Today we’d like to introduce you to Ceressa McFadden.
Ceressa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was involved in many programs at FIU, leading me to have a huge support system and following. I started to brainstorm on what wholesale item could I possibly sell to help me create revenue and pay for school.
I started to go through my Instagram to see… what do I actually wear? And BOOM! Sunglasses. I always felt like a nice frame adds the best touch to an outfit. By the time I found possible vendors, Hurricane Irma came.
During Hurricane Irma in 2017, I was stuck in a hotel with my mom, cousins, and a notepad. I spent hours jotting down every idea I had. Creating a name… Marketing… down to Inventory styles… the list went on. I wanted to make sure everything was up and ready to go. That I would just have to make it official and register the name!
As soon as Florida’s power was restored, I made my business official.
Purchased insurance, and headed out with my 2007 dodge nitro to the FIU tailgates. I sold my sunglasses out of my trunk and made $200 in two hours!
After that everything started to boom, I would drive from Ft. Lauderdale to FIU multiple times a week just to sell my glasses, I would gather groups of people to take pictures in my frames (I would take the pictures) and in return, I gave them a pair to rock!
I would vend at FIU Events due to the connections I made throughout my years there. All of the in-person contacts helped grow my website audience as well. I became an FIU vendor and tabled in the Student Union… and that was a hit!
Everything I have done for this company, the marketing, shipping/handling, pictures, money. No one has invested in this baby of mine, everything has been me!
I am just really happy that I created this brand, it gives people confidence, and it honestly brightens my day.
It has helped me grow, connect, communicate, and just become a better woman.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Creating and doing everything yourself can be tough, as well as discouraging. But as long as you are doing it for the right reasons, your wishes will come true! Some struggles I went through this year was AliExpress, and other companies stealing my companies pictures, I am the photographer for my company so it’s my work being taken. It happened over ten times. The thing with wholesale websites the sunglasses are usually on a fake head, so it’s hard to truly see how the frames will look on a real person. Because I basically had lookbooks which I created and took myself, companies stole them. I didn’t have watermarks and they were using my photography as paid ads! And getting sales…
For younger women starting their own brand, make sure to fight for what you want. Do not let anyone take what you have built away either. People will come to you for advice, but don’t allow them to take all of your energy that you should be putting into your company. Some people are true friends and some are just users. You have to know the difference.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Supreme Frames will always be affordable and trendy. I will never overcharge with my brand.
Supreme Frames also inspires some dope outfits and I think we bring out of the box eyewear.
How do you think about luck?
I can definitely say being active online has gained my company great opportunities.
I won a small black owned business grant from Meta ( formerly known as a Facebook) and I also became a beta tester for Hulu’s business ad portal.
In 2020 I was lucky to catch a black owned business post by Jackie Aina and responded with my own company. She then retweeted it and my company sold out within 10 minutes, this carried on for the rest of my 2020 drops!
Pricing:
- $20 dollars and under for sunglasses
Contact Info:
- Email: Supremeframesinc@gmail.com
- Website: Www.supremeframesinc.com
- Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/supreme.frames
Image Credits
Ceressa McFadden
