Business Natural: Flowers From Fatima

Fatima Spencer is a young entrepreneur, at the age of only 21. She took some time out to chat to FroChic about her hair & her business, Flowers From Fatima…

Origins and current location?

I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, which is where I currently reside.

What do you do for a living?

I am attending Xavier University in Cincinnati, studying Spanish and Advertising. I will be graduating in Spring of 2011. Besides school, I spend most of my time producing music and designing my floral fashion accessories, which I sell locally and online.

You are a young, black businesswoman at the age of only 21. That is impressive. Tell us more about your business and how long you’ve been an entrepreneur?

Thank you! I can remember being an entrepreneur around 8 years old. I used to draw and paint cartoon pictures as a child and started an “art club,” where I employed my young friends. I actually sold my artwork to parents who admired my work and wanted to purchase art for their children. My entrepreneurial mindset definitely prepared me for my current business.

I’ve been in business with Flowers From Fatima for 8 months now. Flowers From Fatima is a line of floral hair and fashion accessories for women of all ages, as well as children. The line includes everything from crystal hair clips to chic headbands. These accessories are great for everyday wear, and excellent for special occasions. The unique aspect about Flowers From Fatima is that every piece is specially made, as I carefully design each accessory myself. Flowers From Fatima is based in Cincinnati, Ohio and sold in two local boutiques in Cincinnati.

What inspired you to start Flowers by Fatima?

Growing up, my father decided to pursue a family run program for the improvement of our low-income neighborhood. Alone, my family and I turned the urban slum into a paradise. It was then, that I found an attraction for flowers and have grown to connect with our Mother Nature in all ways possible. One of these ways was the designing of floral accessories. Last year, my older brother, Alex Spencer, actually encouraged me daily with lucrative ideas and the notion of actually starting a business. Alex was actually the one who came up with the name for the business!

Tell us about the different types of accessories you design?

Currently, I design headbands, hair clips, hair combs, veils, and wrist corsages. Most of my accessories are made of silk, while few are made from velvet. Swarovski crystals are huge this year, so most of my pieces reflect that trend. I will be introducing a jewelry line by next year.

Does your business only cater for American customers or do you have customers in other countries as well?

Flowers From Fatima is an international business. While the majority of my customers are from America, I hope to gain more customers from around the world.

How does one get a hold of your merchandise from South Africa?

Every and anyone can visit my website at http://FlowersFromFatima.etsy.com and follow the same payment procedures that are listed on the website. There’s an extensive walk-through guide for our customers, listed on the website.

Now, on to that gorgeous mane of yours. How long have you been natural? Briefly take us through your natural hair journey.
I’ve been completely natural since June of 2009. I did not go through the process of the big chop or anything as drastic. I simply trimmed my hair as it grew along. I wore my hair in many different protective styles and wore it straight from time to time.

Why did you decide to go natural?

I decided to transition due to greater knowledge of health and spiritual growth. I really wanted to break free from the cycle of society’s ideas of true beauty and prove to others and MYSELF, more importantly, that my natural hair was truly beautiful and nothing to be ashamed of. I am so honored that I have inspired some of the women in my life to embrace their natural beauty, too. Ever since my transition, I’ve gained so much love and confidence in myself, that it is AMAZING. I’ve even become more careful about the products that I use in my hair.

What are the challenges and advantages since you went natural?

Since I went natural, some of the challenges that I faced BEFORE were uneasy adjustment and harder work to manage my hair. I had nearly forgotten how to style my natural hair because I was so used to it being STRAIGHT and quick to manage. All that I needed was time to quickly RE-learn my hair and how to care for it. I LOVE it now…From the curls to the thickness. It’s still a lot of work, but the results are always beautiful. A few advantages that I discovered since going natural were the higher self-esteem, confidence, love for self, and the obvious health benefits of avoiding such harmful chemicals. My hair has also grown so much faster.

What is your regimen and what products do you use?

My regime is always changing. I am still learning the right plan of action for my hair. At the moment, I wash my hair weekly with the all natural BAKING SODA! It is a wonderful cleanser and leaves my hair EXTREMELY soft. I deep condition my hair every two weeks with honey and olive oil. With every wash, I rinse my hair with Green or Black Tea, depending on how I am feeling. I use African Butter to oil my scalp and hair.

Do you do treat and style your own hair or leave it to the professionals?

I treat and style my own hair!

What natural hairstyle(s) do you like to rock?

I love my curly afro. It’s easy to maintain and seems to be very healthy for my hair, leaving it very soft. I also love my french buns for hotter weather. It requires very little heat and is very easy to do.

Lastly, what advice could you give to other young aspiring businesswoman?

For all of those that aspire to be successful businesswomen, I would say start now! There is nothing greater than having a plan when you are young and securing a better future for yourself for the years to come.