My name is Norma Hymes and I’m a Hair Extension Owner from East Palo Alto, CA. I have been in the hair business for over 20 years and it was a dream of my late daughter Aliscia and myself to open a local Hair Extension & Wig Business. Well, unfortunately my daughter Aliscia was killed in a car accident in 2008 in South Carolina and I thought my world had come to a complete stop! But I thought about what would she want me to do? Allow depression to take over or turn the depression into success and keep her legacy alive thru opening a Hair Extension and Wig shop in her name.
In 2014, when my mother was very ill, I began to draft a business plan for Alicia’s Hair House as an outlet away from the hospital and care giving duties. I currently work full time for Palo Alto Unified School District as a Outreach Specialist for Secondary Education and I work full time for Facebook Security/Allied Barton. I currently sell my hair through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and on my website.
It was the business courses I took at The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center in East Palo Alto that helped make my dream a reality. The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center introduced me to so many great business owners that have shared their tools for success. While there, I also entered a pitch competition – and to my surprise I won and was giving wonderful feedback from the judges!
I’m a confident woman that’s determine to be successful in the Hair Extension business. Going into any business is a risk but you must believe in your product and be able to think outside the box. Know your buyer’s market, competition, price market and of extension knowledge of your product. I’m not a stranger to hard work and any successful business owner will tell there’s no set hours to a successful business!