00:00A couple more amazing entrepreneurs. We're going to, for time is of the essence, I want to make
00:06sure we give them the floor. So this is their time to tell you about their stories, their journeys,
00:11and their amazing products. So I'm going to ask questions and we're going to leave some time at
00:15the end for you to ask questions as well. Okay. All right. So we have on the stage right next to
00:21me, Crystal Thomas of Tropical Express. Hello. And we have Javon Kashif with Abstracts Press on Nails.
00:30So tell everybody where you're from and a little bit about your business.
00:34All right, everyone. Hello. My name is Crystal Thomas. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. I have an
00:39indoor houseplant shop where we sell indoor houseplants, vinyl records, classic vinyl records,
00:45all originals, and scented candles. So we like to have great smells, great vibes, great music,
00:51and beautiful plants surrounding us in our shop. So that's what we do. That's amazing.
00:55Awesome. Thank you. Hi, I am Javon. I go by J and I am everything nails for everything for your hands
01:03and your feet, actually. So we are a nail salon, seven years, Washington, DC, and we have a booth
01:10in BeautyCon. So make sure you stop by and check us out. Tell us about your background. How did you get,
01:15how did your background lead to what you're doing right now? Mine is twofold. So the reason that
01:22there's vibes and just like feelings at my plant shop is because I used to be an event planner.
01:28So I like to bring people together to, we have different events that we do there. We do
01:33candle making classes. We teach people how to take care of their plants. We teach people how to DJ
01:38on vinyl records. And so my background with event planning kind of made me want to make a space
01:43where everyone could come together. But my parents and my grandmother is how I learned about plants.
01:49So seeing her and pulling weeds in the morning, but on Saturdays and things like that is what got my
01:56interest into plants. And so once I got my home for myself, I realized I needed plants and I wanted
02:01to make sure everybody else was able to get them as well. That's so cool. So for me, it's a little
02:07different. My background is fashion. As you can see, I'm always a vibe.
02:11I've been a nail tech for almost 10 years. I own a salon. We're the only black owned nail salon in
02:20Washington, DC. And I don't say that as a badge of honor because I wish there were more nail artists
02:25of color. But we bang, we're one of the top rated in the city. And we just specialize in nail art.
02:33And my background primarily is in fashion, but I started off in beauty and medical beauty.
02:38So I just always desired something more adventurous, more whimsical, loud and vibrant.
02:46So when you come down to SoCo, to BeautyCon, you're definitely going to see all the things,
02:51all the art. It's giving Basquiat of nails over in my section. So please come and see yours.
02:58Can you show us like a little bit of what you have? Yes, yes, yes, yes.
03:02Let me see if I'm going to try to help. Okay, okay, okay.
03:05Okay. So this is our, this is our baddie box. And in our baddie box.
03:12A baddie box? Yes. I deserve this. I mean, it looks so, it looks like it was made for me.
03:16You know what? It probably was. We're good. No, I'm just joking.
03:19Yes. Okay. So in our baddie box, you get four nail files. They're all professional grade nail files.
03:26Now I know she's showing these nails. The nails do not come in the baddie box.
03:30The nail wraps come in the baddie box. But one of my favorite, favorite things is this.
03:39What is that? This is the truth. This is a medical grade stainless steel foot file.
03:45We created it specifically for those that have challenges. It's diabetic approved.
03:51There's a coarse side and a fine side. We use these in our nail salons. We do offer manicures and pedicures.
03:58So everything we sell is what we also use.
04:01You can really feel the difference there. You said medical grade.
04:05Medical grade. There's a difference. It will not shred the skin.
04:08I know. Don't do that. Don't use those. And don't let them use those.
04:14Yeah, I would do it.
04:15Y'all know what I'm saying. Don't let them use those.
04:17Okay.
04:17So also, okay, this right here, gonna change your life. I wish I could literally just come and give everybody some.
04:24But this is our hydration cuticle oil. It smells like love.
04:27Okay.
04:28It smells like love.
04:29Would anybody like to come up and smell?
04:30Yes.
04:31Any brave soul?
04:33I want to.
04:34If you know what, I will.
04:35You come in.
04:36Hold this.
04:37So it's an experience whenever I use the cuticle oil.
04:41Okay.
04:42Absolutely.
04:46Oh, she's a pro.
04:48Hold on. Don't do nothing.
04:51She said don't do nothing.
04:52Because everyone always talks about how they don't have time to use cuticle oil.
04:57But if you make your cuticle oil routine an experience, give yourself a nice handshook.
05:03She doesn't even have to look as she's doing this, y'all.
05:06No, no.
05:06She's just like, so.
05:08Cuticle oil should be an experience.
05:11How does it smell?
05:13And it won't leave fingerprints on your phone.
05:17It looks like it feels nice.
05:21And her nails look amazing.
05:23Okay.
05:23So we got the hydrating.
05:25This comes in a little time.
05:26This definitely comes in the beauty box.
05:28And then, of course, you do get to your choice of nail wraps.
05:33These are designing your nail wraps.
05:35You don't need any LED or anything.
05:37They're literally a high-level luxury nail sticker.
05:42They last up to two to three weeks.
05:44So definitely get these.
05:45That's amazing.
05:47And then this is our LED light.
05:49Because when you use our regular nail wraps, they're nail polish wraps.
05:54So if you want them to last longer, use the LED light along with our staying power top coat.
06:04And then these are?
06:04So these are express inks.
06:07I'm a tattoo girl.
06:08I'm really a finger tattoo girl.
06:10So these are semi-permanent tattoos.
06:15Put them on your finger.
06:16And if you do, tag me.
06:17Or put them on your hand.
06:18Wherever you do, just tag me.
06:20But I love these.
06:21So these are all original nail art.
06:22I have some of the original tattoos from this on myself.
06:26And that's the baddie box.
06:28Yay.
06:28Y'all give it up for the baddie box.
06:32And then what did you bring with us?
06:33Yes.
06:34I brought a whole lot of stuff.
06:36So we have.
06:36Okay.
06:36What can I?
06:37Yes.
06:37Any help?
06:38Any help?
06:38So if you see Vanna White right here.
06:40This is my sister.
06:41We have plants.
06:42Hi.
06:43So they're all indoor tropical plants.
06:46You water them once a week.
06:47You can water it once and forget it.
06:49We have different colors there.
06:51But right now we have our green plants.
06:53This right here is a prayer plant.
06:55They call it a prayer plant because in the daytime it lays down.
06:58But at night it rises up.
07:00Like it prays.
07:01Isn't that nice?
07:02Okay.
07:03We have candles.
07:04If you guys want to smell the candles, you can.
07:07We have different fragrances that are tropical, masculine.
07:12Any type of smells that you want.
07:13The smells are free.
07:14So walk by our booth and go ahead and get a whip.
07:16Anyway, hold on.
07:17Hold on.
07:17Smell it now.
07:18I love a good smell good.
07:19Smell it now.
07:20And so are you making these candles?
07:21You can smell it through the plastic.
07:23They're man-made and banquet ATL.
07:25So that's what it says on the candle.
07:27All right.
07:28And then, you know, we have vinyl records.
07:30I brought these to display.
07:31We have Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones because we're going to have some Quincy Jones tributes
07:36today at the concert.
07:38Well, tomorrow at the concerts.
07:39But we have all classics, soul, R&B, gospel, all the different types of records.
07:46That you would think of.
07:47We have them there.
07:48So you definitely stop by the market.
07:50We're two aisles over at Tropical Express ATL.
07:53Okay.
07:54So y'all give it up.
07:56Give it up.
07:56Give it up.
07:58Okay.
07:58I'm taking our time.
08:00So tell us, what is next for you?
08:01What's coming up?
08:03So next for us is currently in Atlanta.
08:07We also rent plants.
08:10Thank you, rent?
08:11Yes, we rent plants.
08:13So the MLB baseball all-star game, we're going to be decorating the Truist Park Stadium.
08:19Oh, wow.
08:19So that's something major that we're doing.
08:22And we also do concerts within our plant shop.
08:26So we have DJ Spence come in to record and do a live taping.
08:31So you guys can look at our YouTube channel.
08:33It's Tropical Express ATL.
08:35If you all live in Atlanta, come to Atlanta.
08:37If you're an artist and you want to perform around some plants and some good vibes, come
08:41through.
08:42But this is going to be our fifth year in business in August.
08:46So we're celebrating that right now.
08:48Congratulations.
08:49What's coming up next?
08:51So I cannot celebrate what's coming up next for Abstracts Nail Art Press Ons without giving
08:58a major shout out to the New Voices family.
09:00Because what I'm about to say is definitely indicative to all the things that I've learned
09:06from them.
09:07But some of our abstracts, you can now.
09:10We had a mission at the top of this year to nail the nation.
09:13And with that mission, I wanted every woman, especially every woman of color who may love
09:19press-ons, but they don't quite fit, I made these for you.
09:23But with that mission of nailing the nation, we launched 10 of our designs nationwide with
09:30TJ Maxx and Marshalls.
09:32And that has been like, we've been ecstatic.
09:36Yes, thank you.
09:37But again, I could not say that without the guidance and coaching from the New Voices family.
09:43So we're super excited and super grateful for that.
09:46But who knows what's next after that?
09:48We're ready.
09:49We are ready.
09:49Let's keep scaling our business.
09:52Yes, yes, yes.
09:53So where can we follow and support your journey?
09:56So Tropical Express ATL on all social media platforms, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest boards,
10:03if you need inspiration of how to decorate your home.
10:06And our website is also Tropical Express ATL.
10:09Awesome.
10:10We are Abstract Nails, and it's A-B-S-T-R-X Nails on Instagram, online, all the places, Abstract
10:19Nails.
10:19And if any of you are in D.C., come see us.
10:23We're Nail Bed and Bar.
10:25Nailbedbar.com for your nail services.
10:29That is amazing.
10:30Well, y'all are obviously doing the thing, and we just want to support you and applaud you.
10:35So congratulations.
10:36Let's give it up for them again.
10:39Yay.
10:40That is so cool.
10:43And this does smell amazing.
10:46I smelled it through the plastic.
10:47Like, that's mine.
10:48So you can...
10:53Thank y'all.
10:54Thank you all.
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