Meet Lenora Drawsand-Attoni | Owner Of Crown Glory Extensions And Business Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lenora Drawsand-Attoni and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lenora, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I came up with the idea to start selling hair in December 2018.When it came to my hair, I’ve spent $500-$700 monthly on buying hair extensions. I was tired of spending so much. I looked into how much these hair companies was making & thought I could do this too. I didn’t know where to start or how to but I came across someone selling an ebook on how to write a business plan. I bought it, did my research, and tried to include a close friend and my hairstylist in on the business idea. I set up our first business meeting where everyone was asked to bring a business plan for the hair business. Well my former friend didn’t show and my former hairstylist came to the table empty handed. I left her right at that table.

What should our readers know about your business?
Crown Glory Extensions is a Luxury Wig & Hair Company, originated in San Leandro Ca. We focus on those who suffer from hair loss and those who simply want to look amazing just by adding length or fullness to their natural hair. Not only does our products aid to those who want to look good, but also aids those who want to protect their natural hair. What sets us apart is that we are a family oriented business. My mother, aunt and sister are my assistants while my grandmother comes to headquarters and helps anyway she can. I’m most proud about is how fast my business has expanded and our excellent customer service. There’s been so many opportunities whether it’s working with local hairstylist and providing our wigs for their classes or adding vending machines to local army bases for the soldiers. Unexpectedly we have opened our own store in November 2020 and hope to expand further. I’ve gotten this far by never giving up, investing in my business in any & every way possible, and doing it scared. Being a business owner is not easy, many let fear get in the way of their own success. I’m such an introvert that talking in front of others gives me anxiety, but starting my business forced me to be the face of my brand & be in front of my customers & potential customers/clients. Getting to where I’m at was not easy. I started not knowing anything at all, making $200/monthly and sometimes not making anything at all. My first year of business I made $3,000, 1.5 years in business I made $100k, 2021, I’ve made over $200k in 6 months. The hardest part was having the money to invest in my business, staying consistent and understanding how to put your product in front of the right audience. It took 2 years for my revenue to reach where it’s at to receive business funding. I’ve learned to be patient with yourself, trust the process, don’t be afraid to take risk and set policies. Oh and make sure your business is in order, missing deadlines can really set your business back. I want everyone to know that you do not need to have inventory to make money and build relationships with others in your industry that you can learn from and help you become more successful. L just because your friends & family don’t support you don’t mean quit, there’s millions of strangers that will make you rich. Being an introvert held me back from opportunities, but my business made it easier to open up those doors.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to bomb BBQ place called Hot Dog Co. located in Oakland Ca or Chef Green P.A.D. , he has the BEST Oakland Quesabirria tacos. The BBQ plates can feed you up to 2 days, that’s literally how much food they give you…….ribs, chicken, hot links and their Mac & Cheese is to die for. No one has ever made Mac & Cheese that good. And you can never go wrong with tacos. Chef Green, also known as Dione Green, Quesabirria tacos has lines around the corner with people lined up to eat his bomb juicy tacos. The meat is so tender & the cheese is literally melting off the taco. The best places to visit in the Bay Area is Lake Merritt, every weekend is so live and diverse from street vendors to the music and everyone just welcoming you. If you want a quiet scenery and love art, I would attend the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit in San Francisco. If you like working out and hiking, head to Sempervirens Falls or Huntington Falls, they have beautiful waterfalls.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out Monae, Business coach, Instagram @monaebusinessco. I came across her Instagram in 2020 during the pandemic. She was offering coaching calls & I decided to book one. Well 1 hour call later, I had 4 pages of notes to help scale my business. I came to her only making $200 per month in my business, by the end of the year I became a 6 Figure Business Owner using the information she gave during the call. It’s now July 2021 and I’m on the verge of making my first 6 Figure month. She’s amazing & it helped that she had experience in my industry. I also want to give recognition to Eric Thomas, motivational speaker. I listen to him everyday & not only does he motivate me to be the best version of me, he also reminds me daily that “when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful”.

Website: www.crowngloryextensions.com

Instagram: Crowngloryextensionsllc

Twitter: Extensioncrown

Facebook: Crowngloryextensions

Yelp: Crowngloryextensions

Image Credits
Stylist & Photographer: Ariel Mei Instagram @arielmeicreations