Black Women Founders: Brittney Ogike

While we collaborate with BIPOC creators throughout the year, it was essential for us to highlight Black Women Founders during Black History Month. Kicking things off we spoke with Brittney Ogike, founder of BEAUTYBEEZ (a premier beauty retailer) to tell us what inspired her to start BEAUTYBEEZ and to share a piece of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. See below for the full feature!

Q: A short blurb on what inspired you to start your business? 

BEAUTYBEEZ was created to fill a gap in the retail industry. After a lifetime of dissatisfaction shopping for my unique beauty needs, I created a place where women of color can shop, explore, and play in a world full of beauty. What many people outside of the African American community do not realize, is that ethnic haircare and beauty products are typically sold in small local retailers called beauty supply stores. The larger, prestige retailers do not carry these items. For decades, the beauty supply has been left unchanged and wholly inadequate. Recently, consumer behavior has shifted. Our community has become more conscious of where we spend our dollars, but with no place to turn to for our beauty needs. BEAUTYBEEZ was created to fill the white space in ethnic beauty. We provide an inclusive beauty experience for women of all color.

  Q: What’s one major tip or piece of advice you would give someone in their first year of business?

Pay attention to the numbers. They don’t lie. We create businesses for a lot of reasons, but ultimately, we want them to make money. Profitability is the goal for most businesses, and to reach profitability, you need to look at your numbers. What is making the most revenue? How can we increase these sales? What isn’t working and costing too much? These are the questions you should ask yourself every month and make adjustments. Ultimately, if there is no path to profitability, your business will fail.

Q: Tell us about BEAUTYBEEZ

BEAUTYBEEZ is the premier beauty retailer for women of color. We offer a curated collection of textured hair care, melanin skin care, and brown girl beauty.

      Q: What are 3 brands you love that you would like others to know about?

• Hyper Skin (@gethyperskin) – Great skincare targeted for women of color
• TGIN (@tginatural) – Clean hair care that provides real results
• Luv Scrub (@luvscrub) – My favorite skincare tool; also a BEAUTYBEEZ best-seller