Friday 8 November 2013

2Inspire Inspire Profile Interview: NoScrunchie

In this profile interview we meet Leillah Sekalala, the founder of NoScrunchie. NoScrunchie is the UK’s only Afro salon finder, with peer reviews. Use NoScrunchie to find a good Afro salon near you or review one that you have been to. Read about Leillah's inspirational business story here.

 

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?  
There are no typical days at NoScrunchie or at any start up, I think. We do everything from calling up salons, responding to emails, looking for new marketing and networking opportunities, social media, accounts, VAT returns, writing blog posts. It just depends what day it is and what deadlines are approaching.

We try and go for at least 2 networking evenings a week. At this stage, we need to meet as many people as possible to get our ideas out there.


What made you start the business and what steps did you take to start operating as a business? 
We had been thinking about the salon ratings side of the website for a few years but it was not until we figured out the product to sell and the price points that we started the business.

We wrote a business plan after doing some research.

We registered the company with companies house, bought our domain names and we were ready to go!


What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
We have not made a year yet but a few moments we will remember are our first sale and being asked to be the salon finder link on www.blackhairmagazine.co.uk.


What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
Biggest challenge has been getting our name out there on the little resources that we have.

It's very hard to do good quality marketing on a tight budget.

What are your future plans for the business? 

Our future plans are to have at least 1000 salons on the site in another 6 months.

The rest of the plans are top secret at the moment. 


 If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently? 
I would have started sooner, maybe 3 years earlier!


What’s the best compliment you could receive in business?

The best compliment that we receive is ‘this is something that Afro Caribbean women need!’ Its really good to hear that there is a need for our service.


Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams? 

A lot of young women are not as confident as the young men out there and they need an extra boost from us the old hands. Its really hard as ayoung girl when you are battling so many insecurities to realise how important your dreams are.


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry? 

Do your research and write a business plan!


What or who inspires you in business and why? 

Anybody who is running a profit making business inspires me. But if I am to pick one person, I would choose Karren Brady.


What is your favourite inspirational quote?
It usually takes a decade or two before overnight success kicks in. Scott Robert Lim.


NoScrunchie
www.noscrunchie.com


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