Mother And Son Land Six-Figure Deal For Their Ohio-Based Beauty Supply Business That Was Previously Owned By Korean Family For 50 Years

A mother and son recently closed a six-figure deal that changed the future of their Ohio-based beauty supply business.

In 2016, Nneka Slade paused her career as a cosmetologist after decades in the industry. She and her son Kameron Coleman teamed up to launch a hair extension brand two years later, the Akron Business Journal reported. The brand eventually evolved into an online retail company through word of mouth.

In 2021, the brand’s success allowed them to purchase their first brick-and-mortar named Play Beauty Supply in Richmond Heights where Coleman resides.

Three years later, they are now the owners of Star Beauty Plus in Maple Heights — sold to them by the Kim family, who are Korean entrepreneurs.

“We never dreamed about this happening,” Slade told the Akron Business Journal . “We didn’t know what was going to happen but if we failed, we were going to fail big, something like this doesn’t happen.”

The Kim Family, who owned the shop for 50 years, provided them with all the training they needed to thrive. The store offers hair products, wigs, extensions, tools and more. During the transition, Slade said the Kim family was honest about their business processes.

As Coleman and Slade continue their business journey together, they feel they’re unstoppable together.

“We learned a lot about each other,” Slade said. “I’m more of the left brain-organized, structured, and Kameron is more of the right brain-creative, risk taker. There’s a nice balance that happens.”

Coleman added, “She leans on me to bring in the new 21st-century ideas, the delivery, websites, marketing. It’s a balance with each other.”

At the moment, they’re exploring a space that’s up for sale in Akron for their next beauty supply store while refreshing their website, which will provide same-delivery options.

“People that come in now to the store are excited to see that it’s a Black-owned,” Slade said. “They come in shedding tears because they can buy the products they need for their hair. People come in from all over either around or out of town, and most are coming from Akron and Canton areas. We are so happy about the support we have received.”