Spring 2021 issue of THE HUB Magazine

Page 28

Surviving COVID-19 RESOURCE DIRECTORY

DREAM GIRLS HAIR SALON IS THRIVING THROUGH AND BEYOND THE PANDEMIC by Contributing Writer, Donna Michele Ramos

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ehind the scenes of hard work and success are two sisters from Los Angeles who have built a hair care empire. In 2006 Sharie Wilson and her sister Tonya Thompson opened DreamGirls Fine Hair Imports and Salon. Sharie Wilson runs DreamGirls Hair Salon here in Elk Grove and her sister Tonya runs DreamGirls Hair Salon in Culver City in Southern California. THE HUB spoke with Sharie Wilson and also Sharie’s business partner - son, Isaiah Lewis to learn more about the salon’s success and plans for the future. Isaiah Lewis is the oldest son of Sharie Wilson. He is a student at Cal State Northridge in Southern California. He is also very involved in the family business, DreamGirls Fine Hair and Imports Salon. THE HUB: Sharie you have been interviewed and featured by Black Enterprise, Forbes, American Salon, Buzz Feed, Hype Hair, Hello Beautiful and many other news outlets. Which article made you feel like you’ve made it? WILSON: The first one was Black Enterprise; I was like wow. And then when Forbes did an article on us, I was like okay something is going on here. THE HUB: When the pandemic hit and you had to close your shops, what thoughts went through your mind? How did you come up with virtual consultations? I never would have thought you could do that. Can you walk us through a virtual consultation? WILSON: I am good with money and savings, so my main concern was for my girls, I had to get us back to work safely. Owning a cosmetology school, I know what to do to be safe. We understand everything is about to change. I had a calm and peace about it. We didn’t know what was going to happen. We started the Healthy Hair Care program and product line for our out-of-state clients in New York, Atlanta, and Tennessee. Now with the pandemic, our regular clients can use our products to continue achieving their hair care goals at home. And we want to help new customers care for their hair too. At the virtual consultation we make sure to see the hair, open to the scalp. We talk to the client about their medical history, ask questions about iron and Vitamin D. We come up with a plan: go to the doctor, recommend hair vitamins, show them how to take pictures and recommend what protective styles to wear. Some | 2 8 | T H E   HU B MA G A Z I N E

customers follow up 3 months later and we direct them. They do all the work at home. THE HUB: How long have you and your sister Tonya worked on your hair care line? WILSON: We started in 2012, it was a start and stop thing. One of my BFF’s since high school, Brian Smith and his wife Seak, came up in November 2019 and pushed me to focus. He asked why I hadn’t started my product line? He held me accountable and helped me with the legwork. We went to Whole Foods. My kitchen looked like a lab. We experimented with rosemary and peppermint and that is now included in our hair care products. My son Isaiah who is 19 years old wears several hats for our business. He talks to the vendors and also the attorneys. My nieces, the twins, do all the marketing for our business. THE HUB: How were you able to pivot during the pandemic in terms of your business? WILSON: I think outside the box and thought of started doing virtual consultations. We focus and market our hair care line like we are supposed to, for maximum exposure. THE HUB: What’s the first thing you felt when you reached $1 million in sales? WILSON: Isaiah saw it and sent us a text message. When we saw the numbers we were like wow! The Thanksgiving sale reached $100,000 in 4 hours. Tonya said we’d do $300,000 that weekend. We went live and the phones went crazy. Tonya brought that to fruition. I was there, but Tonya spoke it into existence. THE HUB: With all of the success behind you, what plans for the future can you share with us? WILSON: We are expanding our product line this year and coming out with a moisture line, leave-in moisturizing conditioner and a product for curly hair is in the works. When my mom and dad passed away, my sons and nieces were close to them and our business helps them refocus and regroup. Working in this family business with us makes them feel close to their grandparents.

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