Comfy Stennis is a beauty professional in Kansas City, Missouri that specializes in natural hair. Her love for expression through the arts has allowed her to create a community under her brand Klout Company. Being a spoken word artist, Comfy understands the power of words and also being a fashion enthusiasts allowed her to create the culture within Klout Company. She has planned and directed serval fashion shows, family events, photo shoots, stage plays etc. Klout Company is becoming a household name in the fashion industry in Kansas City Missouri and we interview Comfy to learn more about the personality behind the brand.
What is the inspiration behind KLOUT company?
KC (Klout Company) was birthed on our love of words and fashion. Klout Company is the power to influence positive words and dope vibes through fashion.
When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career as an entrepreneur/ designer?
Entrepreneurship began when I was a teen. I went to cosmetology school when I was 17 and I’ve always had the niche for beauty. It wasn’t until 2018 when I was fired from my full time job that I decided to embark on beauty and fashion endeavors fully.
Where do you go for inspiration when working on a new design?
I like to take a vacation or staycation every few months to work on ideas and get inspired. A change in my scenery is key for inspiration. If I can’t get away, I go to my spot at the lake.
What is your favorite part about being a designer?
I’ll be honest, I love every part of it from writing the idea on paper to creating google docs/layouts to watching the vision come to life. I also love the fact that I’m building a network with the people I collaborate with.
How have your priorities changed from when you first started?
When I began this entrepreneurship journey my main goal was to sustain myself, get more clientele and build on my ideas. Now that my business is flourishing I can shift my focus to building a team to help service our budding clientele/bookings. I’ve hired 3 interns to help with day to day business needs.
How did you establish your culture?
My brand culture is a reflection of self love, caring about detail, being trendy and setting the tone for the people we service. Thee Creatives is about making people places and things more beautiful. Klout Company is about expressing yourself through words. I combine the two to be a one stop shop kind of business.
What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning of your journey?
At the beginning of my entrepreneurship journey, I cashed out my 401k to fund my business and bills, after that we had to rely on new and existing clientele, promotions, and having faith that I was walking in my purpose and knew that everything would work out.
Not only fashion but you are also: a poet, a loctician, event organizer and brand strategist What is the hardest part about starting multiple businesses in this industry?
Having time to do all the things I’m passionate about. One of my business coaches told me that I have to delegate but its hard when your business is your brain child. Since then, I’ve been preparing myself to give more control to people I trust to help service our braids, locs, makeup and styling services. My interns Xi, Lilly and Tyree have been a great help. My mom and brothers are also dope for assisting me while we carry out visions. Our next adventure will be the 10th Annual Curves and Confidence Fashion Show with Rafael Rocc Green, Shawntra Taylor and Ardonyalasha Johnson. Follow us on social media for casting calls to be a model/performer/spotlighted brand. Follow @KloutCompany for announcements and more details.
What advice do you give women who are looking to enter the creative industry?
If you have ideas, start with a notebook, write the thoughts down, thoughts become ideas with strategy, find a mentor or business coach, don’t quit your day job if you’re not going to have the money to fund your endeavors, set boundaries with the people in your life who aren’t on your journey and find your creative tribe.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?
Start sooner b*tch! Don’t talk about it, be about it
Learn More about Klout Company!
Follow Comfy on IG: @yofavecreative
Facebook: Comfy Stennis
Website: https://www.theecreatives.com/
Link tree: https://linktr.ee/yofavecreative