‘Fashionpreneur’ Gives Tips for Young and Aspiring Entrepreneurs

If you’ve ever wondered what it means to create your own path to success, meet Ariana Pierce, author and CEO of Superstar Nail Lacquer and Style and Shoppe Accessories. At just 13 years old, she launched her first business with the help of her parents, but at 17 years old, she set out on her own to create a fashion brand that was more mature.

“There was a choice between starting a clothing business, t-shirt line and many other things, but the idea of nail lacquer came to mind because it was something that was different. Plus, at that time, there were no fast drying, brightly-colored eco-friendly lacquers, so I knew that I had a unique product that the world would love,” said Pierce.

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The young force to be reckoned with, continues to push her nail lacquer line and style accessories beyond international borders, and she recently published a new book, How To Build Your Blogging Business: In A Week. Currently on a mission to “help other young people live their dreams now, not later,” Black Enterprise.com caught up with the smart, ambitious trailblazer to learn a few tips for aspiring young entrepreneurs.

BlackEnterprise.com: How did you make the transition to entrepreneurship?

Pierce: At the age of 15, I asked my parents if I could work in their office as the secretary to get a true feel of what it’s like to run an office. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had because I learned how to answer the phone properly, how to take orders, how to handle and resolve conflict and gather a staff to get on the same page. This is something I would recommend to anyone wanting to be in business. Learn how to be a great employee, so that way you know what to expect and how to relate to those who will work for you.

At a young age, you’ve successfully launched several businesses and published a book. How did you know when you were ready to launch your second business?

My second business, Style Shoppe Accessories, was actually passed down from my mother, Stacia Pierce. She owned this great line of costume jewelry, but as she began business coaching, she didn’t have time to focus on it. Because I was into fashion and loved marketing, she asked me to take it over and run the business. I knew I was ready to handle the second business because I had already seen significant profits and opportunities with my first brand, plus I had the time to focus on both.

What makes your business different than other businesses?

The story and message behind the brand makes my business different. It’s a story of a young girl who decided to pursue her dreams now and not later. A story of hope and inspiration for other young people who want to build their empires too. Also, our marketing to millennials gives me strong positioning within the beauty industry.

What advice can you give someone who is passionate about many things, but can’t decide which passion to choose from?

I would say start with your lowest hanging fruit. What that means is, start with the passion that’s easiest for you to pursue. What are you really good at? What do people come to you for the most? Use that talent to get your name out there and on the market. Once you have succeeded at that one thing, the door will open for you to make money and pursue your many different talents.

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Who inspires you?

My mother is my biggest inspiration. She has taught me how to balance a great work and family life. I’ve learned from her example of how to be a strong woman who is passionate about motivating and uplifting other women around the world.

How do you tackle your fears?

I tackle my fears through meditation and prayer. There was a time I had to meet with producers who wanted to feature my brand on TV. It made me very nervous and there was pressure to perform well in front of the camera. The night before the meeting, I said a prayer

and meditated on how the entire day would go. I saw myself speaking with confidence and nailing the interview. It’s amazing how the outcome was exactly how I pictured it the night before. Now this has become my go-to method when anxiety and fear try to creep in.

Since launching your businesses what has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge in launching my business was learning to be mature and speak up for my brand. The beauty industry is a very mature market, so there are times when I have to meet with manufacturers, store owners, or even buyers who are twice or three times my age. It can be very intimidating meeting with these types of people, especially when they find out how young I am, and was, in the beginning of starting my business.

How did you overcome this challenge?

I overcame this challenge by studying the in’s and out’s of my industry. Every time I met with them, I was prepared, so nothing or anyone could throw me off. That’s the best advice I can give to someone when starting their business. Know your industry and be confident, that way when a challenge arises, you know how to handle it in the moment.

What do you wish you had known then, that you know now?

Something that I wish I had caught on to before, was the concept of blogging. I am consistent with it now, but when first launching my brand, I would blog maybe every three months. It

was something that I didn’t put my heart into until about 4 or 5 years ago when I gave consistent blogging a try. Blogging about my brand, lifestyle, and business tips has caused me to make more profits than ever before because it’s a place to hold content and I’m able to show people the true benefits of using my products. This inspired me to write my latest book, How To Build Your Blogging Business: In A Week. No matter what type of business you have, blogging is a necessity because it gives you a voice and allows you to be an expert in your field. There were tools, techniques, and templates I used to create a successful blogging platform, and I wanted to share it with the world.

Many young people graduate from college and struggle to find a job. What’s the best piece of advice you can give a recent college grad, about creating their own opportunities?

Use your college years as a big networking opportunity. One thing I learned after graduating from college is that you never know whom you will need in your future. Many times, opportunities come from people you know and not always because of your talent. Though both are a necessity to succeeding in your field, knowing the right people will lead you in the right direction and can help you with jumpstarting your career or business after school.