An Interview with RaShande Walton

RaShande Walton is an empowered Founder/Owner of a hair-care line called Scorpion Hair Growth Products which was started in February 2016. This new product line brings a FIERCE new look for the hair-care industry. Although her brand is new this year starting with a few products, she is destined to create a global empire.

Along with owning a business, she also juggles being a wife and a mother. She loves to read, be inspired by other successful entrepreneurs, and networking with other like-minded individuals. RaShande can be reached on Twitter and Instagram.

In this Startup Savant interview, RaShande shares her experience when forming her own hair-care line - Scorpion Hair Growth Products. She also told us her favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur, how to get by failures, learn from it and grow.

What ignited the spark in you to start a business? Where did the idea for Scorpion Hair Growth Products come from?

The spark in me to start a business was ignited by the unmotivated and uninspired feeling I had going to work every single day. Although I liked my job, the company I worked for, and even co-workers; it didn’t feel good anymore to wake up and feel like a robot. I didn’t feel as if I was serving a true purpose, rather I was just going along with the flow.

My husband had always suggested for me to start my own hair-care line because he knew my passion for taking care of my hair was very strong and that I was always buying new products. When people started to ask how I was able to grow my hair out so long so quickly, I knew he may have been on to something.

At this point, I had made the decision to start a hair-care line but I didn’t have a name for it. The idea for Scorpion Hair Growth Products actually came from me getting stung by a scorpion in the middle of the night.

What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?

Ownership! I control my day and my time. It’s also been an amazing experience to connect with likeminded ambitious business owners. The support I’ve received has been amazing.

How do you generate new ideas for Scorpion Hair Growth Products to keep growing? Is there a secret that you have figured out over the years?

I am able to generate new ideas for Scorpion Hair Growth Products by always referring to my company’s motto “BE FIERCE”.

There really is no secret sauce. I will say that as long as you seek growth and knowledge, you will obtain it and advance. My focus on helping others become great, and helping myself to become great, has attracted a ton of great people to this movement.

In your experience, what is the best way to build a successful customer base? Are there any mistakes that our readers can learn from?

In my experience the best way to build a successful customer base is interaction and open communication. Our main platform is Instagram so it is easy for customers to interact with us and they also get an amazing visual experience of what the “BE FIERCE” motto is which is how I want everyone to feel when they use Scorpion Hair Growth Products.

We do our absolute best to connect and learn what motivates our customers to want to reach their ideal goals of growing long, beautiful and luxurious hair.

As a business owner, what is your greatest fear and how do you keep it under control or harness it?

My greatest fear as a business owner is becoming complacent. Again, growth is key. Its motivating and inspiring. To lose the desire to grow is to lose all momentum that’s been built.

Who has been your greatest influencer along your entrepreneurial journey? How did they shape Scorpion Hair Growth Products?

My husband is my greatest influencer along my entrepreneurial journey. As an entrepreneur himself, all I have ever seen him do is work hard on his art, read a lot of books, and network with like-minded individuals.

He was a big part of my decision to even create a hair-care business and naming it Scorpion Hair Growth Products. Yes, he suggested that I name my first hair growth oil ‘Scorpion Oil’ because of the encounter I had with a scorpion.

What do you feel is the major difference between you and other entrepreneurs? Is there something that has guided you along the way?

I feel a major difference between me and other entrepreneurs is the emotional connection to the company. Creating a business from scratch and building a self-made hair-care line makes the work that much more rewarding.

My desire to help women is what has guided me along the way. The amazing support and love from every customer and follower on social media has encouraged me to continue working harder every day.

Have you faced any failures with Scorpion Hair Growth Products? How did you overcome it?

There’ve been hiccups for sure. Obviously when you draw up everything on paper, you feel like you’re going to come out on fire and go viral right out of the gates.

When it doesn’t happen for you right away, it’s easy to get down and feel like you’re failing because you’re not where you want to be.

Its best to fail forward and realize you are growing day by day. Getting more customers and helping more people, inspiring women across the world. These are just a sliver of the things that keeps you engaged and keeps you moving.

What was the best piece of advice you have ever gotten from another business owner? The worst?

The best advice I ever received was not giving up early in the process. Again, it gets tougher the deeper you go, and that’s why a lot of businesses fail. They don’t want to take the bumps and hits. The losses are a part of the game and your ability to endure and grow with it will define your success, or lack thereof, based on what I’ve seen.

I would cringe at advice that I’d deem “The Worst” but that’s only because of all of the time I’ve put into mastering this craft.

You have to respect those that give you an ear. I will say, I don’t take advice of those who haven’t put in the sweat equity from an ownership perspective.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in Arizona who have a business idea but don’t know where to get started?

Go to conferences and meetups, join online entrepreneurial groups. Definitely stay away from those who don’t share your vision on ownership (you will run into a ton of those types). And don’t get upset when those close to you don’t support your business/vision.

Pick 2 or 3 resources to go with and master them. There are tons of successful resources out there for free. Be mindful of how you spend your time and get up earlier than the rest!

It’s important to remember that this journey is a process and not an event. The deeper you get into this, the tougher it gets. I’ve seen many entrepreneurs give up on the 5th step of a 50 step process. You have to keep going to keep growing!

Want to learn more insights from startup founders? Check out our founder series for interviews, company profiles, and more!