Meet Tichina Penn | CEO of Island Obsessions

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

Hi Tichina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was inspired by my journey after fulfilling my goal of becoming pageant queen. While many individuals inspired my thoughts, I knew I wanted to provide quality products for my pageant sisters and young women alike. I also wanted to create a platform for makeup enthusiasts to display their creativity. I wanted to use cosmetics as a stage to promote different cultural backgrounds, self confidence , beauty and skin health in everyone that came in contact with my cosmetic line. I started off with just lipsticks and eventually expanded to other beauty products. One of my company’s goal is to expand our line and ultimately offer affordable quality products to our consumers while maintaining our cultural flare.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am proud of the platform I am building and the progress that I have made. I started off introducing my products to family and close friends, then eventually ventured out to a wider audience. I am excited to see how far my brand can grow and how many individuals it can inspire. Starting your own business can be intimidating. I started my business with a small savings account. I cut back on unnecessary spending until I was able to obtain the funds needed to maintain product quality and inventory. It was difficult! I was working, paying for school and had responsibilities that could have distract me from my goal. However, with hard work, determination and persistence, my sacrifices paid off. Some lessons I’ve learned along the way were, be consistent, don’t be afraid to fail, be open and receptive to feedback, plan ahead of time, build your organization’s calendar and always trust the process.

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?
We are definitely hitting up all of the hotspots! For food I’ll take them to Another Broken Egg cafe, Coopers Hawk Restaurant and Winery, Mai Thai bar. For entertainment and fun, I would take them to the world of Coco cola, the science museum, improv comedy show, a botanical garden, escape room (a Game Center like the movie) and of course to the theme parks. My friends and I still enjoy theme parks. We love trying new things and being adventurous.

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 would like to thank God firstly for giving me the strength, wisdom and courage to start my own business. My family for supporting me with my business venture and providing critique when needed. Last but certainly not least, my friends and customers who have supported my vision and provided honest feedback.

Website: www.shopislandobsessions.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/islandobsessions?utm_medium=copy_link

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/islandobsessions1

Image Credits
Image with the red lipsticks credit goes to Kevon Richardson Photography