Meet Eboni Simpson | Nuclear Missile Operator & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eboni Simpson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eboni, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The initial thought process behind starting my business was that I had a very particular problem that no one seemed to have solved, so why not solve it myself? I then thought I couldn’t be the only individual who has this issue. I began to ask my close friends if they shared the same experiences as I did and also googled around. Once I came to the conclusion that I was not alone, the entrepreneur in me grew stronger and I got excited. That’s when the oil resistant bonnet, the foundation of my business, was born. Since then I’ve been looking for ways to expand my business and fill the void in certain areas as it pertains to hair care and organizations such as the Military.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Unlike every other bonnet you may have come across, our bonnets at Riah Safari are impervious to oil, so your pillows, couches, and blankets are never damaged by hair care products. Also, the satin fabric helps to retain moisture in the hair and protect it from friction damage caused by sleeping or lounging at home. I’m most excited about the direction I see Riah Safari going in the next few years. I see us having worldwide recognition and different partnerships that will build and sustain long term business relationships. I got to where I am with my business today with dedication and consistency. It hasn’t been easy because I can be a bit of a procrastinator and things always seem to come up, but making checklists and having an accountability partner keeps me honest on this journey. The biggest lessons I’ve learned from owning Riah Safari so far are: 1. No one is going to make things happen for my business except for me. 2. I have to put myself and my business out there; a strong social media marketing strategy is paramount for exposure and expansion. I want the world to know that Riah Safari is a brand that many people will be able to relate to. It simply means “Hair Journey”. Every one of us has tried a new hair style; something different, something new, something that will better represent us as individuals in today’s society. Riah Safari is a brand that embraces all stages of hair because at the end of the day, it’s a journey, and with all journeys there is something to love, learn, and grow from.

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?
If my best friend were to come visit me in Minot, North Dakota, hopefully it would be during the summer because it’s too cold to do much of anything in the winter. We’d have to grab brunch at Elevation, an upscale restaurant with great food and bottomless mimosas. We would go see one of the many sunflower patches, where the flowers are as large as your head, and have a mini photo shoot. Our downtown area has many small shops, markets and eateries to visit, so we would go there a few times to support the small businesses. To the north and south, there are camping sites equidistant from our city, so weather permitting, we would go out to a campsite and enjoy a night of camping under the stars as we roast weenies and s’mores. On Sturday morning, we would go to the local farmers market to shop around for unique produce and enjoy the hometown atmosphere. That night we would go to the best club in the city called Sports on Tap, a club and rooftop bar that has good music and is the venue of choice for the younger crowd. On Sunday, we would have a big pot-luck with my Minot friends and enjoy time of fellowship before the work week begins.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to all the customers who have shown support and given me the feedback and encouragement to keep getting better. Most importantly, I’d like to shoutout my family and friends who have been there every step of the way – seeing the ups, downs, and everything in between.

Website: https://www.riahsafari.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riah_safari/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riahsafari/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvPwfTwtAngivcHCD1r2jrg?view_as=subscriber