Today we’d like to introduce you to Symone Irurhe
Hi Symone, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started when I was born and God decided to make me different in the sense of looks. After a tragic fall after being born I was diagnosed with right side nerve damage in my face. Growing up things were kind of hard dealing with name calling, not getting picked for things, and/or the ugly stares like something is wrong with me. Through this journey I fell in love with wanting to help others. At the time my dream job was to become a doctor because they help people in various ways; however, once graduating high school and realizing how much school was involved, I changed my mind. During the time of getting my Batchelor’s of Science degree in Kinesiology Athletic Medicine in 2013, working full time at different jobs, and trying to stay afloat with everything; I realized there was another avenue that I could take to help others. Athletic medicine was combining two things that I love which were sports and helping. On February 1, 2019 I created Simonsayz Nails & Sip. The name came from Simonsayz being my nickname. Nails & Sip was because I wanted us girlies to be able to pamper ourselves with a quick mani while having a wine down spot to go to. Simonsayz Nails & Sip was a press-on nail e-commerce business that I would later bring alive in the form of a salon/lounge but things didn’t pan out that way. I wasn’t aware of all fine details that went into having a brick and mortar. The objective was to target people who love to have their nails done but are restricted due to their careers, daily living, and/or cost. I wasn’t nor have I been into the flashy all blinged out long nails but thought one color nails, simple designs, and/or just a French tip look would be a hit for some. I was clearly wrong because all I would see are long nails with all kinds of things on them such as fur balls, 3D small toys, etc. Press on nails wasn’t hitting for me like it was for everyone else and I became discouraged so I tabled this creative aspect for a possibility of coming back to it later. Looking back I can see that my marketing approach/strategy was horrible and I never connected with my target audience.
Exactly a year later, February 2020, I changed my business name to Simonsayz Creations. I named it as a play on words. If you remember the game “Simon Says” where you have to follow the narrator commands that starts with “Simon Says” and don’t follow the commands that don’t start with “Simon Says” with the object of the game is to be the last player standing. For example, “Simon Says hop on one foot” and the person would have to do that command. Simonsayz stemmed from my nickname being Simon and my friends starting that I always had something to say, which is where the “sayz” come from. I wanted to be different so I put the “z” instead of an “s”. Creations represents all the things that I create, because I didn’t want to be tied to just making one thing when the owner is a jack of all trades. Due to me creating things in different niches, it was hard trying to come up with a mission statement and/or a brand pitch. However, I wanted people who brought my products to feel they are buying ingredients that will create their authentic self. This is how created our slogan “Be You • Do You • Stay True”. As you apply our products we want you to imagine we are the narrator that is giving you a command, whether it is “Simonsayz show yoir skin some love with our all natural lip products or fragrance oils” or “Simonsayz express your true self through our apparel”.
I was so intrigued in all things about running a business and wanted to learn all the business responsibilities in and out. In the Fall of 2020, I decided to go back to school for my Masters in Business Administration. During this time I was really spreading myself thin because I was working a full time job, running my small business, trying to get a handle on my personal life, and now school. If nothing couldn’t fit in my already jam packed schedule, the summer of 2021 I found out I was pregnant and boy was that an obstacle within itself; definitely being my first child. My first trimester and a half was the toughest for me with bad morning sickness, the smells of me making my products would trigger nauseated moments, still working a full time job, and going to school full time. I was even doing vendor markets while pregnant. I graduated with my Master’s in Business Administration degree in December of 2021 and in May of 2022 my first child was born. The moment we locked eyes and she held my finger I knew not only did I want to create a business that allows people to have the courage to be their authentic self but I wanted to build a legacy for her. I want her to grow up understanding that people are unique in their own way. I was working on the business here and there but majority of 2022 I was being as well as learning how to be a new mom to a precious child that I was able to call mine. In 2023, I redirected my business to where my mission was clear of how I wanted my business to look and be; so I thought. My mission was to allow one to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin through our products. But as I added another branch to my business the mission didn’t fit anymore for a general business mission statement. During the time of running my small business and with everything that is/was happening in life, I have learned that with all the lemons that I have been accumulated thus far, I now have enough lemons to make the perfect lemonade for me.
Simonsayz Creations is a one-stop shop that is handcrafted/handmade for you to naturally embrace and express your self confidence in your own way, sometimes without a spoken word. We strive on providing above and beyond customer service, take pride in curating our products naturally as well as with love, and look forward to putting smiles on our customers faces one product at a time. You should definitely check us out! You, your self-confidence, and your personality will thank us after.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There has been a variety of obstacles that I have endured while running Simonsayz Creations. The first struggle being that I sometimes have to come out of pocket using money earned from my full-time job to get my supplies, pay for markets/pop-up events, and/or pay for necessary fees. Another struggle I encountered was developing a solid work/life/business balance. This a most common struggle any passionate business owner will have, definitely when on the rise to become a 6 figure business. During the time of starting my business I was working a full time job. A year later I was going to school as a full time student while working full time. After thinking that I nailed my work/school balance, couple months later I found out I was pregnant, so now I was trying to develop a work/life/school balance. While trying to get a handle on everything I was burning myself out and had to be told numerous of times to take a break. Me looking in the mirror everyday was my motivation to keep pushing in my business, but after having my daughter my “keep going” reminder had changed. Looking at her gives me the drive to continue doing what I love in order for her to have the best life she can have. There has been plenty of sleepless nights since I have became a mom. Everyone would always tell me, “when she sleeps, you sleep”. However, that wasn’t the case for me because when she was sleep that was my opportunity to try to get some business work done. When she is awake, she wants all my attention and/or she wants to help with anything that I am working on. Within the past couple of years my biggest struggle that I am currently struggling with is being consistent on social media as well as coming up with a concrete marketing plan/strategy. I would have the ideas but when it comes time to execute, self-doubt kicks in and nothing gets published socially online, or if I get past the self doubt it is too late. Word of advice for anyone that goes through self doubt, just do it and you will be okay. You may cringe after but at least you a peeling away the self doubt layers to blossom into a confident person.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a full time employee, a mother, a unique and loving child of God, and a passionate small business owner. After graduating college with my Batchelor’s of Science in Kinesiology Athletic Medicine degree, I have always been drawn to working in the customer service industry of some sort. This industry aligns with my true passion which is helping others. My customer service experience ranged from helping athletes through rehabilitation exercises/treatments to working in retail stores to working in call centers helping customers with IT and/or shopping. Helping a customer find what they looking for, checking them out at the register, or just having a brief conversation with them makes my spirits happy and feel that I have done a good deed. Sometimes help from the right person can make someone’s day, if not better. I am known for always having a positive attitude, give above and beyond customer service experiences, and being able to de-escalate situations to where the customers are happy at the end of the day. I am most proud of not listening to the people that were always negative and tell me that I wouldn’t make it in the industry I love because of what they see on the outside. I would remind myself that is their insecurities which is something I can’t change. I am also proud of finding an industry that I like that doesn’t feel like a job. I believe and been told what sets me apart from others is my charisma, always going above and beyond, my shown passion for helping any way I can, being detailed oriented, and the pride I take in anything that I do.
What matters most to you?
Showing others and my daughter you don’t have to be society’s stereotype in order to be successful. Growing up I was always told that I wasn’t going to be anything in the corporate world because I didn’t fit the stereotype of someone that belongs in that industry. Hearing this, at a young age, brought a lot of darkness and bad thoughts but I just used that as motivation to prove them wrong. I live by the saying “Never judge a book by its cover” because I have met amazing and talented people that I wouldn’t have thought they did certain things. If you looked at someone like me you would have thought they are disable, a liability, or other things. You wouldn’t think that this person is a hard worker, goes out of their way to help, and is a loving person. It is very important and dear to me to teach my daughter and others there is only one of you that was made uniquely to be YOU. So don’t change yourself just to follow the trend, impress someone, and/or to fit in. All those things are temporary to hide someone else’s insecurities. Be your authentic self how you see fit and not what someone is telling and/or wanting you to be. This is why I came up with one our brand slogan “BE YOU, DO YOU, STAY TRUE”. Another matter that I am passionate about and is an advocate for is for people to look at every obstacle they encountered as a lemon given to make their version of a perfect lemonade, which is yourself. In other words, don’t get discouraged and/or give up when you are dealing with something difficult, rejection, or anything negative. Take a step back, assess the obstacle, and find the answer to push through it.
Pricing:
- Starting at $5 – handmade anti-allergen lip gloss
- Starting at $6 – handmade lip scrub
- Starting at $12 each or 3 for $30 – pure uncut fragrance oils (colognes/perfumes)
- Starting at $22 – expressive and unique T-shirts
- Starting at $30 – most popular “Build-A-Tee” (this is our custom apparel option)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.simonsayzshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonsayzcreations
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsayzcreations
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@simonsayzcreations
- Other: http://www.simonsayzcreations.etsy.com
Image Credits
Symone Irurhe
