Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamry Samuel.
Hi Kamry, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For as long as I could remember, I’ve always shopped at beauty supply stores, either by myself, with my mom or with friends. There are some that met all or my hair needs, like the local beauty supply stores. And there are others that met all of my makeup and skincare needs, like the bigger ones, such as Ulta and Sephora. I realized there aren’t any that have it all! Eventually, my dream was born. To create a beauty supply store that was considered a girls heaven on earth. A store that satisfied a girl’s hair products, makeup, skincare, accessories, and fashion needs.
I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and a little after high school, I moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida. There, I received my bachelor’s in chemistry and afterwards, received a Masters in Nano Technology. Even though I had a love for science and was working in a laboratory, I had an even bigger love for the beauty and fashion industry. I couldn’t stop thinking about opening up a business! They say things don’t usually go as planned, and I really learned that when the Covid-19 pandemic arose. I was still taking classes for my master’s and expected to graduate in August 2020.
At the time, I was working as a laboratory student and laboratory manager at my university. Eventually, due to covid, I was laid off, but I did end up graduating on time. It’s true that everything happens for a reason because since I had so much extra time on my hand, I did research on how to start a brand and I got a chance to work towards it. I then formed a business plan and got to work, researching for product vendors, website design, marketing and much much more! During this time, I ended up moving in with my current boyfriend, which was very helpful. In January of 2021, I finally felt ready enough and purchased a few products and created a website using some money I saved up. Today, my business has its own website and is on multiple social media platforms. Every now and then, I do attend pop-up shops and hopefully, one day we can open up a physical store. I do pretty much everything on my own for now and cant wait to see Pretty 24SVN grow!
Because I decided to start a business instead of finding a full-time job using my degree, some of my friends and family question my choices and journey. Opening a business can be scary at times, but I believe we should all do what makes us happy. I can say with confidence that I wake up every day excited to work on my business and to learn new ways to help grow my business. I’m the girl that grew up in a lower class family, where no one graduated from college. My parents had no knowledge of how college even worked, so I did mostly everything on my own. Having said that, I am proud to say that I graduated from college with degrees in STEM. No one can see the vision I have for myself and my business, and there are no limits to the things I plan on doing in the future.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been some struggles so far while running Pretty 24SVVN. One being at the start of my business when I asked one of my jewelry vendors what size rope chain necklace do she suggest I purchase and which sizes were more popular for women. When ordering inventory, I sometimes do not purchase any samples because of the high cost in shipping, but I do ask a lot of questions. Once my order arrived, I realized I would have liked a shorter length chain size so then I ended up having to purchase more. One of my biggest lessons was to make sure to use my ruler or measuring tape to estimate size. Even if a product looks big in a picture, look for the size so there will be no surprises when it arrives. It saves a lot of time and money!
Before starting a business, I had no previous business knowledge. I found that marketing was the hardest task for me. There are so many ways to market a business, such as using influencers, social media ads, google ads, TikToks, Reels, the old-fashioned ways, and many more. One strategy I used but did not work for me was using micro and nano influencers to advertise my products. I would send them products for free, and they would wear it and tag my business but I did not see any return out of it. I do believe that every business is different, so what doesn’t work for some may work for others. I am still learning and seeing what strategies work and do not work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Pretty 24SVN?
Pretty 24SVN LLC is a Black-Owned one-stop shop for trendy women’s accessories and cosmetics. We carry high-quality jewelry, luxury mink lashes, stylish sunglasses and more. We know how important it is for women to be pretty and look their best. That’s why we provide top-tier products you will love, all in one place!
Let’s forget about the societal standards of “pretty.” Our main goal here at Pretty 24SVN is to help you build self-love and confidence through the products we offer and the messages we put out. There are so many options thrown at us every single day. Women should unapologetically wear dramatic lashes, try different hair colors, wear statement pieces and indulge in all the makeup they want. We see pretty as someone that’s confident, has a beautiful personality and someone that loves what makes them unique.
We love to engage! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @pretty24svn to join our community and also check out our website at www.pretty24svn.com for deals and to shop our products.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Designing product packaging, my website and just my brand as a whole was what I enjoy the most. Besides my business, gardening and traveling is where you can find me in my happy place. I love the process of planting and watching things grow. I also love getting to learn about different cultures and trying different experiences.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@pretty24svn.com
- Website: WWW.PRETTY24SVN.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretty24svn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pretty24svn
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pretty24svn
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@pretty24svn?lang=en
