Today we’d like to introduce you to Queen Mgbeike.
Queen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, I have had this hair business for about three years now. It has been a learning experience really. I did not realize how having a business can change the way one relates with people. On how I started, I never really thought it was something that I would end up doing up till now. I have always loved working with my hands; I have even dabbled in sewing a little bit and I feel that it would have been successful if I had taken it as serious. I basically taught myself how to make wigs. I would take apart wigs that I bought to see how they were made and put them all back together. I watched a whole lot of YouTube as well a whole lot.
I started making wigs for myself first and some friends and family started suggesting that I should extend my services to other people. I was terrified at first because all I could think of was “what if i mess up and this all fails before i have even started?”. I am very glad it did not though. I have been working for myself since 2018 and God has been great. I would say that I got to where I am now by constant practice. In this hair business, much like any business, you have to keep up with new trends and techniques. If not, it is very easy to lose clients because this industry is very saturated.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not. Social media and motivational speakers make it seem like owning your own business is a smooth ride but it’s not. It’s like being poor in the morning and by night fall, you do not know what to do with all the money you make, especially if you fund your business out of pocket. There are lots of struggles in this line of business. It is considered high risk. Sometimes you ship to clients and they claim they did not receive their package but the tracking clearly says they did, or its them saying you did not do a good job but after giving them a refund, you see them rocking the same wig they said wasn’t wearable. That is just an example though. I have amazing clients through but I have had a few that have taken the whole ‘customer is king’ thing for granted. Having enough motivation to keep going is tough, especially when the road is rough, but you just have to keep going.
Wig Couture – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I operate a wig making business called Wig Couture. We specialize in custom wigs that are true to measurements but we also provide other kinds of wigs like full lace wigs. Our services include wig construction, wig maintenance, frontal/closure replacements, hair sale, dye jobs. All our wigs are machine made except our lace wigs. We are working on adding other services like hair ventilation as soon as possible. Some of the most admirable things about this business is that we pride ourselves in producing quality wigs and services. Most of our clients hear about us through word of mouth and I think that is great because it attests to the nature of our work. There is no physical store but i sometimes like to deliver the wigs myself because I like to meet my clients. Customer service is not always about sounding like a robot over the phone. Small gestures like discounts, sales, trying to meet the clients and being engaging is appreciated by them as well.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I believe success is subjective and is measured differently for each person. It is defined by who you are and who you aspire to be. A small accomplishment for one person could be a huge one for another person. I believe it’s reaching goals, whether small or large that you have set for yourself. We spend all year trying to impress others and forget we have our own personal beauties that no one can ever have. I am not where I would love to be but I hope that one day I will have everything figured out. I want to be wealthy, and have great friends and family. Most of all, I want to be happy. My definition of success is happiness in every area of my life.
Contact Info:
- Phone: (832) 574-5522
- Email: thewigcouturestore@gmail.com
- Instagram: @thewigcouturestore
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
