Whether it's writing, drawing, designing, or any other number of hobbies, some people just have a knack for turning their favorite pastimes into lucrative pursuits. Hunter Phelps, a 21-year-old graduating senior at The University of Michigan, is one of them.
Hailing from Detroit, MI, Hunter is a jack of all trades that has turned her natural creativity into multiple self-started businesses ranging from her hair and skincare line, Terry Lu Naturals—which garnered enough attention to give her the honor of being named one of the top “Collegiate Female Entrepreneurs of 2019” by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council—her painting business, Hunter's Palette, and her recent room-decoration venture, Sweet Caine Creations. I got the opportunity to have a chat with Hunter to discuss her businesses, personal ambitions, and her experience as a Black business owner.
Could you tell me a bit more about your businesses?
So the first one is Terry lu naturals and it’s a natural hair and skincare line for women and men. I provide vegan and cruelty-free, full-use products. The second one is Hunter’s palette, so I make and sell my own paintings, and then the third one is Sweet Caine creations, and I do room design and room decoration.
What products does Terry Lu Naturals offer?
The first one is Blessed Butter, it’s a hair and skincare butter. You can use it in your hair for twist-outs, or braid-outs added moisture to wash-n-gos, or just use it on your skin as a lotion type of butter for moisture. The second one is called Born To Grow Hair Oil, so it’s a hair growth oil. Use it in your scalp and on your hair strands for added moisture and hair growth. And then the third product is Sunday Clean Shampoo Bar. It’s a shampoo bar that also serves as a soap bar, so you can use it on your hair and skin. I have Blessed Balm, it’s a lip balm. And then I have New Pillow Nourishing Mask, it’s a face mask mainly made with green clay.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
It really happened my freshman year at [The University of] Michigan. I knew I was into haircare and skincare, and I had big-chopped my hair that year, 2017. After I did that I started using different products and realized I wanted to create my own just because it seemed like it would be more healthy, and a lot of the products seemed to have different chemicals in them and just unfamiliar words. I was like, you know what, I’m just going to make my own stuff. After that, I joined an organization at Michigan called OptiMize—they’re basically a mentorship program but they also give funding for student ventures—and there I created Terry Lu Naturals and they gave me $9000 to get it started. Hunter’s Palette came about because I like to paint and draw, I’ve always liked to. And room design came about after I designed my boyfriend’s room for Sweetest Day and people liked it so I continued to do it.
Where have you found your own inspiration and drive to start your businesses, and how do you maintain that drive?
I would say the main thing is that I like to help others. I find enjoyment in knowing that people like my products from Terry Lu Naturals, that they like the paintings that I give to them or the rooms. So just seeing that enjoyment on people’s faces and getting positive reviews and feedback just keeps me going and keeps me wanting to help them. I’ll put it this way: one of my favorite lotions is Keri lotion, I’ve been using it since I was little. And I just think to myself, if Keri ever stopped making lotion I would be so upset and wouldn’t know what to do because that’s all I use. I feel that way about my customers, I don’t want to let them down. So, to just keep doing what I’m doing for them keeps me going.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business, but unsure how to?
I would say to use the resources you have already. For me, I knew I liked hair and skincare, so that looked like testing out different products and seeing what I liked and didn’t like about my competitors, using that as my basis to figure out how I wanted to craft my own products. I say use your resources because—I went to Michigan, so I knew a lot of different entrepreneurial organizations to get involved in—so that’s how I got through to a lot of people about what I wanted to do. I also say, just get started, because if you keep waiting, you’ll probably never start. So, start with what you have, and just keep going with that, and ask for help.
Do you think personal hobbies/interests are a good starting point for entrepreneurship?
I definitely think that’s a start because when it comes to entrepreneurship, the only way you’ll succeed is if you’re doing something you actually enjoy. That’s why most businesses fail because they don’t have a good reason for doing it. And even if your reason is just that maybe you want some money, you won’t do it that long because you’re actually not enjoying it. Same with corporate America, you don’t want people to be miserable working at your company, you want to do everything you can so that [employees] can enjoy it. I definitely think you should be doing something you love, but also try to separate hobbies from creating a business out of it. I know sometimes I might just paint for enjoyment rather than trying to sell a painting. Or I might just make some new products for myself and try to experiment and just have fun with it instead of always just making it for the business.
What does it mean for you to be a young, Black, female, entrepreneur?
I think it’s very rewarding. In today’s day and age, it’s great to be Black and it’s great to be a Black female, seeing how we have Kamala Harris and other people being influential in the Black community. I feel like last year, 2020, was a wake-up call with everything that happened. I think Blackness is starting to flourish more, people are supporting more Black businesses, and I’ve been seeing the growth in the community. I think Black females are amazing, we hustle harder than anyone else and do what we need to do. It feels good to be apart of that community.
Has being a Black business owner given you a platform where you’re able to speak out more on topics involving Blackness and the Black community?
I definitely think it’s given me the opportunity to speak on supporting Black people and what that looks like, whether that’s purchasing a product or just making sure you stand with them in times of trouble. Being pro-Black is more than just buying a product, but I do think that helps, helping with generational wealth and things that help us continue to flourish.
What is the best way for people to support self-started Black business owners like yourself?
Of course, purchasing a product or service is always amazing, but I think it’s so powerful when you share someone’s business or service with someone else. Or, if they’re not around, you still talk about them in the room. Just, supporting people behind the scenes, and just speaking out, being that advocate for them when they’re not around. I think that’s more powerful than any other resource. Just making sure that you’re always supporting them, promoting them, retweeting their business, or reposting to your story. All of those things definitely help, especially in this day and age of social media.
What do you envision for your own future and the future of your companies?
As far as Terry Lu Naturals, I’m looking to continue to expand within the next five years. I want to have a storefront, that’s one of my largest goals, that also serves as a place where I can fulfill orders and things like that. I definitely want to keep it going, especially knowing that people like the products. As far as Hunter’s Palette, I paint when I can, when I have time to. It’s something I love to do so I don’t want to overdo it and not find enjoyment in it anymore. With the rooms, I like Sweet Caine Creations because I can take that anywhere I go, if anyone needs a room, I can bring all my supplies to whatever city I’m in and continue.
コメント