July 1st 2024.
In the bustling city of Richmond Heights, a mother-son duo is making waves with their unique beauty supply store. Nneka Slade, a seasoned cosmetologist, and her son Kameron Coleman, a young entrepreneur, joined forces to take their love for beauty to new heights. Together, they own the Play Beauty Supply store and have recently inked a 7-figure deal to expand their business across Ohio.
In an interview with AfroTech, Slade expressed her disbelief at their success, saying, "We never dreamed about this happening. We didn't even know what was going to happen but if we failed, we were going to fail big, something like this doesn't happen." The pair acquired their first store in 2020 and have since added another one, Star Beauty Plus, to their portfolio in Maple Heights. Despite the generation gap between them, they credit their success to the valuable lessons they have learned from each other along the way.
Coleman, who brings a fresh perspective to the business, shared, "She leans on me to bring in the new 21st-century ideas, the delivery, websites, marketing. It's a balance with each other." His mother added, "We learned a lot about each other. I'm more of the left brain - organized, structured, and Kameron is more of the right brain - creative, risk-taker. There's a nice balance that happens."
Being a Black-owned beauty supply store in Ohio is a rarity, but Slade, with her 30 years of experience in the industry, knows the importance of representation. This is why all the products at Play Beauty Supply are specifically curated with minority groups in mind. Slade shared, "People that come in now to the store are excited to see that it's Black-owned. They come in shedding tears because they can buy the products they need for their hair." The store has received overwhelming support from customers, with many coming from nearby cities like Akron and Canton.
Before acquiring Play Beauty Supply, Slade and Coleman started selling hair extensions through e-commerce. However, they soon realized the importance of having a physical storefront and decided to make the jump. By collaborating with hair salons and stylists, they were able to create more visibility for their products. Their hard work and dedication have paid off, as evidenced by their recent deal and the success of their business.
In a world where entrepreneurship is dominated by men, this mother-son duo is breaking barriers and inspiring others to chase their dreams. As for their future plans, Slade and Coleman have their sights set on expanding their business even further and making a mark in the beauty industry. With their passion and determination, there's no doubt that they will continue to soar to greater heights.
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