Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 4-12-19

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
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Young Entrepreneur Has Created And Launched A Natural Hair Product Called —— Canviiy
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Five years ago, Sherrel Sampson was a marketing executive in the throes of prepping a bankrupt beauty company for rebranding and re-launching.
The job required a rapid- fire approach to rebuilding a business including inventory, vendors, procurement, and retail.
The main lesson was learning how to pivot when things didn’t go according to plan, Sampson said.
“The experience was tremendous,” she said. “Everything that could go wrong, did. It allowed me to know that things could go wrong and learn how to work it out.”
But by the end of the proj- ect, Sampson wanted to re- peat “the chaos” – this time, for her own business idea.
“I realized when I was in the trenches, that I like this,” she said. “I decided to take the journey myself.”
First, the Bahamian na-
tive – who now lives in Tampa – needed a bonafide product that she could get behind. Sampson knew she wanted to launch a beauty brand, but was unsure what that really looked like.
But then a visit to a hair salon led to an itchy and irri- tated scalp – and inspiration from her husband.
“My husband was like, ‘do something with that’,” she said.
Sampson said she was skeptical initially. But after doing some research, she dis- covered there was a need for a soothing organic-based scalp care product. Using the knowledge she gained from her earlier experience, Sampson set about working with a team to create a for- mulation.
From that, she created Canviiy’s Scalp Bliss Collec- tion, which is available in full-size and mini-options. A natural cleansing bar for calming irritated skin also is available.
Shortly after, Sampson began getting feedback that
SHERREL SAMPSON
confirmed that her entry into the beauty business was the right one. Customers praised the soothing serum, saying they found it helpful for their upset skin.
She struck another win after approaching Moffitt Cancer Center and getting the serum stocked at its Mag- nolia Salon.
“That’s what really changed the trajectory of the business,” she said.
But Sampson – and
Canviiy – are just getting started.
Since August, 2018, the three-item line has been available for purchase in Tar- get. The placement was a success and now the retail giant wants more – as in a full-line collection.
“This is a challenge for my brand to step it up,” she said. “It’s really exciting to know you’re on the verge of something really exciting.”
Canviiy also is available at a number of retailers around the country, including New York, Alabama, and North Carolina. It also can be pur- chased online at amazon.com and ebay.com.
Getting to this point, however, has not been with- out its challenges, Sampson said.
The West Virginia Uni- versity grad said she thought her target customer would be young women in their late teens to early twenties.
“I was so wrong,” she said. “I thought my customer was this young, hip, college girl. That was so wrong.”
Instead, Canviiy’s cus- tomers range in age from 25 to 45 and are women who are conscious about what they put onto their skin. So spending $20 on a quality product is familiar for them, she said.
Another lesson learned was the cost of doing busi- ness. Beauty can be expen- sive – for both consumers and producers.
One mistake – a mis- spelling, an omission – could cost thousands to correct, Sampson said.
The journey from idea to fruition has been “interest- ing” and not at all as initially imagined.
But it has been good and to know that your product is improving the quality of life for others is especially satis- fying, Sampson said.
“I thought I was going into the beauty business, but I was getting into the libera- tion business,” she said. “That’s changed our focus a lot. Now, we’re thinking we need to explore the derma- tology side.”
Third Shuffleboard Tournament Of The Year Held
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The Ragan Park Commu- nity Center, 1200 E. Lake Avenue, was the location for the monthly shuffleboard competition. The tourna- ment took place on Friday, March 29th.
The winners of the third monthly tournament were, first place winners: Kather- ine Palmer and Quency Jefferson.
Linda Cotney and Pearl James took home the second place winner prizes.
Others participating in the tournament were: Irma Jackson, Ada Luke, Mary Wright, Sandra Mills, Audrey Acosta, and Ruby Epps.
Micah Miller, of Health Matters Pharmacy, served as the sponsor and provided the winners with gift cards.
The Shuffleboard Team, which consists of senior citi-
zens from throughout Hills- borough County, partici- pates in a championship tournament each month. The first and second place winners are awarded gift cards.
Steve Scott is the Direc- tor and Trainer of the Shuf- fleboard organization. He invites any seniors who wish to learn the game to contact him.
Scott teaches Shuffle- board on Mondays and Fri- days from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Ragan Park Commu- nity Center, 1200 E. Lake Avenue. He also teaches the game at Cyrus Greene Com- munity Center on Thursday, from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., and he holds training classes at Williams Park and Fair Oaks Community Centers.
For more information about training dates and times contact Ragan Park Community Center at (813) 242-5316.
Members of the Shuffleboard Team shown from left to right are: Steve Scott, Director and Trainer, Katherine Palmer, Quency Jefferson, Linda Cotney, Pearl James, and the Sponsor of the game, Mr. Micah Miller. Shown standing from left to right are: Irma Jackson, Ada Luke, Mary Wright, Sandra Mills, Au- drey Acosta, and Ruby Epps.