More and more, Black women are stepping out on faith and ridding themselves of the traditional trajectory that is expected of them. We’re proving that we are more than just mothers and wives, nurturers and the occasional “shoulder to cry on”. We are women of strength and resilience and long gone are the days of simply settling for a 9-5, working for someone else. One Georgia peach is stamping her legacy in ink, providing a common form of artistry, tattooing, but with a very modern and unique twist. It’s cosmetic tattoos that turned once upon a time makeup artist Feleshia Sams into a bonafide businesswoman! And now that she’s excelling in that industry, she’s also focusing her energy into her second business, 365 Greens, aimed at helping her community become more health conscious. She took some time out of her busy schedule to chat with us about becoming an entrepreneur, what motivated her to create her second business, and what it’s like starting a business with your own funding.
WHY COSMETIC TATTOOS? WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE OR SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU THAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET INTO THIS LINE OF ARTISTRY?
This industry was one that was introduced to me by a friend of the family about 16 years ago. She had flown to Arizona to get the service done and was absolutely in love with her results. When she arrived back, she immediately told me about and it was this friend of mine who said that you would be absolutely great in this field. At the time I was a makeup artist so she figured that my artistic background would be a true asset. Since the industry was a bit new it was a bit difficult for training, but the unfamiliar territory also was something that excited me to be a part of as well.
YOU HAD A SERIOUS HEALTH SCARE THAT MOTIVATED YOU TO CREATE YOUR SECOND BUSINESS, 365 GREENS. WHAT HAVE THE BENEFITS BEEN FOR YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY WITH HOLISTIC CARE, AND WHY SHOULD MORE PEOPLE GET INTO IT?
Early 2020 when I started to not feel myself it was right before the pandemic so doctors’ visits where more accessible. However, right in the middle of properly getting a full diagnosis and treatment is when COVID hit and then all I was left with most extreme case of MS to the mildest possibility of vitamin deficiency. Regardless I was determined to treat the most extreme case. Since I’m such a researcher I wanted to do ALL I could fight whatever was going on in my body. After pursing this path and then later developing 365 Greens it has moved me from having virtually zero energy, suffering from neuropathy in my limbs, and severe headaches to feeling the best I have in years. By incorporating my supplements, sticking to a regular workout routine, and going plant based it has totally changed both my physical and mental outlook on life. This entire process has just showed me that others don’t need to go through what I went through to get healthy but instead begin a healthy lifestyle in order to avoid what I went through. Incorporating more veggies in our daily diet can sometimes be overwhelming, especially with the many fast-food options but just as simple as one scoop a day in either your favorite beverage and or sprinkled on or into food can go extremely far in your journey to stay and get healthy.
WHO WOULD YOU SAY INSPIRES OR INFLUENCES THE BUSINESSWOMAN YOU ARE?
Hands down that would be my mother. My mother and I have always had a great relationship. I have watched her run a successful business for over 20 years then sale and retire herself. She is truly my inspiration and through the years has showed me the many principles in being a successful business owner.
YOUR APP “COZTAT” IS 100% FUNDED BY YOU, HOW HARD WAS IT TO INVEST IN YOURSELF AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANOTHER UP-AND-COMING ENTREPRENEUR WHO LACKS THE FUNDS TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?
Funding a project 100% on your own is always scary. It’s a big commitment and can sometimes be a huge risk. Before I always invest or make large purchases, I always give myself the time I need to as I like to say, “put a pencil to it.” To see if it will make financial sense and to see if this is something that I can wait to receive a return on my investment. For those that are thinking of doing the same my advice would be to make sure that you first evaluate your idea to make sure it is a good idea in which you are investing in. Run it by others who truly have your best interest at heart but who will give you the 100% real on your ideas. Sometimes it good for a person to be critical because it makes you think, just as long as you know they truly care and are providing constructive criticism. If the idea is worthwhile go for it. The second item to do is to make sure that you are not pressed for your investment right away. If you strapped for cash start of small and build slowly. All of my other businesses prior to the app have been very small investments that have increased as I have made money but bottom line, don’t let fear stop you. If fear is there it’s okay because that just means that you are on the cusp of something great.
WHAT KIND OF SUCCESS HAVE YOU SEEN SINCE LAUNCHING BOTH OF YOUR BUSINESSES?
Despite the ups and downs of 2020 my businesses have had success and continue to grow. The surprising part has been how they have started to cross promote. It has become very common for a client to be investigating one of my businesses but become a customer of another.
Feleshia shared with us that she’s looking to continually expand where she’s already at with each of her businesses. In the future, she’s looking to add more features to her app and provide a single platform for artist, which will include electronic consent forms and digital signatures. And as for her second business, 365 Greens, she says she’s working on adding a version of the superfood, but for kids.
