Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyla Croft.
Hi, Kyla. I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story? How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Webster Groves, MO, where it was tough to find ethnic hair products nearby. We always had to travel miles away to get the most essential hair necessities. It has always been a dream of mine to open a beauty supply store to help solve this problem in my community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I focused on what I needed to do to open my beauty supply store. Now that I am an adult with children with different hair textures and needs, I knew this was the best time to make my dream a reality. I knew I wanted a business that gives its customers a personal experience each time they visit and has staff members knowledgeable about our hair and products.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Opening my store has been challenging, but I know it will be worth it in the long run. When I signed my lease, construction was needed to get the store exactly what I envisioned. I had some contracting issues, which ended my timeline almost 6 months and cost me way more than I expected. I have had to push myself to market my business and get my name out there so that the surrounding community members know that we are here and ready to meet their hair and skin care needs. I usually do not talk to strangers, which has been a struggle. After almost a year since opening, I am finally getting on track to be as successful as I want.
We’ve been impressed with 9Eleven Beauty Supply, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a black-owned, woman-owned beauty supply—one of very few in our community. We specialize in ethnic hair care and hair products. This is the only beauty supply store like ours in West County Saint Louis. Unlike our neighboring competitors, we can give our customers personal reviews and experiences with our products. There has been a need for a store like ours for years, and we are finally here to fill that void and give our customers exactly what they need. We also offer an online Bundle Boutique selling reasonably priced hair extensions (bundles, tape-ins, and clip-ins) and wigs. We are proud to say that we carry products from local vendors and other black-owned companies. We are a small business that will significantly impact our community!
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I can’t pinpoint one favorite childhood memory. I know that my childhood memories included spending time with my family. We would go to dinner for every person on the family’s birthday. We are a close family and still spend lots of time together. When we get together, we laugh and love. Having a great family and childhood experiences with them has helped me become who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: WWW.9ElevenBeauty.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/9eleven_beauty
- Facebook: Facebook.com/9ElevenBeautySupplyWestCounty
