Congratulations to Beauty Hive Beauty Supply, South Bend’s Newest Small Business!

“We’re not just moving our city forward; we’re moving our family forward. We’re letting our family know that you can do things. You can do your own thing. You can do this too!”

Willie Dearing, Owner of Beauty Hive Beauty Supply

On Saturday, May 8th, local entrepreneur Willie Dearing cut a large red ribbon, officially opening her own small business, Beauty Hive Beauty Supply, in downtown South Bend.

Alongside her business partners, friends, family, church community, and South Bend Mayor James Mueller, Ms. Dearing brought to fruition a vision she had to “serve the community, and do a good job” by offering high quality hair and beauty products in South Bend.

Prior to cutting the ribbon, Ms. Dearing spoke not only about this vision, borne from frustrations with a lack of beauty supplies in the community, but also about the hurdles she had to overcome to make it a reality. She discussed the support that helped her do so; she referenced her steadfast family, her church congregation, and the broader community. She also spoke about the guidance and resources she received through CDFI Friendly South Bend.

We at CFSB were thrilled to connect Ms. Dearing with one of our CDFI partners in the region, Allies for Community Business (A4CB), to provide her with a small business loan and coaching. With this guidance and cash flow from A4CB, Ms. Dearing was able to successfully open the doors to her new small business. South Bend Mayor James Mueller, in remarks at Beauty Hive’s grand opening, noted that

Saturday was a great day not only for Ms. Dearing, but for the city as a whole. “It’s always a great day when we can celebrate the start of something new,” he began, “and we are looking forward to all the possibilities that lie ahead.” Mayor Mueller also reflected on the importance of “getting more of these good news stories” by connecting entrepreneurs like Ms. Dearing – those who bring the “idea, and will, and grit” – with the resources they need to thrive. “We’re thrilled to have CDFI Friendly South Bend,” he continued, “which will keep businesses like [Beauty Hive] moving forward here in our community.”

CFSB Board Chair Ramal Taylor, who spoke at the grand opening and was instrumental in facilitating the connection between Ms. Dearing and A4CB, remarked that “It was such an amazing thing to see Ms. Dearing and her family. I could see how much this meant for her, to do this with them in mind. I’m proud CFSB could help her with that!”

Events like these are what CDFI Friendly South is all about: connecting remarkable entrepreneurs like Ms. Dearing with the resources they need to succeed, we can transform lives, families, and communities.

We wish Beauty Hive all the best as they embark on this journey, and are eager to help the next small business in South Bend open its doors.