Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Renee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Ashley with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I would definitely have to give credit to my parents Monique Bishop and Michael Robinson. They definitely created the hard working woman I’am today. I’ve watched my parents (in different households) hustle and make a way out of no way. My mother is such a strong independent woman who gave birth to 6 beautiful children and she worked so hard to make sure we didn’t go without. My mother is smart, fierce, bold, and hard working. My father is strong, smart, bold and hard working as well. They both instilled life skills into me and always made sure I knew about the importance of working hard and saving. I’ve been working since the age of 15. I’ll never forget my first job at the dolphin stadium as a concession stand worker and the boss ran off with our checks. I felt so upset I didn’t want to work any more and my mother said to me you dust yourself off and keep going never let one bad deed break you. You find another job and keep pushing. Those words stuck with me and now everything I do I make sure I give it my all. I’m also very picky of the jobs I choose I know my worth. Eventually working alone wasn’t cutting it for me any more and I started my brand Xotic Minks.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hello readers my name is Ashley Renee I’m the ceo of Xotic Minks. I started my brand in June of 2013 when I was younger and incapable of running or understanding a business. I never believed I could start let alone own my own business. I was so afraid of failure growing up. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents, my siblings or myself so I dropped the business idea but always kept the name and years later June 22nd 2019 I started my brand again, this time older and much wiser. I could never have done this by myself I first have to give thanks and glory to God, also the help of my family and friends especially my bestie Camille Simone who also owns her own business (1207 hairco). Still scared and unsure of where life would take me I let go and let God have his way with me. Along this journey I’ve had many disappointments many heart breaks (9/27/19 the death of one of my little brothers Richard Byrd Jr aka Poobie) and many failures. I had to get closer to God because I realized trying to go through this battle alone was getting me no where. I was failing I was giving up and that is not me so I gave my life over to God and whewwww what a big difference it made. So I ask myself everyday what if losing was the quickest way to win? Because of my heartaches, because of my failures, because of my disappointments in life and business I’m now in my winning season. I first have to give thanks and glory to god, also the help of my family, my man, and my friends. This is not a side hustle for me this is my brand, my baby something I love. The fact that my brand can make others feel beautiful or enhance ones beauty lets me know my work here is not done. Everyone is already beautiful and no amount of makeup or lashes can ever change the true beauty within but it’s a great feeling to know that my brand helps uplift someone’s self esteem. I have so much more in the works lash growth serums, lash glue, wholesale etc etc. Xotic Minks is just beginning remember the name and the brand and watch us as we grow.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Good question I’ll give you one better I’ll give you one of each quality, skill, and area of knowledge. For me the best quality to have is personality. I feel like being yourself and showing others who you truly are will take you long ways in business as well as life. I’ve always been a people’s person and knew how to speak to people and because of that people always cling to me. I’am a people’s magnet let my family and friends tell it lol. The best skill to have is knowing how to effectively communicate. I know you are thinking what does that have to do with business, it has everything to do with business. You have to know how to communicate with others so that you can grow in business. Suppose someone wants to help you with your business or even propose a new business plan? How you respond will determine if that business plan go through. Being able to communicate not just to talk but to also listen and hear what others are saying. You never know they may give some gems to help you grow within your business. Areas of knowledge that was most impactful for me on my journey was learning. Sometimes the teacher has to be the student. I never act like I knew it all. There are people who has done this before me and have lots of experience and I’m always willing to listen to what they have to say. Whether it be business advice or life advice I take heed in all they say. Never be afraid to sit down and learn. As a newbie in the entrepreneur world you have to have personality, effective communication skills and always be ok with being the student because we don’t know it all.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents gave me life! I’m so grateful for my mother Monique and my father Michael. Together even though in separate households they taught me the meaning of life. They told me no matter what may come my way never ever give up if It’s truly something I want. They told me never take NO for an answer. In life I’ve heard no many times but no was never good enough for me. Instead I go harder and show whoever why their answer should be yes. My parents taught me to never let someone build my character but to show them who I truly am instead. I was always told how strong I’am and how out of everyone I’m the glue of the family. Being the strong one all the time gets tiring but my parents always told me God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. So for me the most impactful thing my parents did for me was Instill life long lessons and love into me. Without them I wouldn’t be this woman I’am today. So to my parents Monique Bishop and Michael Robinson thank you for all that you’ve done and continue to do for me. Your daughter is not done making you both proud the best has yet to come I love you both so very much.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.xoticminks.com
- Instagram: Xotic_Minks
- Facebook: Xotic Minks
- Twitter: Minks Xotic
- Other: Tik Tok: Xotic Minks
