Small Business Success Awards 2005

Kean University SBDC
Bayyinah Marbury
B Chic Hair Salon
Union

Bayyinah Marbury came to Kean SBDC Regional Director Mira Kostak in 2001 with the dream of opening an ethnic hair care salon in a building where she could also live. After working in hair salons for more than a decade, Bayyinah was ready to be her own boss. However, it took several years of work with the Kean University SBDC before finding the right building and opening her business in 2003.

With the help of Kean SBDC Assistant Regional Director Nat Sims, Bayyinah gave time and consideration to developing a business plan. She spent months identifying her market base and strategizing how to reach them; targeting and researching her competition; planning and acquiring an inventory of hair care and beauty supplies; and, determining equipment needs. Most important for a cash business, Nat worked with Bayyinah to help her to understand the process of cash flow and cash management.

Finding a suitable place for her business/home was also a major consideration. The first of several locations ultimately proved not to be ideal at closer inspection, and then Bayyinah found the right one on Willard Place in Union. Nat helped Bayyinah evaluate the location and negotiate an acceptable price. Their efforts culminated with the purchase of a three-bedroom home that had an existing beauty salon. Nat also assisted her in obtaining a mortgage loan (since the property was more than 50% residential) through Unity Bank in Plainfield, NJ.

Since opening the salon in November 2003, (along with the additional blessing of her first baby in April) Bayyinah's sales have grown to approximately $75,000. Her shop is very busy and she is enjoying her new life as an entrepreneur and mother. “It’s been great. My customers are like family,” Bayyinah said. “Because I work from home, it’s just a nice environment.”

And of the SBDC, Bayyinah sums up her experience as follows: “Without him (Nat Sims) it wouldn’t have come together as professionally as it did. I think I would have made it, because I’m determined to make it, but it would have been way, way more difficult. I realized, in working with Nat Sims, that no matter how big your dream, it’s never really out of reach.”