Hi Funky Junkies! If you are like me, you are looking back on 2022 like…“How did this year end so FAST!” 2022 feels like a blur to me, but I am still excited to welcome in 2023 — refreshed and ready!
In 2022, we transitioned into a new way of living.
For many of us, we’ve finally transitioned back into a new way of living post-pandemic. It’s been tough lately, battling COVID, the flu and RSV (especially those of us with kids). The good news is our kids are now able to enjoy outdoor activities and we as adults can bond with our kids and host gatherings with our loved ones. I’m so grateful to be back outside channeling my inner child and having fun again!
I was also so excited to witness our first Black female, Supreme Court Justice in 2022 — Ketanji Brown Jackson! As a Black woman, the increase in diversity in our justice system means so much. The ability for our sons and daughters to see themselves represented at the highest level of the court is phenomenal. My daughter, Harris, aspires to one day become the President of the United States. She needs to see Justice Brown Jackson, Kamala Harris, and other leaders of color to know that her dreams are possible!
In contrast to the above milestone we made as a country, I want to reflect on the Supreme Court’s conservative move to reverse Roe vs. Wade and remove the right for women to have a choice. Although this is a controversial opinion for some, I believe that this was a grave injustice for women and that we should have the right to choose what happens to our bodies. Just as we should have the right to choose what happens to our land, our children or whether or not we want to take a vaccine. What is even more critical, is how this change occurred. This wasn’t a sudden move, but rather a well orchestrated one that took place over decades. Don’t sleep on the backroom politics and how things happen slowly and strategically in our government.
In 2022, we celebrated a milestone at Uncle Funky’s Daughter.
If you follow us on social media, you were the first to know when we announced the purchase of our first building! This is so monumental for us because when I first bought Uncle Funky’s Daughter, they were operating out of a storage unit. I get emotional just thinking about how far we have grown in the past 8 years. Our new building is big enough for us to grow into and will be home for the foreseeable future.
This milestone would have been impossible to achieve without the love and support of our Funky Junkies. As a Black-female business owner who faced many challenges growing the brand, I truly appreciate the support that you provide! Every time you walk into Target, HEB, Walgreens, CVS, Wegmans, Rite Aid, Kroger, or your local beauty supply store and ask for Uncle Funky’s Daughter products, you show a level of support that creates demand for us. This level of support means the world to me and I am extremely grateful and honored to lead and grow this company.
In 2023, we will continue to grow!
You all have been asking for a mousse and different types of products for your scalp. We’ve been working on perfecting our mousse for several years now and we are finally turning that corner in the first quarter of 2023! It’s my exclusive focus to get these products out the door and into your hands this year.
In 2023, you can also look forward to our expansion in our current national retailers! In Target we are launching Supercurl in several hundred locations. The Award Winning 3 in 1 Shine Booster will be available in Walgreens stores and our Primer will launch in select CVS stores. Yay! I’m so grateful to have the support of our national retail partners that help make it possible for our products to be readily available to our community! Again, this is all thanks to you and I cannot stress enough how appreciative I am of the support you show our brand.
Personally, I am hitting the streets!!! For so long, I have been concerned about travel and exposing my team to Covid. We drastically limited the number of events we would attend as a brand in 2022. I hope to see you guys at upcoming hair shows and other events coming up this year now that the world is open wide!
I also plan to travel with my kids this year…now that Covid restrictions are lifted. So, if you see me out in the streets, don’t be afraid to say “hey” to your girl! 🙂
I’m looking forward to all that we achieve together in 2023!
xoxo
Renee Morris (@lifebyrenee)
