Big ups to Roxanne…

Loclife Gift Basket

I was there in the beginning.  Well not THERE, there.  Just there.  Roxanne started “doing hair” in the Mediterranean Room on Westridge.  We had made a trip to St. Catherine’s and gotten a couple of chairs and a sink.  She got a dryer and a few (very few) clients started to come through the door.  It was an interesting novelty at best.

Then the products came along.  Roxanne was always complaining about this product being too gummy and that one leaving too much residue and the other not doing anything at all.  So in typical Roxanne fashion, she decided she would “make products”.  Again  I was there – but not THERE there….

The product research took forever.  Always an insomniac, she turned into a raging Internet browser, and she started with the notebook – always scribbling and talking to herself.  Then the first set of items came out.  There was a loc “blancmange” a skin balm and the Belly Jelly Stick.  And folks actually started to ask for them.  They didn’t have a whole hell of a lot of traction in the beginning – but then again what does?

Then came the Aromatherapy parties, which turned into loud affairs, with a dozen women laughing and hooting it up in the house – while I was trying to work.  They had fun!!  I can never forget this one party when the entire ground floor of the house was busting at the seams.  There was a massage room going; hair steaming in another room; aromatherapy sessions in another room; and in the midst of all that, Isaac was doing Henna tattoos.  I think that was the beginning of the end of the “house as studio and factory” metaphor.

Soon there was talk about the possibility of partnering with someone in a Salon in Georgia.  Roxanne had done an Aromatherapy Party at “the other Roxann’s” home in Georgia, and the idea took hold.  Soon Roxanne was spending huge chunks of time in Georgia, and in February 2009, there was a Grand Opening of the dJea Hair Salon in Conyers.  The true stars of the show were Ginette (Gigi) Gilbert, OG Moore, Roxann and Elvis Thompson – and a cast of willing characters (Felicia, Isaac, Sidni & Carson, Di-O and Ali, Cecile, Sienna etc.).

Then I heard talk about renting a place just to take off the Christmas Rush in Raleigh.  It was to be at Celebration Station.  There was an Art Store that went under and Roxanne’s bright idea was to underbid for the space, because she figured the landlords would rather have something than nothing for the Christmas season.  That didn’t fly, and she started gushing about this “house” over on Louisburg Road that would be perfect.

We took the trip to Louisburg Road – and I just didn’t get it.  She was carrying on about how this and that would be perfect, and what could be done here and there.  I didn’t see it and I wasn’t feeling it.  But as always, I support the dream even though I wasn’t actually dreaming it.

Doors opened in December after lots of bumps and bruises.  Nick was a trooper – wiring the house for sound, replacing electrical receptacles (with the power turned on), wiring up for phones and network, mounting the TV in the “factory” – look ma, no visible wires!!!  It was done.  Alvin and Denice proved to be true friends – and worthy of inclusion in Speakeasy Saturday night. Nick was a foregone conclusion.

Like they said in Field of Dreams, “If you build it they will come.”  She built it and they started coming.  Onsies and twosies. Then a trickle, then a flow.  It isn’t a flood yet.  But I’m feeling that eerie calm that comes before a storm.  Now Johnny come lately is THERE there.

• Customers in England? Japan? Canada?
• Walk-ins and folks gossiping about the products and the shop on Facebook?
• The website is actually working and bringing in customers…
• The Massage Room is still waiting inauguration – but that too will come, and it won’t be crazy.
• Shaundrelle came and made a big impression, and now she’s moving on to bigger and better things. Happy Trails Shaundrelle!!

It seems like yesterday!!  I know it hasn’t been easy, and there will be potholes and detours.  But the bus in on the road and it’s moving!!.

Congratulations Roxanne.  This is the real deal, and I’m proud of you.