On April 25, Kouture Xpress launched its new vending machine in partnership with Southern University Housing in Dunn Hall, where beauty meets convenience for students’ beauty and health care needs. The machine offers everything from hair essentials like shampoo and conditioner to lip-gloss and lashes perfect for Pretty Wednesday.
The event began around 11 a.m., allowing students to mix, mingle, enjoy food and drinks, and learn more about the CEO, Jace. During the event, she filmed TikTok videos with guests and gave a short speech about how grateful she was to be able to present Southern University with the vending machine and how she hopes it will be a great help to individuals on campus.
When speaking with Jace and asking her what made her want to put a vending machine on campus, she stated, “My friends and I had to walk 20 minutes in the heat to the nearest beauty supply store and I started seeing vending machines with lashes and nails, so I decided to have the beauty products accessible on campus.”
Also, when asked how long the process took from groundbreaking to approval, she stated, “I started the process 3 years ago. I took the first-year learning about entrepreneurship and pitch competitions. Year 2 was about making connections with HBCUs, especially Southern, and Year 3 was more for Southern on doing the RFP for people to apply to get the vending machines on ALL Southern campuses.”
When asking students how they feel about the new addition to campus, Chava Jackson, a sophomore majoring in nursing, stated, “That I would shop because it is different, and I never would have thought somebody would do a vending machine for beauty products.”
Syriah Conerly, a sophomore majoring in finance, stated, “It’s great and more accessible, and I don’t have to drive to the beauty store.”
As the event ended, Jace raffled off a beauty bag valued at up to $100. The prize was awarded to a student who completed a survey about what products should be added or removed, and who showed up to support her new adventure as a vending machine owner.
When asking Miss Jace, one thing she would like to tell younger girls about wanting to open up a vending machine business she stated” the entrepreneurship for us is a very different experience and difficult so I suggest and encourage to find other black women entrepreneurs in your ecosystem and have them lift you up.”
