Today we’d like to introduce you to Kameka Barrett.
Kameka, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have an appreciation for beauty, and having a beautiful smile is one of them. I studied and practiced Dental Hygiene in Jamaica, and in 2008, I migrated to the USA. Although, I continued to work in the dental profession, I wanted to own a business. I wanted to have a legacy. I wanted to get into the beauty business. I tested the waters by selling a popular household beauty brand and hosted beauty parties. I observed how women reacted to makeup, it made them happy. One day I said to myself, ” why not start your own beauty brand?” At first, I wanted to start a nail polish line, and I did a monkey survey and everyone voted they would purchase a lipstick over a nail polish. I began doing research on manufacturers that are of approved standards and cruelty free. While all these thoughts going through my mind, I was attending Kennesaw State University. I decided to pause on my studies, to focus on creating Kami Cosmetics. My family was not happy with that decision. Kami was birthed in 2014, Atlanta Georgia. The brand picked up momentum when professional makeup artist Francesca Tolot, one of Beyonce’s makeup artist, featured my products on her Instagram page. That was an incredible moment for the brand. An emerging brand in Francesca Tolots beauty arsenal? That ignited brand credibility. I started Kami Cosmetics, because I wanted women to have an enjoyable makeup experience and not feel afraid to step outside the box when choosing a lip color. Two years later, I moved to New York, continued to work on Kami and completed my studies in Law & Society. Currently on a path-goal of earning a Law Degree. While working full time, studying full time and running Kami Full time, I participate in pop up events and beauty trade shows that will allow our customers to experience the products.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Emotionally, there have been days when I ask myself, do I really want to continue with this? These are the moments when I struggle, and that feeling and thought quickly changes when I hear the Shopify ping goes off with an order. And I am like, OK, God that is a sign to keep going and to not quit. And then I would go back to my why? why did I start Kami? My why always solidify my drive to keep going. With time, as being one of my challenges, due to the fact I am studying and working, I find that I was unable to carry out certain tasks for the business, such as sending out marketing emails daily. Now that we are on quarantine, I am now able to give more time to the business and work on branding and flesh out my ideas. I made a conscious effort to start Kami with my own money. Not on credit cards or bank loans or an angel investor. So financially, if there was an obstacle, it would be me I would have to tackle. I just decided I would want to be the only person I owe. So, the challenges were saving up enough to acquire a large order initially. For me it’s rewarding and fulfilling, because I achieved it by saving. But at the same time, it can be hard at times, because certain things you would like to do such as getting a top influencer/s to market the products takes a lot financially.
Please tell us about the business.
Kami Cosmetics is a luxury beauty brand for the sophisticated chic and bold woman. Kami believes that every woman is a butterfly. The butterfly symbolizes the Journey, the Transformation and the Freedom to feel beautiful. We specialize in an array of cosmetic products, such as highlighters, foundations, lip liners, lipsticks, liquid mattes and lip glosses. we are known for our lip products, Our butterflies love our liquid mattes and lip glosses superb quality and pigment. I am most proud of the fact that the brand has grown from just an idea to seeing our products on the faces of women such as Chloe and Halle, Teyana Taylor and Kandi Burrus, Angela Simmons and our amazing customers who rock our products daily. While hosting events and seeing the reaction of our Butterflies when they try the products is just a great feeling. Being able to fulfill orders coming from all over the USA, Canada, Nigeria, London, Sweden and my birth country Jamaica is an awesome feeling. Another accomplishment is we are instore at The Brown Beauty Co-Op 1365 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 100, Washington D.C. What sets Kami apart from others aside from providing top quality cosmetics, is how we relate to our customers. We make each customer feel valued. Whether we are in person at a pop-up event or responding to a direct message via Instagram or email.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is how every year my dad would get a birthday cake for me. Whether the celebration was at home or school. My birthday is special to me, so it has been a tradition to have a cake every year.
Pricing:
- coupon code: KAMI 15% off at checkout.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KamiCosmetics.com
- Phone: 201.477.0290
- Email: kameka@kamicosmetics.com
- Instagram: @kami_cosmetics
- Facebook: @kamicosmeticllc
Image Credit:
Vyndsen for the image that says Keep Looking Beautiful with the three women.
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