A Good Life Photo Co. is a headshot and personal branding photography studio founded in March 2019 by La’Meshia Hayes of Indianapolis.
Hayes founded the business after reading the book ‘Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. Hayes wanted to secure generational wealth for her and her family while exercising a craft where she excels: photography.
La’Meshia Hayes, owner of A Good Life Photo Co. (Photo/Hayes)
Like most entrepreneurs, Hayes attempted many ventures. However, her ability to capture the moment behind the lens sent her over the top online.
Today, Hayes’ photo studio has a package for every event, including proms, graduations, birthdays, holidays and more. Hayes has studio space but does not hesitate to travel to venues that will best capture the moment for a client.
A Good Life Photo Co. is located at 6256 La Pas Trail, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268. Hayes and her staff can be reached on Facebook and Instagram. For email inquiries, contact Hayes at Agoodlifephoto@outlook.com
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Taking bits and pieces of recipes from her grandmother and the excitement of presentation from her mother, Tasha Claytor created T Street Eatz.
“One day for her (grandmother’s) last birthday, I made some food for her,” Claytor said. “I was making a trip for her, a memorial trip, and I got a voicemail ranting and raving about how good my food was. And I was like, that’s it. I can cook.”
Claytor’s Elevated Comfort Food can be ordered online for delivery or pickup inside of City Market, 222 E Market St everyday Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shirley Milligan and her husband have three daughters which meant they would spend a lot of time in local beauty supply stores.
Often owned by Non-Black people, the family would be disappointed by the lack of customer service they would receive from beauty supply businesses when shopping. That’s how Urban Beauty Supply was born.
Launched in February of 2020 just a month before the COVID-19 pandemic, the new business struggled to sell products curbside, but word of mouth spread and the shop started to get popular.
At Urban Beauty Supply they want you to be your best version. They offer a wide range of high-quality beauty, skincare and haircare products. From deep cleansers to the lightest moisturizers, you can get the most popular looks and brands in their store.
No matter what your skin or hair care needs are, Urban Beauty Supply said they are your one-stop shop to look great and maintain your healthy, beautiful skin.
Contact and hours:
5333 E. Thompson Road Indianapolis, IN 46237
(317) 875-1484
UrbanBeautySuppy1@Outlook.com
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
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A group of Indianapolis nonprofits have come together to create the Latino Business Support Network (LBSN). The network is committed to assisting Latino small business owners and entrepreneurs.
The LBSN’s primary focus is on building a stronger Latino business community in the city. Created by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), along with the other organizations, the network collaborates to provide resources and programs.
“The Latino community is an economically resilient community. As we have attempted to close the racial wealth gap, especially in Black and Latino communities, these are often the most underserved, overlooked and undeveloped,” said Executive Director of LISC, David Hampton.
He said the Indianapolis small business community is incredibly diverse. There are 14,000 Black businesses, 5,000 Latinx businesses and 2,000 Asian owned businesses.
His hope for the network is to create a greater commitment and investment to support the Latinx community.
“Between 2010 and 2020, the Latinx community has grown by 42% and so have Latinx businesses. However, the resources for Latinx businesses have continued to be incredibly limited,” said Hampton.
As the community grows, there is an increasing need for language access and access to capital and services to support.
The start of the network
Four organizations — Hispanic Business Council, La Plaza, Emprendedoras Latinas en Indiana and Indiana Latino Expo — have come together to form a group dedicated to supporting Latino-owned businesses in Indianapolis.
The Director of International & Latino Affairs with the City of Indianapolis, Ruth Morales, said the Latino community is the fastest growing population in Marion County.
Executive Vice President of for External Engagement at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Salena Scardina said a lot of stories go untold around Latino business, and this network is an opportunity to change that.
“Five years ago, I started a business, and I did not know what resources were available to me here. Latino-based businesses make up the largest minority sector of our entrepreneurship small businesses, and we don’t talk about that enough,” said Scardina.
By collaborating these organizations can provide better support and increase visibility for their work.
Jacqueline Belus, master colorist and extensionist and owner of Splash Hair Salon and Spa, takes pride in her business. The salon offers a home to a diverse group of hair designers, lash and brow artists and makeup artists and is also an open door for clientele from all walks of life, Belus said.
Belus opened her salon in Indianapolis 22 years ago, but her path there was a little unconventional. Belus was a traveling teaching stylist for many years and said she had not initially been interested in owning and operating her own salon. But as she began to work at different salons she began to realize they were not as welcoming or diverse in their offerings. So Belus decided to create a space that would be.
“A lot of salons only have one image and only cater to one type of client,” she said. “Even though it [Splash Salon] was high-end, it didn’t matter, I wanted people of all walks to come in and enjoy the experience.”
Each of the stylists at the salon has received “comprehensive training in various hair color and cutting techniques,” which include creating customized hair designs for clients of all hair types and backgrounds.
The salon also uses high-end products such as Kérastase — they were the first salon in Indiana to use and sell Kérastase— vegan products such as Phyto and Goldwell hair color, Belus said. Any products that are used during services are also available to purchase, including various styling tools.
“We’re going to love you and take care of you,” Belus said.
Splash Hair Salon and Spa is located at 4659 E. 82nd St., in the Clearwater Village Shopping Center. To schedule an appointment, visit splashhairsalon.com, call 317.576.9200 or email splashsalon@yahoo.com.
If there is a minority-owned and operated business you’d like to see featured in the Indiana Minority Business Magazine Directory, visit Indiana Minority Business Directory.
Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.
It is a simple phrase with a profound meaning: Nap or Nothing.
Etched across clothing inside a storefront on Massachusetts Avenue, owner of the streetwear brand Antonio Maxie said the slogan instills pride within people from Indianapolis.
“’Nap’ is short for Naptown, which is the nickname for the city. ‘Or Nothing’ is about repping to the fullest: Repping your backyard and being proud of where you’re from,” said Maxie. “It’s important for everybody to let people know where you come from and what made you or built you.”
Nap or Nothing has been around for nearly a decade.
Despite the brand’s release of hundreds of different colors and designs, Maxie said he never planned on owning and operating a clothing brand.
Originally a musician, Maxie’s fashion concept arose when he wanted to make a couple of extra bucks performing at shows.
“So, I started putting logos on merch with phrases from my songs and phrases that I say with my friends. It kind of just kept growing, and growing, and growing,” said Maxie.
Maxie said a friend of his opened a clothing store inside Lafayette Square Mall, and the shop ultimately fell into his lap.
The brick and mortar for Nap or Nothing at Lafayette Square Mall launched in 2015. Because the mall is now temporarily closed due to a redevelopment project, the store transferred to online sales before moving to Mass Ave.
From local artists to athletes and everyday people, all his customers rock the brand. Nap or Nothing has always shared space with other Indianapolis streetwear brands.
The organization GangGang culture partnered with Nap or Nothing to open multiple locations around the city in 2023.
“I feel blessed. I feel honored. I feel like I keep putting the work in and doing my due diligence to provide Indianapolis with quality representation,” said Maxie.
The recognition Nap or Nothing has gained over the years has been cool according to Maxie, but he’s even more excited that he can help other people achieve their goals and dreams by incorporating pride into the city.
“I don’t look at it like it’s a ‘me’ thing. It’s a ‘we’ thing. When the doors open for me, they open for others as well. My opportunity is their opportunity. They just have to capitalize as they see fit,” said Maxie.
Nap or Nothing’s goal is to have biweekly drops for products.
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The Indianapolis Public Library is a designated federal Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) and is offering free services to those who need them. Currently, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office provides 85 free PTRC services nationwide. Through its services, IndyPL offers trained librarians that can connect inventors to resources and answer questions about the patent and trademark process.
Ryan Donnely is one of the librarians at IndyPL helping inventors and entrepreneurs better understand their intellectual property needs. The program’s specialized training involves patent and trademark research and can help entrepreneurs research their ideas, find free databases and determine if a trademark or patent already exists. Books on these topics are available at select branch locations.
“Getting a patent or trademark can be complicated and expensive,” Donnely said. “The resources we provide are free and low cost.”
Information can be found on the library’s website or by calling the Central Library at 317-275-4100.
Contact staff writer Jayden Kennett at 317-762-7847 or by email JaydenK@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @JournoJay.
The school is an accredited online university dedicated to making higher education accessible for as many people as possible.
The partnership launched the new program in January.
According to the executive director of the KFC Foundation, Emma Horn. The program seeks to ensure that every KFC restaurant employee feels supported and empowered to be their best selves.
They’re proud to offer employees an opportunity for higher education without the burden of tuition.
“We started working with WGU almost a year ago now. We love that every student is paired with a mentor, so they’ve got that champion that they can lean on. Somebody to cheer them on when things get tough. Also, WGU’s really focused on competency-based education,” said Horn.
We are so excited to be at the statehouse this morning to share all things @WGUIndiana, and talk about our brand new partnership with the @KFCfoundation! Come and see us in the North Atrium if you’re at the capitol building! pic.twitter.com/QQx81iqfoy
The average salary for a KFC employee is $25,207 a year. Black and African Americans make up almost 13% of staff across the country. There are 14 restaurants across the Circle City, which means the program has the potential to reach about 300 employees.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for our team members who really don’t have time to go through traditional college. They can go at their own pace and earn money while they do it,” said Kelsie Ternet, area manager of a Carmel based KFC.
She said the program would be great for working parents.
They can work full-time and take care of their families while getting a degree to further their education.
Knowing that employees enter through KFC’s doors in all stages and phases of life, Horn said it’s their honor as a foundation to take care of them in their current position and to help them reach for their dreams.
“What better opportunity to be able to offer team members than a flexible college degree program that can fit seamlessly into their schedule,” said Horn.
“An employee who works for a participating franchise is qualified on the day that they start employment at KFC to receive full tuition to start or complete any degree,” said chancellor for WGU Indiana and the University’s regional vice president, Alison Bell.
WGU Indiana has a wide range of programs.
Bell said KFC employees working full time can anticipate completing their degrees in two years.
Contact senior staff writer Jade Jackson at 317-607-5792. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON
Katara McCarty is the founder of Exhale, an emotional wellbeing app designed for Black women and women of color.
“It’s more than an app. It’s a movement. Society has ignored the health and wellbeing of Black women for too long, which is exactly why I am unapologetic in my pursuit to create space specifically for Black women,” said McCarty.
The grant from the Nile Capital Fund will allow her to launch a 2.0 version of the app. The new fund from the Be Nimble Foundation is providing revenue-based equity loans and traditional equity investments for Black founders.
Be Nimble is a social enterprise creating fully diverse and inclusive tech ecosystems. They launched the fund in collaboration with Cummins Inc., the City of Indianapolis and IMPACT Central Indiana.
“The Nile is the longest river in the world. It’s a lifeline for Egypt, fueling the economy and diverse ecosystem in Northeastern Africa. It also reflects our vision for Be Nimble and how we serve our community,” said Jeff Williams, co-founder of Be Nimble.
“This fund will serve as a mode of transportation for our existing programs and partnerships, just as the Nile enables communities to flourish. We’re feeding the ecosystem and supporting the entrepreneurs we’re committed to seeing succeed.” The Nile Capital Fund will also allocate funds to companies that have participated in Be Nimble’s other entrepreneurship programs.
Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE) Executive Director Latonya Sisco said working with Be Nimble, the city and IMPACT leverages the focus area on economic empowerment to create more inclusive communities.
“By joining forces, we aim to create a more equitable landscape for business ownership and growth and support the talented Black founders in our community who may not otherwise have access to the resources they need,” said Sisco.
Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city is proud to have contributed over $725,000 to launch the Nile Capital Fund.
“This partnership adds to our many efforts to continue to foster Black entrepreneurship,” said Hogsett.
Be Nimble said they will continue the legacy begun by Madame C.J. Walker, of Black women-led beauty brands in Central Indiana.
Contact senior staff writer Jade Jackson at 317-607-5792. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON
Indy-based wardrobe stylist Brittany Rice said she’s always had that passion for fashion — or, more accurately, — a passion for styling.
For those who have spent more than 30 minutes trying to piece together one outfit from an entire closet of items and still come up short, Rice might be able to help.
Most people may think being a wardrobe stylist is just picking out some clothes for someone else to wear, and they wouldn’t be totally wrong — just not totally right either. Rice said her job consists of closet consulting (what to keep, what to donate and what to add), closet organization, personal shopping, virtual styling sessions with a style board, pulling outfits for folks on vacation, styling photoshoots and personal shopping.
But Rice is a very “going and flowing” gal and enjoys every opportunity she gets, especially when she gets to work styling backstage at fashion shows around Indy with designers such as Nicole Rene, Passion 4 Fashion Week, Midwest Fashion Week and Indy Black Expo.
“You’re helping people find their personal style and feel good about their bodies through clothes,” Rice said. “It’s like to help people redefine and refine themselves — and making sure that when they walk out here their clothes are speaking for them.”
She studied fashion merchandising at the Art Institute of Indianapolis until the school closed in 2017 and ran a fashion blog on WordPress entitled “Fash Blab” where she put together outfits and listed where she got them from and how much they cost.
Rice was also the one her friends and family always turned to when they needed help picking out something to wear for an event. Eventually, Rice said she realized she had already learned the best ways to match patterns and mix prints and color block, so she decided to do all of that professionally under her own business: Style by Brit Nicole.
Rice also helps clients put outfits together though style boards, which include clothing pieces, jewelry, shoes and makeup items. (Photo/provided by Brittany Rice)
“I felt like I started opening more doors with networking in the fashion industry,” Rice said. “Just talking to people and learning who the other models are and who can pose and how I can use them in my own shoots and collaborating with a lot of other stylists.”
Plus, Rice said her job never feels like work as she loves helping people find their own personal style.
“My favorite thing about doing what I do is probably just seeing my clients really happy about their photos,” she said. “And when they come to me with this vision and then I’m able to bring that to life … I like that I’m able to help you put your best self forward in any space.”
Getting to where she is now wasn’t easy as Rice said starting her business wasn’t instantaneous; for a minute, she wasn’t sure where to go with her career after the Art Institute closed. She took jobs in other fields, such as healthcare and insurance, but said she refused to give up, not only for herself but for her daughter — who was born in 2020, a year before Rice’s first fashion show.
From there, other designers and stylists, such as DaNisha Greene, lent Rice a hand in making sure she got into the rooms she needed to be in to learn the skills of the trade. She worked on building her clientele and whatever shows she could, including some at Kentucky State — her other alma mater.
Rice said stylists don’t always get the recognition they deserve — or sometimes any recognition at all — and she often has to tag herself in posts that showcase her work. However, collaborating with other local professionals in the industry — such as wardrobe stylist Tynaé Neal and photographer and videographer Tache May — help to bolster everyone’s work and grab the attention of a more diverse target audience.
Tache May, owner of Tache Productions Photography and Video, is an Indy-based photographer who specializes in boudoir, maternity and weddings who has been working with Rice since 2017. Their partnership, May said, is one that always sows success, as Rice has a unique way of bringing her visions to life.
“I have worked with other stylists before, but they don’t do overachievement work as Brittany does,” May said. “She’s really good when it comes to having that eye, and it’s like all her ideas always kind of match what’s in my head.”
Rice often works behind the scenes at fashion shows and photoshoots in addition to styling clients. (Photo/Tache Mays)
May said Rice refers clients to her and vice versa. They often brainstorm together and collaborate on projects: Rice comes in to style clients for various photoshoots, helps with posing, and comes up with different concepts and ideas to produce the best quality shots.
“She’s also helped my business come a long way,” May said. “Anytime someone sees Tache and Brittany come together for a project, they want to get involved.”
But when it comes to the hard and fast rules of fashion — such as mixing patterns, jewelry and no white after Labor Day — Rice said she’s not one to follow trends too closely and wears whatever she wants to and encourages others to as well.
However creatively liberating it all is, a wardrobe stylist’s work is never done, she said. Rice’s next steps include a fashion show with Tynaé Neal in August. Rice and Neal are also collaborating on the rebrand and relaunch of Viva Nicole Vintage and a “Get Ready with Me” fashion game.
Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848 or chloegm@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.
