Community Highlights: Meet RaShawnda Wright of Cap Creation

Today we’d like to introduce you to RaShawnda Wright.

Hi RaShawnda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am native to Des Moines, IA and have been living in the Kansas City area for 21 years now. I started working in the insurance industry right out of college and had a successful 20 years in the industry. I left my career in June of last year to focus full-time on our three businesses. I am co-owner to ZOOM Mobile Gaming (2017), Hairmax Salon (2020) and Cap Creation LLC (2021). The idea of Cap Creation LLC was started in 2020 when my daughter graduated from high school. She has naturally curly hair and it didn’t take long to realize that her graduation cap was not going to fit with her hair. She was devastated and as a parent, I wanted nothing more than to help her look and feel her best at her graduation. We discovered that there were no products that addressed this problem that many students have. Many students have to alter their hair in some way to make the cap fit and that was unacceptable to us. After graduation, we decided that it was worth trying to come up with something that could give students who have challenges wearing the graduation cap due to their hair type or style an option. We watched many episodes of Shark Tank to get a feel for how a product-based company starts from scratch. We made an at-home version of our idea, found someone to make our prototype, filed for patent protection and finally, began working with a manufacturer. Cap Creation was established as a company in April of 2021 and we started selling our first product Grad Cap Remix in 2022.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Fortunately, the road has been fairly smooth. The design and manufacturing process went very smooth, we were lucky to have found some great partners that have helped a ton to make that part a positive experience. I would say any challenges that we have faced so far is just outreach and exposure. With having a brand new never seen before product, it takes quite a bit of work to get it out there for everyone to know it even exists.

As you know, we’re big fans of Cap Creation LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cap Creation LLC develops products for diverse hair types. Our first product is Grad Cap Remix, it is an insert that transforms the existing graduation to make it more wearable for all hair types.

We started selling direct to consumer in April of 2022 and the interest and feedback have been amazing! We have TikTok videos that have reached 6M views, countless comments and testimony of how our product would have changed the graduation experience for so many people. Sales came in quickly and we shipped Grad Cap Remix to customers in all 50 states with requests to ship internationally as well.

Our success so far keeps us pushing forward and we want all students to know that they have an option to wear whatever hair they want at graduation. We are most proud that we are bringing awareness to an overlooked problem that many students encounter. Grad Cap Remix is helping to promote hair diversity and inclusion during a very special time in student’s lives. Our motto is: Change the cap-NOT your hair!

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My advice is to step out of your box and get uncomfortable. It’s cliché, but it truly is the only way to grow. Since I was an Underwriter in my corporate career, it didn’t require me to have to network much. My only networking was within my office and with my peers. When you start your own business and become a full-time entrepreneur, you are on your own to create your “office” environment and peers. Networking is not about just promoting your business. You also get to promote yourself and have a social outlet. I am still learning what works best for me with networking, but to begin, I just started signing up for stuff. I joined a lot of Facebook groups and follow their events and just go until I find what is just right for me.

Pricing:

• Grad Cap Remix -19.99

Contact Info:

• Website: gradcapremix.com
• Instagram: GradCapRemix
• Facebook: GradCapRemix
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFO2o25Com_KqjVO3zLyKg