Today we’d like to introduce you to Kisha Ferrell.
Hi Kisha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always felt like I was meant to work for myself. I’ve always had that entrepreneurial drive and a desire to build something of my own. Before starting Kulture Beauty, I spent 10 years with the same employer, where I wore many hats and held several different roles. I learned a lot during those years, but deep down, I knew there was something more I wanted to do.
Eventually, I decided to take a step out on faith and create my own beauty supply business. One thing I noticed was that you don’t see many Black-owned beauty supply stores, and I wanted to help change that. But I also knew I didn’t want Kulture Beauty to be just another ordinary beauty supply store. I wanted the name and the brand to speak volumes. That’s how Kulture Beauty was born. I replaced the “C” in Culture with a “K” because my first name is Kisha, which gave the name a personal connection to me.
As the business grew, I still felt called to make Kulture Beauty stand apart. I began developing my own Kulture Beauty products, including lipstick and lashes, while continuing to expand what the business could offer. I later added braid take-down and wash services for both adults and children, allowing Kulture Beauty to serve customers in another way beyond simply selling products.
Building this business has required a lot of sweat, tears, sacrifice, and many late nights. There have been moments when things were difficult, but every part of the journey has helped shape Kulture Beauty into what it is today. I truly believe I could not have done any of this without God and the support of my husband, Troy. He has believed in my vision from the beginning and has been my biggest supporter and investor.
Kulture Beauty is still growing, and so am I. What started as me taking a step out on faith has become something that I’m extremely proud to call my own. And I know this is only the beginning.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If I said this journey has been easy, I would be lying! It wasn’t easy when I started, and even today, some days are harder than others. I’ve faced everything from simple problems that could be fixed quickly to difficult situations where I honestly had to figure things out as I went. But every time I’ve hit an obstacle, I’ve found a way to fight through it, learn from it, and keep going.
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about owning a business is that once people hear, “Oh, you have your own business,” they automatically assume you’re banking! To be completely honest, I thought the same thing before I stepped into the shoes of a business owner. I quickly learned that making sales and actually making a profit are two very different things.
One of my biggest lessons was learning how to properly price my products. In the beginning, I struggled with pricing because I didn’t want customers to think I was too expensive. I was so focused on keeping my prices affordable that I wasn’t always thinking about how those prices would affect my profit—and eventually, it did.
I had to learn that there is nothing wrong with making a profit. A business has to be profitable in order to survive and grow. There are vendors to pay, inventory to purchase, online store fees, software subscriptions, equipment, shipping expenses, marketing costs, and so many other expenses customers may never see.
That experience taught me to stop looking at my business only from the customer’s point of view and start looking at it from an owner’s point of view as well. I can still care about affordability and my customers while also making decisions that are financially healthy for Kulture Beauty.
I’m still learning every day. I don’t have everything figured out, and I think that’s part of entrepreneurship. Every challenge has taught me something that I can take with me into the next stage of Kulture Beauty. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that when something doesn’t work, you don’t give up—you adjust, learn, and keep pushing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Kulture Beauty LLC is more than just a beauty supply store—it’s a brand that I’ve worked hard to build into a place where beauty, convenience, affordability, and culture come together. We are an online beauty supply business offering a variety of beauty and hair-care products, including wigs, braiding hair, hair-care products, cosmetics, salon essentials, accessories, fashion items, and more. My goal has always been for customers to have access to the products they need without feeling like they have to shop at several different places. That’s where our slogan, “All Things Beauty,” really comes to life.
One of the things that sets Kulture Beauty apart is that I didn’t want to stop at simply reselling products from other brands. I wanted to create something that belonged to us. I expanded Kulture Beauty by developing our own branded beauty products, including Kulture Beauty lip products and lashes, as well as our KB Wig Collection. Our KB Wigs are made and styled in-house, which allows us to put our own personal touch into the finished product before it reaches the customer. I’m especially proud of being able to offer customers something that represents the creativity and quality behind the Kulture Beauty name.
Seeing my own logo on products that customers can purchase and enjoy—and seeing customers wear something that was created through my own brand—is still one of the most rewarding parts of being a business owner. It reminds me that Kulture Beauty has grown from an idea into an actual brand of its own.
Kulture Beauty has also grown beyond retail. I offer braid take-down, wash, and blow-dry services for adults and children. I understand that taking down braids, detangling, washing, and preparing hair for the next style can be time-consuming, especially for busy parents and women with packed schedules. I wanted to provide a convenient service that takes some of that work off their hands.
Another part of Kulture Beauty that means a lot to me is helping other entrepreneurs grow. Through wholesale and dropshipping opportunities, I have been able to create ways for other retailers to offer Kulture Beauty products and beauty supplies to their own customers. I love the idea that the business I started can also become a resource for someone else who is trying to build something of their own.
What I’m most proud of is that Kulture Beauty continues to evolve. I started with an idea for a beauty supply business, but I refused to put the brand in one box. Today, we’re selling beauty products, creating and styling our own KB Wigs, developing our own branded products, providing hair-care services, working with other retailers, and finding ways to give back to our community.
I also want readers to know that behind Kulture Beauty is a real person who genuinely cares about her customers. I may be the owner, but I’m also the person researching products, communicating with customers, packing orders, solving problems, creating new ideas, working on our KB Wigs, and constantly figuring out what comes next.
I’m extremely proud of how far Kulture Beauty has come, but I’m even more excited about where we’re going. My vision is to continue expanding the Kulture Beauty brand and eventually grow into a physical retail location where customers can experience “All Things Beauty” in one place. For me, this isn’t just about selling beauty products—it’s about building something that represents us, our culture, and what is possible when you believe in your vision enough to keep going.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
First, I have to give credit to my village—my family. They are some of my biggest cheerleaders and have supported Kulture Beauty in more ways than I can count. Whether it’s delivering packages, offering to help pack orders, helping when things get busy, or simply listening to me rant when I’ve had one of those business-owner days, they are always there. I truly couldn’t ask for a better group of people to have in my corner.
I also have to give a very special acknowledgment to Adriane Brooks, who deserves so much credit for helping bring our KB Wigs to life. Adriane has her own salon where she does installs, yet she still makes time to create, style, and turn my wig ideas into reality. I call her my “Wig Slayer,” because her work truly speaks for itself.
What makes our story even more special is that Adriane and I were best friends growing up. As sometimes happens in life, we eventually lost touch. When she saw what I was building with Kulture Beauty, she reached out and offered to help me without asking for anything in return. When she reached out, I didn’t have to think twice about working with her. I already knew the talent she had, and her work spoke for itself. Now, being able to reconnect and create together through Kulture Beauty makes this part of the journey even more meaningful.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my wonderful and loyal customers. Many of you started out as complete strangers and, over time, have become like family. You supported me in the beginning when I was still learning, figuring things out, making mistakes, and finding my way as a new business owner. And you’re still here supporting Kulture Beauty as we continue to grow.
I never take that loyalty for granted. Every purchase, referral, share, comment, recommendation, and encouraging word has played a part in helping Kulture Beauty get to where it is today. This may be my business, but I didn’t build it alone. To my family, Adriane, and every customer who has believed in Kulture Beauty—thank you. I genuinely appreciate the love and support more than you know.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kulturebeauty.net/
- Facebook: Kulture Beauty
- Other: kulturebeauty24@gmail.com
