Janell Stephens, CEO of Camille Rose, has always had a passion for helping people. After creating a healing balm for her children’s chronic eczema inspired by her grandmother’s natural remedies, Stephens started making her own hair and body solutions. Following the success of her homemade potions, she launched Camille Rose as a direct-to-consumer brand in 2011, selling products online and eventually expanding into Target stores by 2012.
Despite facing challenges in finding a manufacturer to produce her products due to their „food-based“ formulations, Stephens persevered and maintained a hands-on approach to product development. Her commitment to using natural ingredients and understanding her formulations has allowed her to maintain control over her brand’s quality and build trust with her customers.
Stephens stays engaged with her community through social media, grassroots events, and direct communication with customers to ensure she is meeting their needs. She leads all research and development herself, drawing inspiration from her personal lifestyle to stay ahead of trends and decide on new product launches that fill gaps in the market for Black women.
As a self-funded, Black-owned brand, Stephens advocates for more flexible pay scales for brands of different sizes and emphasizes the importance of authentic, relatable testimonials from micro-influencers within the Camille Rose community. Despite considering acquisition in moments of exhaustion, Stephens remains committed to growing Camille Rose and expanding into new product categories, with a focus on leaving a legacy of representation and success for future generations of Black-owned brands.
