Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashleigh Offord.
Hi Ashleigh, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2012 I moved to Orlando, when I was 18, and I was still figuring out what I wanted to do. I thought nursing might be my path because I’ve always loved people and wanted to serve them but I quickly realized that nursing school restrictions and my big personality with hair and nails wasn’t going to work! I finished my AA at Valencia, transferred to UCF, spent a year there, and then followed the passion that had been with me since I was a little girl: Beauty!
I went to Paul Mitchell in 2016 and became a licensed cosmetologist in 2017.
I worked as a cosmetologist starting as a salon assistant and taking clients at home then transitioned into a salon suite and eventually moved into my own full space. Then, in 2022, I opened Emporium 7 Beauty Supply… a dream I’d had for years. That chapter brought some big triumphs and some hard lessons, but it also brought me closer to Orlando as community. I built relationships with beauty professionals and became more involved in the community as a whole.
In September 2026, I closed Emporium 7 and began moving into my next chapter as a business strategist, event host, and community builder. Over the years, I’ve become the person people call when they need to find a venue, connect with a tax professional, look into business funding, or figure out their next move. I love being a resource and helping people see a path forward, whether they’re just starting, growing, or getting ready to scale!
My journey hasn’t been a straight line, but every turn has helped me become more of the person and resource I want to be for others!
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Entrepreneurship has its ups and downs, and I’ve been able to keep going by the grace of God. Some of my biggest struggles was moving to quickly with signing a commercial lease and not getting proper consulting, learning to delegate task in the business, finding funding and knowing exactly what to do with it, working on my personal and business credit, and getting the visibility my businesses needed!
I’ve also had to learn how to handle challenges without letting every setback take over emotionally. Entrepreneurship can have you ready to quit on Monday and making a fresh plan by Tuesday! One day you’re thinking, “I’ve got this,” and the next you’re wondering why you started. I’ve learned to give myself room to feel frustrated, then take a breath and figure out the next step.
I want other entrepreneurs, especially those in retail and beauty, to understand how important visibility is. You can have a great business and offer real value, but people still need to know you’re there. The road hasn’t always been easy, but the challenges have taught me, stretched me, and helped me grow. They haven’t taken me out, and they won’t. I was called to be an Entrepreneur at conception.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ashleigh Offord . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
There are a few connected parts to what I do, and they all come back to helping people feel supported, find the right resources, and take their next step.
Braid Culture Beauty & Supplies is the next chapter after Emporium 7. I’ve transitioned from a retail beauty supply store to a delivery service for beauty professionals in Orlando and surrounding Central Florida communities. We’re creating specialized product bundles and packages that professionals can have delivered weekly, biweekly, or monthly. The service is set to begin the week of November 19, with online ordering planned for January. I’m excited to keep serving beauty professionals in a way that fits where my business is now and saves them a trip when they’re running low on the essentials.
Beauty Blazers University is a place for beauty professionals to build community and learn about the business side of their careers, not just “being behind the chair”. We’ll focus on things like life and health insurance, retirement planning, business resources, and connections to tax professionals and funding strategists. I want beauty professionals to have support for the whole picture, so they can protect themselves and plan for their future.
And then there’s Ashleigh Offord—the strategist, consultant, event host, and community builder behind the work. I help people take the ideas they’ve been carrying around in their heads and turn them into a practical next step. I call those sessions “Accountability Sprint” and “Strategy Intensive”… we talk it all out, sort through the ideas, and start building a plan. Sometimes a person comes in with one little idea and leaves realizing there’s a whole business taking shape!
I’m also known for creating intentional networking experiences. When I host events, I don’t want people to walk into a room, stare at their phone, and wonder how they’re supposed to meet anyone. I help make the introductions and create a comfortable space for people to connect. Come on your own, and you’ll still have a chance to leave with a new business friend, an accountability partner, or simply someone you’d like to stay connected with.
What sets me apart is that I bring experience from several sides of entrepreneurship. I’ve been a full-time entrepreneur for nearly a decade, worked as a cosmetologist, built salon businesses, owned a beauty supply store, consulted other businesses on opening beauty supply stores, and hosted events. I know what it feels like to have a big idea and still be figuring out the next step, because I’ve had to do that myself.
I’m proudest of the community and relationships I’ve built along the way. My work may take different forms, but the heart of it stays the same: helping people feel less alone in business, connect with useful resources, and move forward with more clarity and confidence.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
That’s an interesting question, because I’m not a believer in luck…good or bad. My faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I believe faith has played a much bigger role in my life and business than luck ever has.
There have been seasons when I couldn’t see why I was facing a particular challenge or understand what a painful lesson was teaching me. In those moments, I’ve held onto the promise in Romans 8:28: that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. I may not understand it right away, but I trust that even the difficult parts can serve a purpose in my growth.
I also believe our choices matter. God gives us free will, and our decisions have consequences or rewards. So I don’t credit luck for where I am. I credit faith, the choices I’ve made, the lessons I’ve learned, and God’s hand along the way. I believe that, in the end, all things can work for my good.
Pricing:
- Accountability Sprint $179
- Strategy Intensive $349
- Community Collective Member $29/mo
- Community Society Member $97/mo
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/ashleighofford
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleighofford
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/DSLr0B8xsKQ
- Other: https://www.skool.com/haven-co-8956/about
