Meet Lakeisha DePeyster | CEO

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

Hi Lakeisha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always wanted to have my own business since I was a kid. As I got older the feelings of having my own got stronger especially seeing people around me going for it. I decided in 2017, I was going to go for it and start my own business but I didn’t know what business I wanted to start. All I knew is that I wanted to start something that could be passed down from my child to her child when she has one. I thought about what business would be sustainable through any downturn and then I thought about the beauty industry and how much I loved beauty and fashion. I did my research for years and then started building from there. I also started my fragrance line for men and women this year. “Regal” for Men and “Unchained” for Women which I am praying that it takes off along with my business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Although I own a Boutique & Beauty Supply store, I still have my day job as an Asset Manager/Director of Property Management. I have been doing commercial real estate for 21 years. I think what sets me apart from the rest is that I have first-hand knowledge of how the commercial industry works, especially landlords in addition to knowing so many business owners. When you see a business fail and succeed and you get to have inside knowledge of how it works it helps you to avoid some of the pitfalls. We also pride ourselves on giving the best customer service as well as customizing orders for our customers, we are their personal shopper.  Getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy, I had to work harder, longer hours, and go above and beyond just to get to this stage in my career. I have always been passionate and ambitious in my career and it helped me stay focused. I had so many challenges growing up as a kid, I knew if that didn’t break me no one else and nothing could. I have always gone after what I wanted but I made sure to do it with integrity and honesty. Throughout my career and my business, I have learned to listen and not always speak, research as well as read everything before making a decision and nothing happens overnight. It takes patience, hard work, strategy and most importantly faith.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta has a lot of great interesting spots but I work 7 days a week so I don’t get out much. If a friend happens to come into town Pre-COVID, we would have gone to a football game. I usually get great seats or suite access as perks from my professional career. I love massages so when my girls come into town we will go to Treat your Feet for a Massage, Copelands for Brunch or Dinner, and Sugar Factory for Drinks. I have been working non-stop for over a year and I haven’t had time to do anything I used to do. I hope I will get to hang out with my friends and family once we get a steady stream of income so I can really show them all that Atlanta has to offer.

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?
There are so many people to thank because they believed in me, especially my family in Friends.  My grandmother and mother have been supporters in this journey. The encouragement and emotional support were great. My daughter (Briana) has been my number 1 supporter. She helped me with every part of putting this business together from building the website to us putting the inventory in. Press Lane was my beauty supply mentor during this journey he taught me everything I needed to know in order to get accounts and beauty supply business. I have my cousins and my friends help me set up the store. They were definitely a huge help (Adriane Mason, Lannette DePeyster, Lachelle Kornegay, and Toya Gordan). I have such great friends and family who have definitely given me the drive to keep going.  I have alot of friends who were definitely great supporters, though I can’t name them all. They have been very instrumental and amazing supporters of my dreams.

Website: www.queensboutiqueandbeautysupply.com

Instagram: instagram.com/queensboutiqueandbeautysupply

Linkedin: Lakeisha DePeyster

Twitter: QueensBBS19

Facebook: facebook.com/QueensBBS

Yelp: Queensboutiqueandbeautysupply

Other: We are also verified on google and I am on TikTok as well under the business name.