by
Black Girl With Long Hair
I said I was coming back to blogging and then I disappeared again. Well this time I’m back for good (seriously) plus I was gone for a good reason.
Selling whipped shea, cocoa and mango butter out of my Brooklyn apartment was no longer sustainable. My boxes took up the bulk of the building’s shared basement and hauling 50 lb cases of raw butter up two flights of stairs was not ’empowering’ anymore.
My lease was up and I had the choice of going through the whole drama of trying to find a bigger apartment and a landlord who would put up with my sprawling operation, or just get a storefront. I chose the latter.
I found a cute little spot in Bed Stuy, right on Marcus Garvey Blvd at the intersection of Kosciuszko St. And so began my nightmare.
First there was the horror of moving all the boxes out of my apartment basement to the shop space. I had to move them *before* my contractor started work on the space. Which meant he had to maneuver around a humongous pile of boxes that we pushed against various walls according to where he needed to work next.
And by the way every horrible thing they say about working with contractors is true. Over budget, past deadline, sending ME to Home Depot to find supplies. Like what the hell do I know about plywood and sheetrock?? Didn’t stop my contractor from having me go find stuff for him. And I don’t mean ‘pick up’ stuff. I mean FIND stuff. I was in the aisle searching ‘proper subflooring for hardwood’ on my phone, hands shaking, praying I did not buy the wrong stuff.
I want you all to know that I literally, *literally* went to Home Depot every day in the month in August. Sometimes two or three times a day. And it was horrible. The leering men, the horrible customer service, the disorganized store layout.
My plan was to open the shop on August 15. That didn’t happen. As mid-August came and went I’d go home at night and curl myself into a ball. Oh wait, no because I have three kids under five I had to put to sleep first *before* I could curl into a ball and weep silently at what felt like a huge mistake.
Finally, *finally* in early September the shop was done enough that I could begin accepting customers.
I designed our sign, learned our ‘point of sale’ system (which is the fancy word for cash register. Apparently things have changed since I was a child.) But finally, save some minor details, the shop was completely ready for business.
This was a gamble, but it felt like a move I had to make. I jumped off a cliff and I still don’t know what the outcome will be. But I’m proud of what I created.
It’s been a couple weeks since we began taking customers and things have been good. Settled enough that I can manage my blog team again and continue accepting online orders at bglh-marketplace.com.
The shop’s grand opening is on October 1. If you are in the area please come on down! I’m also hosting a BGLH meetup in the space on Saturday, October 7 at 11 a.m. It will be a small gathering. Just 40 people and some brunch-y refreshments. If you live in the area and want to meet me and see the space, please enter your email below.
So, in summary, no I didn’t abandon BGLH. Yes, I’m back blogging for good. And yes, now I have a shop.
~Leila
BGLH Meetup in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn at BGLH Marketplace
358 Kosciuszko St, Brooklyn 11221
(at the intersection of Kosciuszko St and Marcus Garvey Blvd, beside Fermento Cafe)
Saturday, October 7 at 11 a.m.
Refreshments provided.
87 Responses
I pass by your store front every Saturday morning. I CANNOT WAIT for it to be opened! 🙂
Super excited! Congrats!!!
Oh my goodness!!!! Well done!! Well done girl, I’m so happy for you ? I’m in he UK, but when I next come to NY, I will for sure make a stop to support you and your shop. It’s looks beautiful in there.
I’m sorry you had a rough time with the contractors – I’ve had similar experiences with them and they are hard work. But now is your time to enjoy your hard work! Well done again x
So I can come in to by products!!!!
Congrats!
I posted on another thread asking for the storefront location, which I now have. My daughter is coming on our behalf.
We have to support our own and continue to encourage one another’s success! All the best in your continued journey as an entrepreneur!
Wow ! First off, congratulations!! You are such an inspiration. You have given my that little push I need to go ahead and turn my very small hobby of making butters into a business. I’ve literally just been making for family and friends, but I’m ready to do more. I have no idea of where to start, but I’m jumping in. And one day, I will be where you are !! Congrats again and good luck !!
Congratulations! That is a truly amazing accomplishment. Best of luck.
Congratulations! I’m so proud of you. Best wishes to you & your family.
Thank you for all the love everyone. It really means a lot. Wow. Thank you.
Congrats on your new brick and mortar!!! You’re very inspiring . I will definitely stop buy and support.
Dope! Lovely store! I’m excited for you!
Congrats, all of that ripping & running to Home Depot payed off. It looks great! Many blessings to you!!
Congrats
Congratulations and much success. I am so proud that you push through and followed your dreams. I love your products.
Congrats! Happy for you
Congrats??????
Congratulations! MUCH SUCCESS TO YOU AND YOURS!
That’s what’s up! I am so happy for you girl. No matter what happens, you have accomplished a huge feat! Blessings and peace to you and yours lady. P. S… I love your butters.
COGRATULATIONS!!!!! Your success is so inspiring. I look forward to stopping by and even making a purchase. Hope I can contain myself!!! lol
I’m soooo excited for you!! You’re truly an inspiration for black entrepreneurship. I pray all the best for you now and forever in your future Sis!
Congrats and Great Job!! 🙂
I literally passed the store last week and did a double take. I couldn’t stop in but was thrilled to see it there! Looking forward to buying my products there!
Congrats! May your business be sucessful for many years to come! I’m proud of my sister!
Excellent work. I love the stylish creativity look of the shop too! Well done.
Congrats, Leila! This is amazing!
congratulations!!
Congrats, Leila! Wishing you much success with the shop and BGLH! ??
Congratulations on your opening and perseverance… With 3 little ones in tow! All the best to you. New inspiration to complete a couple projects of my own.
Congrats Leila!! That’s awesome and I will definitely be coming by the store ? it’s looks great and all the sweat and tears paid off!! ?
Congratulations!!!!!!!!
Hey Leila, I Really love what you’ve been up to! Amazing work and so worth it! I remember i came over few times last week and was wondering what happened 🙂 Glad to see things are moving well!! I wish you all the absolute best and I am excited to see how far you will reach!!
Congratulations! I hope to check it out if I am ever in New York 🙂
This is AWESOME!! Congratulations on your shop!
Congratulations! I had been wondering/worried what was going on with the blog, so it’s wonderful to see that the absence was because you were making other major black entrepreneurship moves. Wishing you so much success with the shop!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a journey, so proud of you girl! That leap of faith paid off. Many blessings!!!
Congratulations!!!! Bold move!!!!
Congratulations Leila! What an incredible move! My partner and I just moved from Bedstuy last year, and I’m sad I’m missing this but I will tell all my friends that will hopefully stop by for the grand opening!
I am SO happy for you! Yes, Black Business! This is a fantastic reason to be absent from blogging!!!! =D
Hi Leila
I’ve been buying your butters for myself and my daughter and granddaughter for a while. I love them. I’m glad your back up. Just wanted to say a few words of encouragement. First and foremost your butters are awesome. They are always fresh smooth and consistent. Thank You. With that said your business is going to really grow and before you know it you will be looking for a bigger space. The fact that you had the courage to jump and you did it girlfriend. Look around you and. E proud. More of us should have the courage. Just wanted to give you a you go girl talk. Be Blessed
Kathy
Congratulations! We have to make sure this works out well for you!
Thanks for giving me a another reason to take the train into NYC. I may rsvp for your meetup, got to check my work schedule~
Congratulations on the new venture, Leila! Best wishes, love & sunshine from South Africa – EddieB
Hi Leila! Congratulations on the new place!!! I will see you on the 7th. I would like to volunteer my services for the Meetup.
This is amazing! Congrats!
Love this post! The shop looks amazing, it’s great you took the initiative and now you have your own space you can call your own. Congrats!
Congratulations! It looks beautiful. If I’m ever in the area I will check it out!
Congratulations to you for opening your 1st store (really cool) & wish you continued success. Thanks for sharing the ‘rough patches’ too! Determination pays off. Would love to stop in when I’m in NY.
Congratulations!
It looks incredible! I, too, am in the process of opening a business and can commiserate with all the foreign languages of contracting. I am literally sitting in the space now, typing this comment on my laptop, in a cramped room full of light fixtures and whatnots. Your photos give me encouragement. Congratulations!
I’m so proud of a woman of color to do her thing. As long as you continue to do what’s in your heart, you will always be successful. You may go over a hill every now and then. But you will succeed. May you continue to prosper and take care of you and your family. You also did a wonderful job on your shop. Good luck and it’s from the heart.
WOW! Congrats! What awesome news – much success to you on your new venture!
Congrats Leila!! You are sooo inspiring. I live in Canada and won’t be able to make it to the launch but gosh!!! What you achieved is simply stunning! Keep on working hard and being passionate about what you do! I will pray constantly for your success!
This is AMAZING Leila! Congrats to you! This gives me the strength and courage to venture out myself and open up my own store abroad. Thank you for your story and I swish you all the success to come! Peace and many blessings to you! You ROCK!!!!
Graduation on the new spot!!
Congratulations! It ia worth every minute!! I want to bring my natural girls and their friends when we visit NYC!!
Amazing , I’m so happy for you and your new shop ,
I wish you all the best and I also wish I could come and meet up to see your (really cute) shop
Loves from Brussels !
Congratulations! That is an amazing feat and, of course, fear played a role but you pushed through it. Wishing you much success!
Wow congratulations!! Good luck!!
Congratulations! I live in Manhattan but will try to stop by the next time I am in the BK.
Congratulations!! The store looks amazing.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
The shop looks amazing. You must be so pleased.
Congratulations! The store looks wonderful. It’s great to see #blackgirlmagic come to fruition. I wish you the best and much success!
This makes me soooo happy! Congrats and when eye’m back in Brooklyn eye’ll stop by.
Leila, congratulations to you and your team. I hope you will find many “villagers” to support your thriving online & brick and mortar business and continue your success with BGLH.
Beautiful shop, Leila. Congratulations on seeing your vision through! Many years of success to you!
Wow I am SO proud of you!! The store looks fabulous. Can people buy your butters online? I’d like to put out a little announcement on our blog, Beyond Black & White. Please email me ch********@**************te.com
Congratulations on your new store. How exciting!!! I loved hearing about your journey, and though I don’t know you personally, I am very proud and happy for you. I live in Los Angeles, so I won’t be able to attend, but good luck!!! Sending hugs and good vibes your way.
congratulations!
Congrats!
I am so proud of you! This is very exciting. Thank you for the inspiration! Lots of luck!
It did it again ?????
I don’t know why question marks showed up! Was supposed to be exclamations LOL ?
I’m so proud of you I could cry. I’ve been following BGLH since what seems like the beginning, girl–like wayyyyy back and I love how you are evolving. Best of luck to you! I’m nowhere in the area, but congrats ??????
WOW!!! You are quite literally one short block from my house. I couldn’t be excited for you (shoot, and me!) I can’t WAIT to come visit! Congrats and good luck!
Congratulations! This is inspiring! Wishing you so much success!
This right here!! I just started a business and have been going through equal amounts of happiness and joy, and trepidation and fear. Thinking my God, I. Did. It. Then thinking, my God what did I do?!?. I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of years now, although I never comment. But I had to shout you out dear sister, you are an inspiration! Your store is gorgeous, and I wish you every bit of health, prosperity, and blessings. More of us should take the plunge, no one becomes a success by sitting still. God bless you and your endeavour.
Proud of you for jumping off that cliff!!!
Hey girl very proud of you. Good going!!
SO proud of you and your accomplishments!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! This is so awesome! I’ve relaunched my small business of selling whipped butters & this such an inspiration! 😀 So happy for you & I don’t even know you! #goals
Wow! So proud of you! Congratulations on your success business woman!
Congratulations!
I am so happy for you! I have been reading your blog for so long..Just the other day I was wandering why I haven’t seen you in my inbox. I live in Florida but I come to NYC often I will be stopping by.
Oh wow, Leila! Congrats! I will be sure to visit the store the next time that I am in NY.
So proud of what you have accomplished! Blessings to you for accomplishing fear. I pray you have much success in the years to come! Keep loving our sistas hair!!
Good for you sista! All will be well
Congrats! This is so awesome. I love the whipped shea butters.
WOW.
I’m obviously behind because I didn’t know you’d moved out of Chicago, let alone to Brooklyn and had this in the works. Congratulations! Your hard work is going to pay off. I wish you continued success. This is just the beginning.