” of the highest quality and consistency. Search @TheBundleGang on all social media platforms and www.TheBundleGang.com for purchases and information. WE SHIP EVERYWHERE!
I have an associate’s degree in Business and Management with the concentration in Marketing, but majority of the knowledge was acquired in the streets of New Orleans. I consider myself a Serial Entrepreneur because I love investing in businesses and Building Brands. I specialize in Marketing, Advertising and Promotion and my background in music and the arts helps with being creative and catchy.
I’m known for being knowledgeable about many things because I get bored quickly and have to keep learning new things. I also share what I learn with others even though it’s rarely reciprocated.
I am most proud of strategizing and planning my moves while locked up then putting them into play when I was released. I wanted to be an architect as a kid so I still design from time to time and invest in real estate. One of those investments were a property that I’m turning into a 3 story building to house my business interests and Non-Profit (The A.L.T.O.N Agenda or Anything Lucrative To Own Now).
What sets me apart from others is that I am always learning something new. I have to due to my boredom or ADD…LMNOP. My converting street tactics to the corporate side which I believe is a dirtier game.
I want the readers to know that our brands are not get rich quick schemes. I saw the opportunity to solve a quality and pricing problem so I went with my move. Consistency is key in business and we live by it. If you know a good area for us to set up in Atlanta please let me know.
TheBundleGang! Nothing Lame! Cater To The World!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’m a left-handed creative person who raps, sings, writes, and produces music, I never put anything out for consumption. I was actually a one-man gang going up against competitors who had better resources and bigger teams, but I still out did them. Most importantly I am a TEAM PLAYER and love to collaborate.
Pricing:
- Bundles $50 and up
- Closures $70 and up
- Frontals $115 and up
- Wigs $245 and up
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebundlegang.com/
- Instagram: @TheBundleGang
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBundleGang
- Twitter: @TheBundleGang
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6sA-trOLOiWsNHWM6K9x-Q
