Meet Toya Willis | Owner of Mickey’s Braid Factory

We had the good fortune of connecting with Toya Willis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toya, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have to go down memory lane a bit for this one. I was in Retail Management for 15 years! At the start of my career, I literally ran a boutique (BCBGMaxazria) as a part time associate, before being promoted to manager, all in under a year. I’ve managed the day to day operations for other companies like White House Black Market, American Eagle/Aerie, and most recently Target. By then, I was managing the women’s department in a $65 million store, with 250+ employees. In a store like Target, you had to be well rounded and knowledgeable in all aspects of the store. There was rarely a time that you didn’t have to jump into other departments based on business needs.

My initial goal was to become a Store Manager of a big box store like Target. It just made sense! But, retail was never my passion; I was just really good at it and excelled very quickly, so I kind of got stuck. I contemplated getting out of retail multiple times over the years, but I also didn’t want to start over from scratch, working my way from the bottom up at this stage in my life. As well, based on my tenure and experience in retail, I was always able to obtain the financial stability I’d always desired!

It was this year that I finally realized that before anything I’ve ever learned in my adult life, I had a true, natural talent that I taught myself! I wasn’t happy in retail and hadn’t been for quite some time, so I felt it was time I do something about it! The same efforts and sacrifices I put into making money for other businesses, I could do the same for a business of my own. The same way I managed the day to day operations of those businesses, I can manage the day to day operations of my own! With the encouraging words and support from my family and friends, I decided to take this leap of faith, and now here we are!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When it comes to my business, I’m most proud of being a self taught braider! Back in elementary school, I literally sat at my grandmother’s house after school and in the summer, braiding on her mannequin. My sister and I got to the point where we’d braid one another’s hair, just to have something to do! I was always better than she was, but don’t tell her I said that! At that time, my grandmother was actually a licensed cosmetologist and owned her own salon, built by my grandfather! My grandmother liked to call my sister and I her little “professional bootleggers!” Honestly, we come from a long line of entrepreneurs!

By the time I was in middle school, I was braiding after school at the park, until my mom began letting me braid my close friends at home. I wanted to be a cosmetologist, but started making money so quickly in retail that I took that route. In my adult life, I would braid my daughter’s hair often, once she was about 6 years old. Other than that, I only braided here and there because a cousin or friend asked. They’d hit me with a picture and, “Toy, do you think you can do this?” Then their friends would ask who braided their hair. I went from braiding my daughter’s hair for the sake of not having to comb hair every day, to now catching up to the latest trends, and starting my own business specializing in knotless braiding. I’ve started to branch out into twists and locs as well! I still get the, “Can you do this,” but instead from my growing clientele! I’m never afraid to say, “I’ve never done that style before, but I understand the concept!” I’m up front and honest, but always willing to try/learn something new!

I’ve definitely learned a couple of important things along this new journey. I’m learning how to say no, just to ensure that I maintain the work life balance that I never had in retail. Additional money from squeeze in appointments are awesome, but not to the point where you can’t manage your personal life and needs! Secondly, I need to learn to not be so lenient with my policies! I’m still in the “want to be nice and accommodate everyone” stage, lol. Y’all pray for me! As far as my brand, check back with me I have so many great ideas brewing!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I actually did this recently with a friend that was visiting! We ate at Kouzan’s, Dream Wings, and you can’t go by Dream Wings without stopping by Ella Shipleys. If I had to brunch anywhere, I love the French toast at Snooze. I’m really a homebody so hanging at home or in the backyard is my go to. BYOE (Bring Yo Own Everythang) Ha Ha, just kidding! But, grabbing food and drinks hanging at home with my besties and the kiddos is always a win. Actually, you should never choose me as your nightlife/turn up tour guide, lol! If I had to go somewhere that wasn’t too rowdy though, it would be Prospect. You can literally sit there all day. You also can’t go wrong with parking in Midtown and going spot to spot. That’s all I got!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m dedicating this shout out to my daughter (Jelecia Rachal) and my dad (Eric Willis). My daughter is my daily motivation and we are true besties! I learned to do feed ins and knotless braids on her hair. I mean we’re tight, tight and she’s always down to be my personal mannequin! Unfortunately, we lost my dad to Domestic Violence, in 2018, and that is a continued feeling that no one could ever imagine. His nickname was Mickey, which is how I came up with my business name! As well, I always associate the colors blue and purple with my business. Blue, for the Dickies set my dad worked in, typically with one or both pant legs hiked up on his work boots, lol. Purple signifies Domestic Violence Awareness. So, through my business I’m honoring my dad every day, which was my ultimate goal. I can’t go without acknowledging my mom, Felicia Jackson, who always supported my schooling or career decisions. Now if something made absolutely no sense, don’t think she wasn’t going to let me know! We all need words of encouragement, but we also need the “tough, tell it like it is love.” Fe can give her fair share of both, but she definitely believed that I should have been doing this all along!

It takes a village and I can’t name everyone individually, but my siblings and two besties aren’t letting anyone else braid their hair and have supported me since day one. My stepdad and grandfather have a super strong business mindset and pour into me often! My grandmother and aunts are always cheering me on, never missing an opportunity to say how proud they are of me. The cousins! We roll deep honey, so the love and support run deep!

Website: https://mickeysbraidfactory.as.me/

Instagram : mickeys_braidfactory

Facebook: Toya Willis

Image Credits
Business looks- Stefanie Uribe (Instagram @sd_slowmotion_pictures)