Meet Evan-Nicole Williams of The Guru Shoppe/Poppin Hair Studio in Buckhead

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan-Nicole Williams.

Evan-Nicole, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began my path to entrepreneurship around the age of 17. I worked my first and last job at Foot Locker and I learned so much throughout that journey that showed me skills and opened the door for me to one day be “the boss.” I learned how to work in retail which is very important when working for a shoe company. At the time, that was my only job and I was only a senior in high school. I remember putting in my two-week notice thinking “what am I going to do?” I ended up attending Hampton University the next fall semester and I branded myself as The Hair Guru. I became a socialite immediately a began building a fan base on social media. I then began my online website ” The Guru Shoppe” selling the best flat irons, hair products, and even my very own Silk Press DVD. I decided to invest in myself by putting everything I earned into business cards, flyers, ads on social media, etc; and from there business skyrocketed! I always enjoyed doing hair, given that my mother was also in the hair industry but it was something different about making money in my sleep that I really began to love! Clientele grew tremendously for me around the age of 19. I finally moved out, I was able to get a salon suite and continue to grow my business. I must say, being an entrepreneur has never been an easy task but it has been the most rewarding, I have managed to make over 6 figures consistently since the age of 19, I have my very own lash line and edge control and I will soon be going on tour in the US, teaching both my Silk Press and Quickweave techniques.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course, we all go through the small things when it comes to opening a business such as missing out on money or not investing enough, but for me, dating was always a struggle of mine on my road to success. It was almost as if both worlds would collide with each other. I would date which would somehow decrease the time I spent investing in my business. Once I began to focus solely on my business and navigate my energy in that direction, everything began to fall into place. I do believe that when it comes to starting a business, it is like having a baby that you care for full time. It is something that you should always have time for! Nothing in life is a smooth road but if you pay close attention and you continue to pour your energy into things that will pour back into you, the journey will be a lot easier.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a hairstylist mainly known for my work. The Hair Guru is a brand I built showing that no matter who you are and no matter where you are in your journey as a stylist, we all can be teachers and we all can be taught. There is so much that we can perfect as a whole. I love learning from other stylists and seeing all of the different techniques there are! I specialize in natural hair and weave extensions. I am known for my Famous Silk Press and my Flawless Quickweave installs! These are two techniques of mine that I feel as though I have now perfected after years of practice! I believe what sets me apart from others would be my willingness to switch things up; to find a different way, to try new things when it comes to my installs. Every client is different so why would you want to treat them all the same? This year, my sister Rocki and I opened up our very own salon, “Poppin Hair Studio” which has become our baby! Everything that we have learned as stylists over the years can now be put into a bigger project and now, we are both bosses running a salon we never thought we would own! We will teach classes but in groups or one on one and continue to pour into other stylists who are willing to take a chance on themselves.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had a chance to start over, I honestly would not change a thing. I would only wish that my older self could tell my younger self to “stay the course”, to keep going no matter what happens big or small. Sometimes as entrepreneurs, we may find ourselves at a standstill and feel like we are not doing enough or discredit all of our hard work. I would just encourage myself more! Everything happens FOR you, not TO you, even in business so starting over, I would just prepare for every obstacle!

Pricing:

• Famous Silk Press $85
• Flawless Quickweave Install $150
• Traditional Guru Sew in Install $225

Contact Info:

• Address: 22K Bennett St. NW
  Atlanta, GA 30309
• Website: thegurushoppe.com
• Phone: 7706873239
• Email: hairbytheguru@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thehairguruuu
• Twitter: @thehairguruuu

Image Credit:
YesImPrettyVee, Poppin Hair Studio

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