Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Tyler.
Hi Christina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Christina, married to my high school sweetheart, mother of four boys and bonus mom to three. I received my Business Administration degree from Florida A&M University and that is the place that peaked my interest in entrepreneurship and creating generational wealth. But, life happens. Adulting stops for no man. I started my career at Enterprise Rent A- Car working up to assistant branch manager and leaving that amazing company to start a family. I returned 4 years later as an internal claims adjuster for this organization.
Then the world changed forever. I was furloughed from my corporate job during this global pandemic while five months pregnant with my 4th child. Forced into homeschooling, living in isolation with a newborn baby and admittedly forming an Amazon addiction sums up my rut. This shook my foundation and forced me to reflect on what my next move was. My entrepreneurship journey started from one of the scariest times in my life. CrownLUV, my natural hair brand, was birthed out of the growing love I found for my natural hair during this time at home. It wasn’t always that way but I have grown to love my curls. I shifted the focus to the health, versatility and the deep-rooted history in natural hair. So, now, I celebrate the kinks and curls.
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?
Absolutely not. Entrepreneurship is a bumpy road with curves and u-turns. Just finding the perfect manufacturer to understand my vision and execute the quality product I needed was a fairly long process. Paying for samples that didn’t work and struggling to create quality content that converts are just some of the bumps I have experienced along the way. Working for yourself is a learning curve and at the beginning, you wear all the hats. So, just not knowing can be tough. Balancing a small business with all my other responsibilities and mom duties is also a continuous struggle. But, my family is very supportive and are the reason I could take this leap.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
CrownLUV provides natural hair products focused on simplifying the natural hair journey for women of color. Our goal is to promote hair health while celebrating melanin beauty. Our top seller is our Xtra Long Satin Bonnet. It is 30 inches of high-quality satin. The perfect way to preserve your protective styles, locs, ponytails, really anything. The soft elastic band secures those edges while having adjustable ties for comfort. We also sell marble satin pillowcases and our 13-N-1 Tame It detangling kit.
What sets us apart is that we don’t just sell products. We want to create an information hub and community to provide support and knowledge on all things hair. This network of women can relate to each other and form lifelong relationships. Yes, CrownLUV is 100% woman-owned, minority-owned, and mom-owned. We believe that our hair and what we think about our hair is directly tied to self-love. We want to provide products that are functional, stylish yet highlights the best qualities of our CrownLUV queens.
CrownLUV is currently developing a mastermind group for women entrepreneurs to be accountability partners and share resources. It will be a place of collaboration and using each other’s experiences to grow our own empires. Because we are an e-commerce-based business, we plan on building community partnerships and participating in pop-up shops in the Tampa Bay Area throughout 2022 and beyond.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When it comes to networking — Just Start! You have to talk about your business for people to know about your business. I use Facebook events, groups, social media and other resources to find local activities. It has been an adjustment for me especially since my sole interaction was mostly with the seven or under crowd. But by just going, I am getting more and more comfortable talking to people.
My advice: Believe in the service or product you provide. Be confident in your own expertise and abilities. People are attracted to that authenticity.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@mycrownluv.com
- Website: www.mycrownluv.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycrownluv/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mycrownluv/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mycrownluv; https://www.pinterest.com/MyCrownLUV/_shop/
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Tee Lynn Photography —> Social Media Platforms @TeeLynnPhotography
