After seven years in business, we thought our “7 Years, 7 Days, 7 Reasons to Celebrate” campaign would be a moment to simply highlight how far we’ve come. But as we went through the brand refresh process, we uncovered lessons we didn’t see coming, and each one gave us a chance to grow stronger as founders, as a company, and as a community.
Here are three powerful lessons we learned along the way.
1. We were working for the brand instead of letting the brand work for us.
Over time, it’s easy to slip into management mode, checking off tasks, showing up to every obligation, and trying to meet everyone’s expectations. But when you’re doing all that, creativity starts to take a back seat.
We realized that we’d been running the brand instead of allowing the brand to run with us. We lost some of the joy, freedom, and connection that inspired Kazmaleje in the first place. This refresh was our opportunity to pause, breathe, and get back to who we are as creators, innovators, and storytellers dedicated to honoring the beauty and complexity of textured hair.
2. Holes in your process = money lost.
This one was a hard truth. During the refresh, we discovered several areas in our business that simply weren’t working the way they should have been. Processes we’d outgrown, systems that needed updates, and opportunities slipping through the cracks.
Every “hole” represented resources — time, money, and energy — that we couldn’t hold onto because our “container” wasn’t whole. It was a reminder that growth doesn’t just come from doing more, it comes from doing things better. Sometimes, the blessing can’t expand until you fix the container that’s meant to hold it.
3. Reconnecting to creativity opens new opportunities.
Once we started to patch those holes and get back to the why behind what we do, new ideas began to flow. From product development to content strategy, we started to see ways we could show up more authentically as founders and as a brand.
We moved from routine to ritual, from management to meaning. And that shift reignited our creativity in ways we didn’t expect.
This refresh wasn’t just about a new look. It was about rediscovering the heart of Kazmaleje.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing this journey has taught us, it’s that evolution is part of the process. You can’t grow without reflection, and you can’t thrive without refinement. We’re grateful for every twist, turn, and lesson experienced along this journey and we can’t wait to keep creating with you.
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