Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 5-6-16 Online Edition

Features
‘Lashes By Charlotte’ Offers Unique Service
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
In the competitive world of hair salons, one woman dared venture out on her own with a spe- cialty service.
Charlotte Kitchen is the owner of “Lashes By Charlotte,” a business that deals exclu- sively with lashes.
Ms. Kitchen started doing lashes almost a decade ago out of necessity.
“I was working for a call center, and I had one lady who I trusted to do my lashes. As it turned out, she wasn’t very reliable, so I actually did my own lashes one day.
“Some of my co-workers praised me for how good my lashes looked, and wanted me to do theirs. The call center I was working at suddenly shut down, and thank God I had something to fall back on.”
Ms. Kitchen said she started out providing mobile service, going anywhere at any time.
“I did that for a couple of years, then set up a shop at the home of one of my relatives.
“My clientele grew so fast, I moved to the Tampa Fashion Flea Market, and the six years I spent there, my clientele grew even bigger. I no- ticed few people came there to shop in the flea market, but they came for me to do their lashes.”
Ms. Kitchen inspired two friends to get a booth and start up a business, and they did.
“As far as my business was concerned, I had customers lined up out the door. Because I did such good service, they didn’t mind waiting.
“My daughters, Mikearria and Lashawn, are just as talented, and they also design clothes, make bracelets, and provide other services.”
Ms. Kitchen said she constantly gets praise for how she’s managed to balance running a business, and raising her daughters.
“I taught them early in life to be their own boss, and it has paid off.
“I’ve been blessed to open my own business at 1268 East Hillsborough Avenue, and I owe a lot to a cosmetology teacher at Howard W. Blake High School.”
Ms. Kitchen said one event she will always cherish is when she was asked to participate in the “Great American Teach-In.”
“I was able to talk to a group of kids about
LASHES BY CHARLOTTE
Charlotte Kitchen welcomes customers into her salon on East Hillsborough Avenue.
what I do, and inspire them to work hard and de- velop their natural talent. I really enjoyed that.
“I must admit that I never expected this kind of success, but this is what I want to do, and I truly love it.”
Ms. Kitchen has started a raffle for Mother’s Day, and she always finds a way to give back to the community.
“Any of my customers who read this story can bring it in, and get a $10 discount on their lashes.”
How Did Your Mother Influence Your Life?
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Remember when your mother told you to be in the house at a particular hour, and you elected to ignore her? She made her point clear through the use of discipline that’s missing from today’s house- holds. I said discipline, not abuse.
Looking back, what did your mother do that influenced your life? It doesn’t matter if your fa- ther was or wasn’t in the home. This is directed totally at the mothers.
Pastor Cornelius Hamil- ton: “When my mother found the strength to kicked her drug addiction 20 years ago, that had quite an impact on me. It brought me closer to God, and armed me with the knowledge that chance can come.”
Radio Show Host, Pete Ed- wards: “My mother was great
at reminding me that if I strayed during the worst storm, to always remain calm. Every- thing eventually passes over. Now that I’m an adult, I can see what she meant and how truth- ful and impactful her statement was.”
Community Leader, Cyn- thia Few: “My grandmother raised me and my brother. She was stern and a no nonsense kind of woman. When she said something you listened. We went to church service to- gether, and she gave us the foundation for the rest of our lives. She taught us great val- ues, especially when it came to how we treat each other.”
Bill Sims: “My mother raised us all the right way, and was always in my corner. She did all the special things and she lead by example. I’m so thankful she’s still around after 84 years of life.”
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016