First Friday Feature: The Natural Me

My name is Samori Diallo, Owner of The Natural Me, specializing in hair/skin moisturizers. We also provide beautiful Headwraps that are a the perfect accessory for any occasion. We encourage African men/women to embrace their natural beauty, be it hair/complexion etc. Our hair is our Crown and we must represent it properly.

Tell us about “The Natural Me”. What/who was the inspiration behind it? How did it get started?

I started The Natural Me to encourage sisters/brothers to get away from the harmful chemical based hair care products that are prevalent in our community. Many of which have caused a lot of damage. We encourage the use of 100% natural products for example Shea Butter, Essential oils, etc… In doing so many of us can see the benefits in how our hair/skin respond to them.

3) What items do you currently offer and who is your target market?

I make Shea Body Butters that are very effective at retaining moisture in our hair/skin. They have been tried and tested on hundreds of women, and the overall response beyond the wonderful aroma is that they work. They actually do what they are advertised to do. You can twist your hair, bantu knot, it doesn’t matter. You will be pleased with the results. But if you choose not to use them in your hair, you can use them as a full body lotion. You can’t go wrong. Our target Market is African people worldwide, throughout the Carribbean, Africa, U.S. Europe, South America, etc. But to be clear our products aren’t only for african people. Many people of different backgrounds use our products as well as they are just as effective for others.

3) What distinguishes “The Natural Me” from its competitors?

#1 our products work! I will match my product with any company in the industry to see the difference. Also, we are one of the very few family owned businesses in the industry. Along with me, I have my mother as the Chief Operating Officer. She is very active in all areas of The Natural Me.

4) What is your vision for “The Natural Me”? Where would you like the business to be in 5 years?

The Natural Me is already one of the premier Natural hair companies in the country. We are intending to become much more visible in the coming year of 2014. Majority of our customers are repeat customers because they understand the care in which our products have been handled. We strive to meet the expectations of our customers. We also intend to offer more products in the future.

5)What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt as an entrepreneur? What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

One of the things that I’ve learned is to jump on opportunities when i see them. I am very cautious and I calculate. Because a opportunity presents itself to me, i may not necessarily seize it right then and there. In life that can be a good thing or a bad thing. You have to know when to say when. Sometimes we just have to take chances and try to minimize the risk, especially in business. Sometimes you don’t have time to be cautious, we have to think on the fly. Fortunately, I have made the right decision more times than the wrong one.

6) Where can we purchase your products?