Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Dunbar
Toni, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Sometimes the inspiration for a business can find you unexpectedly. For Toni of IMME & More, this was her experience. And although she wasn’t actively looking to start her own business, Toni’s experience and connections prepared her to recognize and seize the opportunity when it presented itself.
After graduating from Murray State University with a major in public relations and minor in marketing and advertising, Toni worked as a trade marketing representative. She also served as a marketing director for the Kentuckiana Minority Business Council, worked with Leadership Louisville, and made the Louisville Business First 40 Under 40. She wanted to see and do more, which led her to Washington, DC and now resides in Ohio.
Making beaded jewelry was a calming way to release stress for Toni and her daughters. It was a calming, meditative activity that refocused her mind on creativity rather than the stress ahead. Toni is a single mother of 3 beautiful children (Landon, Bella and Sophia)
Reconnecting her daughters to their father’s African roots, Toni acquired recycled glass beads made in Ghana to work with. In helping her daughter anxiety, she also saw a chance to help bead makers there. After finding her first show things began to fall into place and Toni opened IMME & More, a brick-and-mortar location in her hometown of Louisville and the second location in Ohio which she resides.
The name IMME is a combination of the words “I’m me”. It celebrates individuality and being one’s authentic self. In the beginning, Toni sold handmade beaded goods – bracelets, necklaces, and waistbeads – imported from Ghana. Today, about 40% of IMME’s handmade goods are imported; the other 60% made by Toni using materials from other countries.
IMME & More location in Kentucky is managed by her mom. The Ohio Location is managed by Toni with 2 employees.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth ride. Just like any other business you will find that once people find out that something works for you, they try to replicate it. IMME had lost sales and had to find other ways to replace loss profit. So, we started traveling to other states and attending festivals and decided to get IMME & More trademarked and started a kid’s line- Bella Baby and friends.
We always challenge IMME to improve what we are doing and staying ahead of the curve. The owner of IMME is also a meditation teacher certified by The Path. She teaches how to meditate with beads at a conference 3 times a year with the Body Mind and Spirit Expo in Ohio.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a creative person, I feel in love with the option of other people loving what I create, I create with love and use everyday experiences influence my work. I specialize in using Recycled glass beads from Ghana to guide my creativity, as well as other materials from Mali, Kenya and India.
People mostly know me for tying their Ghanaian Waistbeads at the mall or at a festival in Kentucky or Ohio. I am most proud of being able to give back to the vendors and a private school in Ghana. There is still a lot of work to do but having the opportunity to help is what fuels me.
Another moment to be proud of is being invited by Bey Good (Beyonce Carter nonprofit) as a part of 100 business to be recognized in Chicago with celebrity guests and dinner,
At IMME we set ourselves a part by providing an experience that includes African Cultures that meets Bohemian Vibes.
How do you define success?
I define success as having IMME & More a part of my kids’ lives, my grandchildren and their families, IMME & More will be a legacy. Success is knowing that I have built this company to be a part of every day life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.immewaistbead.com
- Instagram: immewaistbead
- Facebook: imme_waistbead
