Meet Kyesha Burns | Entrepreneur, Writer, Editor, Social Media Manager, Producer, Spiritual Guide, Fact Finder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyesha Burns and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyesha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

This is a complicated question! I could say I wanted to create something for my kids or maybe give the “I just want to help others” speech. However, my time working for other people and managing their businesses led me to one singular thought. I needed to find a way to provide for myself without being stuck under the thumbs of companies that didn’t care about me.

When I was having this thought, I was also in college working on my Bachelor of Fine Arts, and I had an instructor tell me that if you are not doing what you love and making money doing it, you are failing at life. So, I thought long and hard about what I loved doing. That is how BANDS Retail Company and MEDUSA were born.

I loved learning about my heritage and the spiritual practices of our ancestors. I am also a self-taught educator willing to teach anyone who will listen. I always teach people about their heritage and the beliefs of the many tribes of Africa and Native America.

BANDS stands for Black, Afrocentric, and Nappy Dedicated S****. We are dedicated to selling products to our customers while teaching them. Have you ever gone to a store to buy a scarf, and the owners gave you the history of the scarf down to what tribe the pattern originated from? Well, that’s what we do. My second business MEDUSA stands for Magic & Enchantment Done Uniquely, Safety, and Affirmatively. That business is dedicated to teaching the spiritual practices of several cultures; we even give holistic education on various plants that our ancestors used to treat themselves when they didn’t have access to modern medicine.

One thought: “I can’t live like this.” Lead to the process behind starting my own business.

What should our readers know about your business?

How did I get to where I am now? That story would take an entire novel, so I will tell you the essential parts.

I found inspiration after I left my home state of Arkansas.

I relocated from the state of Arkansas to Florida to escape someone who had been stalking me for seven years and had tried to take my life twice. I ended up homeless with four children at the time in a domestic abuse shelter in Cocoa, FL. I needed money, and the only thing I had was ItWorks products, a weight loss company that allowed you to create your own business. I started selling their most popular item, “the wrap,” and getting people to subscribe or join my team.

That led me to sell Herbalife as well, and I did well with that company as well. That was my first attempt at entrepreneurship. Pretty soon, I was introduced to a lovely woman who sympathized with my situation and helped me find a job, and even paid for my children and me to move into a three-bedroom house with the promise that I would keep the job and pay my rent and bills myself from that point forward.

So, I let those businesses go and worked several jobs that physically drained me. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I went to school while I worked. I graduated with my Bachelor in Fine Arts for Creative Writing in the Entertainment Industry.

Writing has always been a passion, but I quickly realized I needed a backup plan if I was serious about leaving the emotionally and mentally draining experiences of working a nine to five job. So I went back to school and got my Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. While in the program, I had access to all resources to start my business the correct way.

I did my business research and found that the Afrocentric and metaphysical shops market was saturated in Florida. I became partners with Prince Holliday; he and I are classmates. In Arkansas, there are barely any Afrocentric or Metaphysical shops. In Little Rock, there is only one Afrocentric shop and only five or six metaphysical shops. So BANDS Retail Company LLC was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. What sets us apart is that we educate our customers on every single item we have. Not only that, 90% of our jewelry, skincare, and spiritual products are hand-made by us to ensure we can educate our clients on every part of each product. What isn’t made by us is purchased from small businesses in Africa, to help support them.

My second business MEDUSA was created one year later after a fierce internal debate with myself. I come from a highly religious family, so I hid my beliefs from them from the age of 23 until now, at 32. This business is my baby. I give consultations on spirituality, business, life, love, & history. All products are created by hand and from scratch, down to my candles and hand-sewn bags. I make each product fit each person’s unique spiritual journey, personality, and life. I am so glad I finally got the courage to pursue something I love. This business has changed my entire life.

MEDUSA was created to provide spiritual education to minorities. I started my spiritual journey ten years ago after my little brother passed away. I was searching for an escape from the pain that his loss caused. I was on antidepressants for that whole year after he was gone. I gained well over 50 pounds. I was angry and sad all the time. One day I was gifted with the book “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne. That book started me on the path of finding the power inside myself.

Then I started studying the true origins of the beliefs stated in the book. I have learned about many cultures and arrived at the spiritual beliefs of the Aborigines of the Americas/enslaved African Americans/West African Tribes/Native Americans. Why did I bunch them all together? They are all the same. The Peoples of those cultures use different vocabulary, names, and tools based on their heritage; however, they all practice the same beliefs.

I want to bring A LOT of what I learned to whoever seeks guidance.

The biggest challenge I have had to deal with is the lack of funding which is a big problem for most business owners in my community. We have to use our own money, which is difficult in the Middle Class, so I have had to keep my job. However, I am much closer to corporate freedom. I am no longer that young girl who lay in the shelter bed, crying myself to sleep and scared to leave outside its walls.

I have learned that courage comes from experiences. Life is what you make it, and most importantly, never give up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I relocated back to Arkansas five months ago, but there is so much to do here in Little Rock! My favorite place to go is hiking up Pinnacle Mountain’s West Summit Trail. Arkansas is a beautiful state, so any state park you can make it to is a Must!

My favorite place to eat is in downtown Little Rock called Skinny Js. Oh my God! They have the best oysters and fried green tomatoes I have ever tasted.

If you come during the summer, make sure you stop at the River Market. It’s a farmers market in Downtown Little Rock they have every Saturday. They have food and various vendors, including BANDS Retail Company and MEDUSA!

Once I get a chance to explore the capital, I am sure I will have a few more places to list!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my five children, Shaylynne, Deshawn, Yasmin, Zaydian, & Jeremiah, for always telling me how proud they are of me. It helps me get through my most challenging days. My mother and father, Tammy McElroy & Lawrence Burns, I wouldn’t be where I am now without your constant support. Lastly, to my business partner of BANDS Retail Company, Prince Hollidy V., Thank you so much for giving me the courage to start MEDUSA when I feared judgment from others.

Website: www.bandsretailcompany.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bandsretailcompany

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BANDSRetailCompany & https://m.facebook.com/MedusabyKye

Other: TikTok @medusabykye @realspillwkye – My Talk Show