Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Cook.
Hi Heidi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved doing hair. My first payday was at the age of 14. I made my first $50 doing a friend of the family’s hair. After that, I took off doing classmate’s hair, basketball players, football, cheerleaders and teachers. I was a braider first I was known for micro braids. I started working in a salon when I was 18 years old. I then began to learn how to style and sew hair in. Once I mastered the sew-ins it was a done deal.
My clientele grew tremendously I had clients traveling from all over just for me. I was born into hair my grandmother, mother, aunt and cousins all did hair. This hairstyling is a gift for me I was born for this. As the business grew I was introduced to the film industry by two of my clients. That was the best thing ever. I had the opportunity to slay actors, actresses, and artists. I would travel back and forth for work. After working in a salon setting for 10 years. I set up shop at home and started taking my private clients there. It was more convenient for me being that I was now traveling more I also saved more money. While working with the talent in the industry I noticed there was a shortage in wig makers in Atlanta. When I say wigs I mean wigs for film and theater. So I said to myself “you should start making wigs and servicing them also”. A friend/ mentor from the industry told me how much I could make creating wigs I was sold from there. I began to educate myself more about wig Making. The demand began to flourish and business was good. I then decided to step it up a notch and make wig creation a business with a name. I had already branded myself so I was already known for my talents. It was now time to introduce my wig business to the world.
As the years progressed, I came into some money and decided to leave the house and open a brick and mortar. Which would be a retail store for wigs. Omg when I tell you it was hell trying to get that store open. Back and forth at the City of Atlanta for different permits. To my now landlords inheriting their father’s business that they had no clue of. It was my first investment and loss. The store never opened. I was mentally destroyed and depressed for two years. Until one day I had a heart-to-heart with myself. “Get your shit together and get back to it”. I couldn’t give up on myself. I took the money I had been saving and starting looking for another location. At the time I had learned from my past mistakes. This time I would take another approach Office/Retail. This June will be the year I’ve had my wig studio. It’s so surreal I still can’t believe I did it thanks to my amazing team. We have Her Factory Wig Shop.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Doing business is never a smooth ride. You’re definitely going to run into different obstacles and issues. It’s all about how you handle these issues that makes you a boss. I’ve lost thousands of dollars in buying hair from overseas. Build a relationship with your vendors before making large purchases. Also, know your worth for a short time I was underpaying myself. Not charging enough for my services and products. This will hurt you in the long run. Educate yourself on the industry you seek to do business in. Before you move in a commercial property get your business insurance asap. When I moved in my second location the building had some flooding. Which caused my newly installed floors to buckle and bubble up. Thank God my Landlord covered it with her insurance since I hadn’t even moved my things in yet. Most properties this would have been my responsibility. And if my belongings was in the property I would have suffered a loss.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Her Factory Wigs is a wig-making business that specializes in Creation, Reparing, Cleaning, and renting Wigs. At Her Factory Wigs you can have a custom-made wig created just for you with your measurements. If you are a wig lover and owner. We offer a drop-off service where we will clean, restore, and repair your current wig. We also offer pick-up and return services.
Her Factory Wigs rent Wigs for special moments like photo shoots and film settings. No one in Atlanta is renting and repairing Wigs like us. Clients can drop off or ship hair for wig Making along with their measurements. Measurement chart is on our website. Her Factory Wigs is a Female black-owned business based out of Atlanta.
What makes you happy?
It warms my heart to help others. I want more people like me to be more knowledgeable about becoming an entrepreneur. Every year I mentor a small group about building a business and becoming an entrepreneur. Building the generational wealth and bridging the gap.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.HerFactorywigs.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/herfactorywigs
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/herfactorywigs
Image Credits
@herfactorywigs Herfactorywigs.com
