Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Adekunle.
Hi Erica, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My career started when I lost my job due to covid. I was living in Texas at the time and had to move back home with my mom in Atlanta. At the time, I was collecting unemployment and used that money to help pay for my enrollment in cosmetology and to help rent a salon suite.
I started with no clients and little experience but I was very determined to start my own business. I would do a lot of free hair at first. And eventually, I had enough content to post to prove I was actually a hairstylist.
Once I started making money doing hair, I started investing into providing bundles for my clients as well. I knew that if I could provide great quality hair, a nice environment, and great service then my career could excel.
Soon after, most of my clients only purchased my companies hair when booking their service. Then word of mouth helped a lot because I also started selling hair to customers that weren’t my clients.
Things started to pick up and I realized the next step would be to open my own salon suites. So I packed my suite up and leased out a space where three rooms fit. I ended up leasing one room out, took over another for me and my clients, and now I am in the process of opening a hair store in the last room.
My journey is amazing and it’s only God I can explain how this all happened in the midst of a two years time period.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I started facing the most struggle when I opened my salon. I didn’t realize how expensive it would be and how much labor I would have to put in. I wasn’t one of the lucky ones who got a ppp loan and so I had to fund everything out of pocket. My salon was previously an office suite and so me and my uncle had to remodel the entire space by ourselves. We spent late nights ripping up old carpet, putting down wooden floors, painting 900 sq ft worth of walls. I was so exhausted and probably cried three weeks straight into the remodel because everything just kept feeling like it was falling apart constantly.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Top Tier Hair Boutique was open so that I could provide Luxury hair extension services, products, and space for women to enjoy. I take pride in being affordable because I believe that all women should be able to enjoy luxury. We are a one stop shop! No need to look for another hairstylist or quality raw hair extensions.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I learned a lot through observation. The lady who owned the suite I originally worked in gave me a chance when I had very little money and experience. Because God placed her in my life, I am able to do what I do and know what I know about running a business. My uncle also played a big role in the opening of my salon. Without my uncle, I don’t know what I would have done.
It’s amazing to have people in your life that support you wholeheartedly and do it out of the kindness of their hearts.
Contact Info:
- Email: Toptierhairboutiquellc@gmail.com
- Website: Toptierhairboutique.com
- Instagram: @theweavologist
Image Credits
Ziglor Photos Instagram @ziglorphotos
