Today we’d like to introduce you to Toi Khaks.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Toi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.Strength used to be my middle name when life gave me lemons I always made lemonade like it was my second nature. Being a mother of five I didn’t have the time to focus on setbacks or the tough situation around me, instead, I took out time to sort and seek solutions. I learned at a young age not to dwell on things that I couldn’t fix for too long, because it certainly made the problems worse. July of 2013 came and it ended up being the worse day of my entire life, my mom, who I was super close to passed away unexpectedly from an asthma attack. I was the one who found her lifeless body; this entire scenario sparked the beginning of my depression and pain in my life. Like how in the world do you heal from losing someone that meant everything to you, who do you talk to when the only person you confide in during troubled time is gone? Not many knew what I was going through; I hid my pain from outsiders and pretended that I was fine but deep down, I was in pain and in an absolute mess. At home, I didn’t want to get out of the bed; I didn’t want to put on clothes; my outer appearance matched my inner feelings. I’ve always been a person that found peace and happiness from taking someone or something and making it/them look its best, whether it was the rental properties I owned or just random people that I thought could use a makeover not just for their physical appearance but their soul as well, this made me feel fulfilled and happy.
In 2017, I started the brand Vendi Cru; initially I sold only hair extensions and beauty supplies; however, once I witnessed how my customer’s confidence level change after getting their hair done, it gave me an insight as I began to strategize on other treasures that I could bring to my brand. Our motto at Vendi Cru is Look Good, Feel Good, It’s a Vibe. I never thought for once that someone could overlook internal pain. However, I do believe that when you look your best, you feel your best and when you feel your best, it puts you in a better mental space to find solutions to your problems. My brand now sells apparel, hair extensions, shoes, & so much more, what started as an eCommerce store is now expanding to a physical location in Athens Ga opening this December 2019.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Trying to operate a new business, maintain my current business as a REALTOR®/ RE Investor, and taking care of my family became overwhelming very fast. I knew that in order to keep my sanity or sound mental health, one of them had to go, so I stopped practicing real estate full time for the general public; instead, I opted out to work only with close friends and family so I could focus more on my brand. With all these achievements, I am pleased to say that it has been a smooth road for me, everything is growing at the pace in which I would like it to. I didn’t want my brand to grow big too fast, which may cause me to miss some of the key factors in building and maintaining a successful brand. I wanted everything to work out one step at a time and it did.
Vendi Cru – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Vendi Cru has four employees, myself, along with three others. We are an online boutique that specializes in beauty, hair and fashion. We sell hair extensions, premium lashes, hair products, shoes, clothing and many more that can make someone appear elegant and sophisticated. Vendi Cru will open its first brick and mortar store location in Athens, GA, this Dec. 2019.
What do I do best? I play a vital role in making women feel super flawless when they look in the mirror; I’m something I would refer to as a Fairy Vibe Mother Lol, and sprinkling glow up vibes everywhere I go.
What sets me apart from the competition? I actually care about my customers more than I care about making gains or profits; I am adamant about carrying top quality products, I do not source cheap products just to make a quick buck. I think there are a lot of brands out there that focus more on fast money instead of the longevity of their brand or customer satisfaction. I work until sunrise most mornings researching vendors, products, and etc, making sure it meets my qualifications on what I would like to offer to my customers. Currently, I have a 5-star rating on Facebook along with a plethora of personal emails and DMs pertaining to our superb customer service, quality and the overall vibe that Vendi Cru offers. I’ve been in business for almost three years and have never had a chargeback, that’s almost unheard of in the Hair Extension business, so again I have zero complaints.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me in one word means Balance. I think in order for someone to match my definition of success, he/she must have balance. All the riches and flamboyant lifestyle in the world without mental peace is not success to me, all the money in the world but no time for family and loved ones is definitely not success to me, all the money in the world and you aren’t using your light, love or voice to inspire others is not success to me. Until all these things are in place, then being successful is far from the picture
Contact Info:
- Address: 3701 Atlanta Hwy Suite 40
Athens GA 30606 - Website: www.vendicru.com
- Phone: 7063082050
- Email: info@vendicru.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vendicru
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VendiCru
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VendiCru
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/vendi-cru-atlanta-2
Image Credit:
Divine Creations by Charmaine
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