Meet Neke Marche’ | ENTREPRENEUR/AUTHOR
We had the good fortune of connecting with Neke Marche’ and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Neke, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose a creative career because I love to see my vision come to life. It’s like being and artist without a paint brush. The reaction my clients or customers give me after visiting my store or salon. It’s the light in their eyes and the ability that I have to do something I think is so small and comes to me first nature that makes one person feel beautiful and uplifted about themselves.
What should our readers know about your business?
I am an owner of a Beauty Supply Store, Wig bar and Boutique in Montgomery, AL, a Cosmetologist, and an Author. What sets me apart from others is that there aren’t any AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALES that have a store like mine and also the sole owner of it. It took me a lot of tears, wanting to give up, and mountains to climb to get here. I started off doing hair as early as 5th grade and began to fully take it seriously 5 years ago and decided to quit my job and pursue hair full time. I then enrolled in hair school which was an awful experience. I even quit once and my instructor Liz convinced me to return because she thought I was too talented to let it go to waste. I am thankful for the many talks I had with her to push through. Once I completed the program in 2019 I have been on a success roll ever since. Sometimes God sends you through a bit of a storm just to strengthen you, you just can’t let the devil break you. I’ve been through some major challenges in my life but I didn’t let them break or bend me. I started off out of Cosmetology School with a one room suite and upgraded to a building with 4 suites within 6 months. Fast forward to 2020 and BOOM Covid pandemic hit and salons and the whole world literally was shut down. I took that time to think about what I can do to make money and not have to do hair because I know after this a lot of people will be scared to return to the salon. That’s when I thought it is now time to start my beauty supply business. Since we are stuck in the house why not have available to my clients what they need for hair care at home. Also, I feel it is much needed in the Black Community to have a Beauty Supply Store with a knowledgeable owner that also looks like those who shop in those stores. I revamped and opened my store September 2020 in the midst of a pandemic. No one can tell me God is not real and I put all my faith in him with everything I do. I also wrote my first e-book that was just released in May 2021 and it is to help small business owners establish business credit where they no longer have to use their personal credit to purchase supplies all the way to company vehicles.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My best friends and I love to have a great time. I know our first stop would be food and drinks. So getting jazzed up and stepping out to have the finest fine and pretty drinks would definitely be a starter. I am such an angry bird when I don’t eat so my friends always make sure if we do nothing else we eat lol. We definitely have to go shopping. My bestie Meka loves luxury bags so I’m sure we will definitely be in the nearest Louie store. My friend Erica is down for whatever all she does is laugh lol. We have to hit the beach and have a photo shoot and cop a boat to lay out on, because we are the selfie queens. But all in all, my girls and I will turn some blues on. My friend Santania is the blues queen so she will 9/10 be on music duty. We have a few drinks and have fun anywhere and laugh about all our crazy stories from back in the days.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
MY SHOUTOUT DEFINITELY GOES TO MY 3 KINGS. MARQUICE 13, BRAYLON 11, AND TYLER 8. THEY GIVE ME THE DRIVE AND SPARK TO GET UP EVERYDAY AND MAKE SURE THEIR LIFE is BETTER THAN MINE WAS. I PROMISED WHEN I BECAME A MOM THAT I WAS DESTINED TO BREAK GENERATIONAL CURSES, STIGMAS, THE STATISTICS AND ETC. IT’S SCARY AND HARD RAISING 3 BLACK BOYS IN THIS CRAZY WORLD BUT THEY ARE SHOWN EVERYDAY THAT MOM WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR US. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR FAILURE WITH ME WHEN IT COMES TO MY BOYS. SO RIGHT NOW, I AM ADAMANT ON BUILDING AND EMPIRE TO PASS ALONG TO THEM FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
Website: www.nekemarche.com
Instagram: neke_marche
Facebook: Neke Marche’s Beauty and Fashion District
Youtube: Neke Marche’
Image Credits
Nero Johnson
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