ENSPIRE Feature (Founder of NY Beauty Suites shares advice on success and struggle)
ENSPIRE Contributor: Clarisa Crump
At the start of the pandemic, everything was in disarray. Individuals were losing jobs they had for years, some people didn’t even know whether or not they would have a job by the end of each passing day. Seeing this happen in real-time in interpersonal relationships, Johanne Brierre, founder of NY Beauty Suites, decided that something had to be done. Specifically, about black women in the beautician and creative fields, who were more at risk and needed a space for their businesses to thrive in the midst of the financial difficulties that the pandemic had brought on. Creating NY Beauty Suites was about more than being a business, it was about becoming a physical helping hand to black women entrepreneurs. This way, they could have the space and resources to grow their businesses, and not have to be as worried about the pressures set by Covid.
Recently, Enspire spoke to Johanne Brierre on what exactly motivates her to keep going, and what she attributes her success to.
Did you always have a passion for the beauty industry?
When I first watched the world shut down in March 2020, with a rising financial crisis and social injustice that left me speechless at how my community was being hurt from both sides of the aisle-I knew it was time for some change. Then a family member asked for assistance finding an accessible workspace with a community and resources such as grant information. That “ah-ha” moment light went on. Since then, I’ve wanted to ensure beautypreneurs have access to a flexible workspace with a community and resources to help grow their businesses.
How did NY Beauty Suites get started?
NYBeautySuites started during COVID. A family member who works in the beauty industry contacted me and asked if I could help her and some associates find a flexible workplace to connect and find resources to survive the pandemic. I researched the idea and saw a demand from many displaced small business owners, plus several requests from those who worked from home, needing to meet clients in a safe space where they could be productive.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming women entrepreneurs?
Do not be afraid to pivot. Pivot as many times as necessary until you get your desired results. Do not hesitate to reach out to mentors and other folks in the industry for support and help. People are more willing to help than you think.
How can an independent beauty entrepreneur apply for a co-working space here at NY Beauty Suites?
They can visit us online at nybeatysuites.com and arrange to come in for a tour. We currently have 2 prime locations – 495 Flatbush Avenue and 81 Willoughby Street.– We are hosting an open house at 495 Flatbush on October 6 & 7th from 12-5 pm. We invite all beauty and wellness professionals. RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/410024523387.
— We are hosting an open house at 495 Flatbush on October 6 & 7th from 12-5 pm. We invite all beauty and wellness professionals. RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/410024523387.If you’ll like to view our suites sooner, visit nybeautysuites.com and book a tour or email us at hi@nybeautysuites.com
Owning and operating a beauty suite takes a lot of dedication and hard work; what has been the key to your success?
My key to success is my community/partners who have been instrumental in this process; for example,
One of the essential keys would be finding the right people and clients with a similar vision or purpose for themselves. It is much easier to build in this environment because you can create a mutually beneficial opportunity for everyone. For example, I could connect with the landlords/investors in my neighborhood and share my idea and concept. Thankfully, he also wanted to create a workspace in Brooklyn without traveling elsewhere. It was easy for us to collaborate and execute this vision.
When did you realize you were passionate about creating spaces encouraging and uplifting women?
Being born on the Caribbean Island of Haiti, I’ve always wanted to empower and support women while providing a platform to continue doing what they love. In my personal opinion, women are natural leaders and innovators. However, due to glass ceilings and lack of opportunities, we’ve never had the chance to impact the world and our communities the way we would want to. Women are encouraged, supported, and empowered daily thanks to the new social norms and movements. I am honored to be one of the many women to create a bridge for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Since the start of her business in the pandemic, Brierre has made great strides towards furthering her company. With more individuals diving into the “beautypreneurs” business, this seems like the perfect fit. It is no big secret that black women, and women in general, have a harder time getting the space and resources needed to accommodate their work. Brierre has started a shift in this narrative with her business however, and now, thanks to her there are many new stylists and creatives that can achieve their goals whilst still being successful in their business.
