Today we’d like to introduce you to Kesha Rainey.
Hi Kesha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
When I launched my business in 2018 as Simply Unapologetik LLC, I focused on empowering women to stand unapologetically in their truth through bold and unique fashion accessories. I had just transitioned from a season where I thought conforming to someone else’s expectations and withholding my truth was the best way to gain acceptance. And as I settled into my role as an entrepreneur, I recognized that as I stood in my truth unapologetically, I was evolving into a different version of myself, and how I showed up for my target customer base also shifted. As I became more intentional about my truth, I noticed how my business supported my audience and their unique stories. From a target customer standpoint, I learned that most of my customers were sorority members. As my first year of entrepreneurship ended, I made two conscious decisions around the following areas: target customer and brand identity.
In response, I realigned my initial customer base to be inclusive solely of sorority members within the divine nine community. This shift allowed me to curate unique collections and have more targeted content for marketing. About brand identity, I pivoted from an emphasis on standing boldly within your truth through accessories to the communities in our lives that empower us to stand in our truth. In 2019, I introduced Simply Unapologetik, LLC DBA Simply Charmed Greek, an online retailer that specializes in greek paraphernalia and other novelty items for members of National Pan – Hellenic (Divine9) sororities that celebrate the sisterhood shared between sorority sisters. When you become Greek, it is symbolic of a commitment to the values established by your respective founders. It is also the lifelong journey of sisterhood where you cultivate relationships that uplift, push, and support you as you stand in your truth.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Being an entrepreneur is not for the weak at heart, and it requires a refined version of yourself each season to gain access to your next. And for me, trusting the process was and still is the hardest part of entrepreneurship. In our world, we often only see the snapshot of historical milestones of those we admire and not the entire journey they endured to get there. It’s the countless no’s before the one yes; it’s the disappointments, the missing targets, and the sleepless nights. And often, it becomes easy to start comparing my chapter four to someone else’s chapter thirty. And it is a constant battle to remind me that every chapter has a purpose and there is something to be learned that will unlock the next chapter, if only I trust the timing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
As an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, I value service within my community, but most importantly, sisterhood. I recognize that in every season of my life, besides my loved ones, my sisters were cheering me on and holding my hand when I was too afraid to take the first step. To know me is to know I am my sister’s keeper. What sets Simply Charmed Greek apart from others in our industry is how we have structured our business around the concept of sisterhood and our commitment to celebrating that bond between sorority sisters. We redefine the space of greek vendors with our collection of diverse mementos not limited to your traditional greek paraphernalia but also incorporates the active role sisterhood plays amongst sorority sisters. Becoming Greek symbolizes a lifelong commitment to that organization and the journey of sisterhood, where you cultivate relationships that uplift, push, and support you through every season of life. And supporting that journey amongst sorority sisters is what I am most proud of as a business owner. We all need community, and supporting women uplifting one another, contrary to mainstream media, is my way to give my business everything I have.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
It takes work to select one key lesson! Here are my top 3:
- Prioritize Your Health:Your business can not flourish when you are pouring from an empty cup. Take time to invest in your mental, spiritual, and physical health so that you can give your business the best version of you and the team supporting you. If You need to take a day for yourself, do that.
- Trust The Process:In today’s digital environment, we often only see the snapshot of milestones of those we admire and not the entire journey that they endured to get there. And often, as we compare their chapter 39 to our chapter 4, we sometimes overlook they had to endure the process of navigating from one chapter to the next. Let this remind you that you are exactly where you need to be. And at this moment, learn all you can to be prepared for the next chapter of entrepreneurship. When you trust the process, there is always a lesson to be learned.
- Invest in Learning:It’s okay if you need to learn more about business, as many resources support your learning journey. As an entrepreneur, take the time to identify the area you need to strengthen and determine if this is an investment you need to make short or for the future growth-long term. When you take that time to assess the value, you can ensure alignment with your overall business strategy and ensure you aren’t overspending on resources and optimizing your time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.simplycharmedgreek.com/
- Instagram: @simplycharmedgreek
- Other: https://linktr.ee/simplycharmedgreek
Image Credits
Heacox Creative Co.
