Jesseca Harris-Dupart
While superheroes are indeed fictional, there are humans who grace the earth that possess the same formidable qualities. Just as these fictional beings masterfully weather through trials and tribulations to become the victors they are, one entrepreneur by the name of Jesseca Harris-Dupart has done the same. Harris-Dupart may be the founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products, but the journey to success hasn’t been one without loss. The loss in question occurred almost a decade ago when her salon Kaleidoscope Hair Studio was destroyed in a fire. As devastating as it was, it propelled the New Orleans native to create Kaleidoscope Hair Products, now a multimillion-dollar company.
“I truly feel that adversity is meant to propel you, and all things negative can somehow be turned positive as long as you stay in faith. The story quickly spread in my city, and we were gifted supplies from many different hair stylists. The outpour made me feel that it has to be better when I do come back because so many people were keeping up with the story, and I felt responsible for making people know that anything is possible. This has conditioned me to have resilience and not to emphasize material possessions because you can always get those things back. Upon my return, I had a grand opening where I launched Kaleidoscope Hair Products.”
With immense support, whether on social media or nods from fellow mogul Kandi Burruss, it’s safe to assume that the success of the haircare line isn’t stopping anytime soon. As Harris-Dupart nears the 10th anniversary of the brand’s inception, she believes its meteoric growth is largely thanks to social media and disruptive marketing.
Kaleidoscope Hair Products - Miracle Drop Collection
“I was a hairstylist for years, and one of my clients decided to decline my services in favor of another hair stylist and came back to me with severe hair issues. I felt responsible for growing it back, and by the grace of God, one of my associates at the time was working on his own projects in the hair care space and provided me with a few of his resources to get connected with manufacturers. I was able to discuss some of my business ideas that I wanted to market, and in 2014, Kaleidoscope Hair Products was birthed. It was leveraging social media with genuine disruptive marketing and out-of-the-box ideas that helped us grow exponentially.”
When it comes to retaining such a loyal customer base, Harris-Dupart believes that the uniqueness in communication between the brand and consumers plays a significant role.
“I’ve found that giving our consumers the education about our products while also entertaining them with something they can relate to not only translated to sales but also kept them interested in what we would post next and made them want to stay on the journey with us. We speak to our consumers the same way we speak to our close friends and family. Our communication style via texting, emailing, and scripts on our videos come across the same. We are authentic and it shows. We’ve also leveraged influencers, blogs, and engaging in the comments section when we see an opportunity.”
The biggest lesson that the entrepreneur has learned on this triumphant journey is the understanding that everyone may not understand her vision.
“As much as you love your friends and family, they may not always understand the vision God blessed you with,” Harris-Dupart said to For(bes) The Culture. “There’s no need to be discouraged about the vision God blessed you with. They will see it eventually. How do you expect advice from someone who’s never done what you’re trying to do?”
