Exclusive Interview with Deana Morgan, Founder and CEO of Chambers Of Beauty LLC

Interviewer:

Hello, and welcome Deana! Let's jump right in. Can you give us a short biography about your work ethics and the nature of your business.

Deana:

Sure, my name is DeanaMarie. I currently hold a license in cosmetology and I have applied it to my career for the past 3 decades and some change. LOL. I have dedicated my life to this industry while never obtaining any other job outside the scope of it. For the past 24 consecutive years in proprietorship, I have been managing and styling behind the chair of my salon, NeshaNays Preeminent Styles. I named my business by bonding my two daughters nicknames together Nesha and Naya. I'm a former educator of Empire Beauty School where I taught for 8 years. While teaching there, I was inspired to jumpstart another business, Chambers of Beauty. Chambers of Beauty is a shared co-working space for anything BEAUTY.

Interviewer:

Okay....sounds like you are definitely not new to this, but true to this! Love the business name collaboration. Now, let's talk about what specifically inspired you to jumpstart Chambers of Beauty.

Deana:

Well, I'll try to make a long story short... I was inspired by default. I began my career of teaching in 2015. It all started because many new hires of NeshaNays lacked basic practical and theoretic skills. I found myself "re"teaching and training with a great sense of ease and I noticed how the new hires were grasping everything with ease as well. So, I had a thought... Go get your license to teach Deana and make a difference in the quality of education for the up and coming cosmetologists. I applied around 2007, but didn't have the financial means to enroll so that I can pay it foward. Needless to say, the idea fell by the wayside. Fast forward to 2015, I had revisited the idea in a discussion with two employees. We all made a pact to go back to school to obtain our teachers license, teach for a few years to hone our cratf, and gain exposure. I figured that way we could open our school and we would already be branded from the start. For some, the goal had changed, for me it remained the same. I completed the program and started training immediately. I was offered a job during that process. I agreed to be a substitute opposed to the educator position they offered. I didn't want the full commitment mentally, but physically I had been there everyday substituting for about a year before I had finally accepting the offer that was often rehanded to me. I fell in love with teaching and every single aspect of it. That story is a book of its own. But as time went by, I found there was another need for the students. They were graduating with honors and becoming licensed cosmetologist with madd crazy skillz but not taking full advantage of their dreams and aspirations. Many did not continue because of financial reasons and in turn were forced to leave what they loved doing fully or partially. Another setback was fear of failure for many reasons, but mostly from the lack of guidance from A to Z . The fear crippled them. Some didn't like the unfair commission scale which caused them to set up shop out of their homes illegally. So now, we arrive at the birth of Chambers of Beauty and what inspired me.

Interviewer:

Wow, what a journey! Your tenacity has paved this road for you. Last question, I would love to know more about Chambers of Beauty and it's operations. Can you please enlighten us.

Deana:

First, I have to give thanks and praise to Allah the almighty for aiding me in every step of the way! And by his permission, I am able aid others. He has seamlessly placed perfect people from all walks of life along the way to see this through. It wasn't all easy in the beginning. In fact, there were a few times I was ready to throw in the towel! During those moments, someone who was once near and dear to me always reassured me by simply saying "we just gotta do what we gotta do." I had totally depleted my savings and I was literally spending every penny I made back into the business with no use of loans or lines of credit from any finicial institution. Yeah....crazy thinking back. A full build out on a large capacity scale was needed to fulfill my endeavors. And I'm extra, so things that went into the business had to be extra as well! And there is a price to pay for extra. LOL. I researched my competitors in the nature of my business and took every possible aspect I could think of to make my idea bigger and better. I started getting inquiries and added a few businesses to the Chambers of Beauty Family. Each business is helped from A to Z with startups. I handle the necessary things needed for a journey of legal entrepreneurship debt free. This allows the entrepreneurs to start generating an income from day 1. I provide ongoing education if needed along the way with a list of other things. I fully renovate their space from our ideas collaborated. We have a grown and sexy Chamber, an 80's themed Chamber, purple is my favorite color Chamber, and a BLING Chamber where I operate my business at. I told you I was extra. S.M.H. But on a serious note, it's been very rewarding and humbling at the same time knowing that in some way I am changing lives and making a huge impact on others. I thank you for this opportunity to share a little piece of my world.

Interviewer:

Well DeanaMarie, I thank you and it has honestly been my pleasure. I hope to see and hear soon what else the future holds for you. Peace!

Spoiler:::C.O.B. Chambers of Beauty has been nominated Best of PGH. Placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place! Details will be given soon. I vote first place, congrats!

Deana:

Thanks again! I'll be sharing pictures of C.O.B soon to my ig, so follow me!

https://instagram.com/chambersofbeautyllc?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==