Sonya Gilkey, Founder & CEO

Sonya Gilkey

Founder & CEO, WRAP-A-LOC

Sonya Gilkey, aka, Sistah Nandi, is a Natural Hair Care Culturist. For the last 15-plus years, she has been professionally styling natural and loc hair. Her love and gift for styling hair began as a teenager, where she honed her skills as a “street” stylist. Over the years, her haircare methods and styling techniques have been featured in Essence, Sisterlocs Lifestyle Journal, Black Beauty & Hair magazine, and on numerous websites and blogs. In 2018, she was named “Manufacturer of The Year” by the Beauty Supply Institute. Like many women, her natural hair journey was challenged by the lack of hair products for grooming locs and natural hair. Much like the old proverb says, “Necessity” is the Mother of Invention, that is true in her case. Because she wanted pretty curly locs, she created Wrap-A-Loc out of versatility and flexibility in 2004.

Sonya Gilkey

What problem does your business solve?

The goal of our brand is to promote beauty, creativity, freedom and activism culturally by manufacturing and distributing quality hair styling tools and products. Through education and community outreach, we impact positive global awareness of the splendor and pride in textured hair. By creating innovative products and setting trends, we arouse the intellect and self-esteem of our people, revealing that we each hold power within ourselves.

How does your business generate income?

Via product innovation and sales, mainly online.

Is your cash flow positive each month?

Yes, we have a positive monthly cashflow.

What has COVID-19 taught you? How are you feeling about your emotional, physical and mental health?

I’m feeling good and doing great spiritually. “All is in Divine Order.”

How’s the health of your business today?

The business is in good health and is operating at about 65%.

Are you working full-time or part-time in the business?

I’ve worked full time in my business since 2007.

What is the best advice you could give a fellow entrepreneur?

Always listen and follow that inner voice—the one that is telling you to “move, move right now on your vision.”

What kinds of resources are important to you right now?

Our biggest challenges in the last year have been marketing, distribution, and garnering earned media and publicity to impact the community in which we serve. With Wrap-ALoc, we have been on the front lines advocating hair emancipation for the natural and loc community. Being a black company that unapologetically targets women and men with textured hair, our distribution by major hair care companies has often been denied. The innovation and uniqueness of the Wrap-A-Loc styling tool has brought many challenges in the realm of competition. Many are familiar with traditional roller and rodes, which has led us to over stride on educating why Wrap-A-Loc is safer, versatile and more efficient for textured hair.

How has this year changed the way you do business?

The plague has rocked, shifted and changed everything. The summer is usually my busiest time of the year because we attend hair shows and festivals. That part of my business model has been brought to a complete halt. It has pushed us to elevate, recreate and keep things moving.

Sonya Gilkey/EDGE ALUM 2004

Business Plan Training DHL Shipping Grant Recipient Consultation Circuit Rider Mico Loan - DEBCO United Way COVID Grant Recipient

Socially speaking...

facebook.com/WrapALocc twitter.com/wrapaloc youtube.com/user/wrapaloc instagram.com/wrapalochair pinterest.com/wrapaloc linkedin.com/in/sonya-gilkey-b7327a12