If you are not drinking coffee from the Larchmere Coffee Shop or getting that fly do at Glam~R~Us Styling Studio and the best Virgin Hair Distributor in the city then you not living. There is a dynamic power couple taking this city by storm one expresso and fresh hair style at a time. Tenisha Lovelace and Eric Miller aka “Expresso Rick” has got the game on lock. They are winning in every way by taking their relationship and businesses and building an empire. I was able to talk to Tenisha and Rick and see just how they handle all the work, love and challenges that life may bring them.
UJJ: Being in the Coffee business the competition is fierce with places like Starbucks and Caribou how do you make your Cafe standout among the rest?
Rick: I stand out from my competition mainly because I am one of the few black owned coffee companies in Cleveland and once people know that they are always willing to support their own. Also I offer high quality coffee made from high quality coffee beans for a much lower price than the competition. In this economy you have to stay competitive.
UJJ: Having a relationship and both of you running a business how do you make time for each other?
Rick and Tenisha: Well it’s simple since we run our businesses together we have no choice, lol. We work and live together so we do it as one. Running now 3 businesses can be stressful at times we always remember to stay focused on each other no matter what and know that working at a relationship is the 4th job, and can't neglect that either. So we make sure no matter how busy we are through the week to take one day out the week (usually Sunday) to not do anything at all just hang with each other and do whatever we want to get that quality time in with one another.
UJJ: You have always been a trend setter and doing your own thing. Is staying edgy and up to date on the latest hair and style hard?
Tenisha; Well overall it’s not hard for me, I have always loved clothes and shoes and fashion and anything related to that! Most people don’t know but when I was 22 I was accepted into a School for the Fine Arts program in Miami, FL to focus on Fashion Design and Merchandising, but circumstances did not allow me to go. So I did want that to have a career in fashion at that point in life because I love it so it just comes kind of natural to me. So being able to express my creativity through doing hair, is the next best thing, and this industry allows me to dress as cute and fly as I like when I come to work, so the two definitely go hand in hand.
UJJ: Coming from East Cleveland growing up did you foresee yourself being successful so young?
Rick: Answer to your first question is YES! I always saw myself being successful at a young age because I have ALWAYS had a hustler’s mentality and wanted big things out of my life. I always knew there was more that I wanted to accomplish other than just the street life. Nothing has ever been handed to me and I've had to work hard for everything in my life, so I knew I would be successful and I'm still not done!!
UJJ: What was one of the biggest challenges you faced while trying to reach your goals?
Rick: Biggest challenge would have to be un-loyal people. It’s really hard to find people in business to be honest and loyal and not just always try to take what we have worked hard for.
UJJ: The hair industry is so saturated in Cleveland there is a shop on every corner what does Glam~R~US Styling Studio offer to keep the clients coming back
Tenisha: Well we have a very diverse group of talented women working at Glam~R~Us, so there is someone there that can create basically any style that you would be looking for from natural hair, to short cuts, to quick weaves, to sew-ins to invisible parts we are a very diverse group. The "Glam Squad" is always ready to help that women look and feel their best. We feel that once all of our renovations are complete we will be one the elite salons in Cleveland with an upscale atmosphere that will be inviting for everyone. We are also different because we know how important giving back to our community is which most salons seem to forget about, so that is why 3 times a year we hold a "free for all" where our entire staff offer up their services to those in need for free. We recently held a Back to School Drive on May 26, 2012 from 11am to 4pm for school age children headed back to school. They received a shampoo/blow-dry/style for free. This was really for parents who may not have money to get their child's hair done because they have more important things to pay for such as schools supplies, clothes, and shoes. So we wanted to do our part to help our community in any way we can, and ALL were welcome to come out! We will also offer our services and do this again near Christmas time and Easter.
Rick and Tenisha have got it together with a new project still in the works the new Epic Designz Barber Shop. What more can you ask for? Beauty, brains and business exudes from this couple on the rise. Keeping love and happiness in focus these two clearly have what it takes to succeed. So next time your need a fly hair style head on over to Glam~R~Us but don’t forget to get your coffee from the Larchmere Coffee Shop!
You can follow them on Instagram nishanichole & young_exec
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