The story of hair care brand Heycheekybeauty

Nadina Morrison runs Heycheekybeauty, a hair care brand for Black women, with her husband Timothy.

She shares the story of the business and how a Bootcamp through the Amazon Small Business Accelerator boosted her entrepreneurial skills.

The free Amazon Small Business Accelerator e-learning programme is advice from more than 30 business experts in over 200 bitesize videos.

If you’re already an Enterprise Nation member, log in to your learning dashboard. If you’re not an Enterprise Nation member, you can join the Amazon Small Business Accelerator for free here.

How did you come up with the idea for your business?

“I spent 20 years working in the financial sector, the last 10 years of which was focused on new business start-ups. We sent business owners on courses covering subjects such as SEO, marketing etc. I went on the courses myself and picked up lots of tips.

“I have always wanted to do something for myself. I’ve had an interest in hair care for a long time. I plait and braid my own hair and that of members of my family. I also make my own wigs. I wanted to create a way to use my existing skills, the experience and knowledge that I’ve picked up around starting a business and control my own working patterns because I deal with daily chronic pain.

Due to ill health, I left my job earlier than expected but I decided to set up the business and resell some of the haircare products I use myself and my own handmade wigs. In 2019 I started selling on eBay and then Amazon as a reseller. In 2020, my website launched.

“Heycheekybeauty is where my heart and creative passions lie. I offer handcrafted custom wigs and hair extensions and provide my customer demographic of Black women with helpful, insightful, knowledgeable information on Black hair care.

“There aren’t many Black hair care brand owners in the UK so supporting those that exist and encouraging new ones is also one of my aims. An example is Sherine Walrond from Ivy Wild, whose products I sell.”

What start-up challenges did you face?

“The first bit of advice I would give to a new start-up company would be to save money before setting up. My husband and I have always lived within our means but we initially did not have funds available to start the business. The decision to leave my career was so sudden that I didn't have a chance to prepare. However, we found a few hundred pounds and bought some stock. This enabled us to see what sold and how long it took to sell. It was trial and error.“

How has COVID-19 affected your business?

“As an online business, most people would think we haven't had any challenges during the pandemic but getting stock was initially really hard. The import delays and price increases for stock had a big negative effect.”

What were the key benefits of the Amazon Bootcamp for your business?

“The most significant benefit was the information about Amazon Brand Registry [tools to help you build and protect your brand, creating a better experience for customers] and Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) [the name given to the number that uniquely identifies a product for sale around the world] as well as finding out about the support offered by Enterprise Nation and the Amazon Small Business Accelerator.

“It has helped me curate a clear plan of action for the heycheekybeauty brand which we are currently working on. I have been also able to pass on details about the resources provided by Enterprise Nation and the Amazon Small Business Accelerator to other Black women entrepreneurs.

“We are currently registered as a reseller on Amazon but are also signed up to the Seller Fulfilled Prime trial programme. Once the company qualifies for Prime, we will register our own handmade wig products with Amazon Brand Registry.”

What tips have you picked from the Amazon Small Business Accelerator e-learning programme?

“The e-learning video covering barcodes was useful.

“After watching the video, I began to understand the importance of registering my GTIN with the correct company. Through Enterprise Nation I have accessed a discount for 10 GTIN codes from GS1.

“Having the incorrect GTIN registered to a brand can really affect consumer trust in your products as well decrease your visibility online.

“The e-learning also helped me to understand how trademarks work and how to register. As result, we designed a new logo and I am now in the process of registering my trademark.

“The Bootcamp and the e-learning has really helped me understand how it works to sell your products internationally and we’ve now got a clear plan based on the information that we’ve learnt.”

What are your top tips for business success based on your experience so far?

“Don't procrastinate.

“Research and understand your market and customers.

“Be willing to change course when something does not work or the market changes.”

Which other entrepreneurs inspire you and why?

“Locally, I admire Romanah Malcolm and Janice Davis from Eloquent Praise & Empowerment Dance Company.

“Their combined passion and purpose has created a business and legacy for the next generation. They are a family-run business who I know personally and it's a pleasure to see them grow and flourish in our community.

“The UK-wide entrepreneur I’m inspired by is Patricia Bright.

“She has made a space online for herself driven by her personality and hustle. With 2.8m subscribers she has opened doors for Black women to develop beauty brands.

“Global entrepreneurs who inspire me are Kevin Fredericks from Kev On Stage and Angel Tanksley from That Chick Angel.

“They are entrepreneurs that are around my age who have become successful later in life even though they have been working in the online comedy field for many years. Their humor, dedication, and willingness to take the plunge in the self-employment and entrepreneur space is inspiring especially as lots of people don’t take that risk when they are over 30. Age should never be a barrier when starting up in business.”

The free Amazon Small Business Accelerator e-learning programme is advice from more than 30 business experts in over 200 bitesize videos.

If you’re already an Enterprise Nation member, log in to your learning dashboard. If you’re not an Enterprise Nation member, you can join the Amazon Small Business Accelerator for free here.