I caught up with the founder of Camille Rose, Janell Stephens, at the Camille Rose “Culinary Kitchen” pop-up shop at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans, during Essence Fest. While speaking to Janell, she informed me that this is an annual event that she enjoys hosting in her home state, “I am a Louisiana girl, so when I come to Louisiana for Essence Fest, I really want to show where I’m from some love. Camille Rose was a hobby of mine right here in my kitchen, in Louisiana, that turned into this big multi-million dollar business, so God is great. I’m just so grateful to be here.”
The meticulously decorated ballroom, was adorned with beautifully packaged Camille Rose products on the walls. I was in hair heaven! When I asked Janell if she had any fun new products launching, with big, bright eyes and a beautiful smile, she uttered, “absolutely, we just launched our Rosemary Collection! We have our Mint Condition, our braid gel coming out, and we’re about to launch Camille Rose Beauty. This is what I do; I’m a master mixtress. I make my formulas and products.” I had no idea she made her formulas, so I asked if she could still do it now. She explains that while she does not produce all the products herself anymore, she tests the product out personally before each launch. Stephens said, “whenever I come out with something new, I mix it myself; and if it’s approved, I put it online to see if they [the customers] love it. As I gasped in disbelief that all the formulas were her original recipe, she continued, “every holiday, Black Friday, I come up with something special that’s all made with my hands. Hand crafted with love. Then, of course, I must send it to a manufacturer to help me mass produce it. But, I was in Target stores for one full year, still making it myself because I didn’t know how to get a laboratory or anything like that. I had to teach myself.”
I couldn’t help but ask her about her journey, and her instant reply was, “the journey has been great, the journey has been difficult, and oh my God, everything in between! But, I am so grateful that I am blessed with this talent.” Her advice to new entrepreneurs is, “anyone who is starting out in the beauty industry – or any industry at all – you have to stay focused on what is for you. What is your journey? Find out what that is, tune into it, and work toward it every day. It doesn’t matter what your competitors are doing, you have to grow at a pace that is comfortable for you.” That sounds like solid advice to me!
For more information about Camille Rose, visit: www.camillerose.com
