Crusade Entrepreneurs #6: Sabrina
Tarheelnny aka Sabrina
What’s your 9-5? What’s your 5-9?
9-5 Television Producer for Court TV covering major cases/court hearings…ranging from Michael Jackson to Robert Blake to Scott Peterson.
5-9 CEO/Designer of my custom apparel & jewelry company called beanpYe.
When did you start? How did you get your start?
Media: As a junior in college, I cold called and BADGERED every talk show you could name to get an internship for experience. And with my LUCK…lol…I ended up interning for the good old, exploiting RIKKI LAKE SHOW. (ya’ll I have 1,001 stories)..but I don’t regret it one bit.
Anyway, almost 2 yrs later…the producers of RIKKI LAKE created the JUDGE HATCHETT show in which I landed my first job out of college as a production assistant.
Soon after, I became an associate producer for that show and later a bi-coastal junior creative consultant for the Columbia Tri-Star LA and NY offices regarding Judge Hatchett’s personal and work related projects (the judge is such a mentor to me and has opened up so many doors).
I took a NICE PAY CUT to stop working 93 hours a week for Columbia Tri-Star TV to work for Court TV which is a 9-5 (which is unheard of in TV). I wanted more time to focus on fashion and music. I don’t regret it one bit…plus producing shows at Court TV is much more meaningful to a certain degree for me than producing shows on JUDGE HATCHETT (although I terribly miss working with the kids there.)
Fashion: I have been piecing together old vintage clothing and jewelry/stones since I was a teenager, but I didn’t think about turning it into a business until the spring of 2004.
I got started by taking old clothes I couldn’t wear anymore or shredding old clothes I thought were out of style and I meshed two or three articles of clothing together to accentuate each other.
Example:
-Old GAP denim pencil skirt
-a southwestern bandana with a horse and lasso on the front
-an old $3.00 necklace from Claire’s
-one can of chrome spray paint
I’ll distress the denim skirt with scissors and a steel brush and a couple sprinkles of bleach. Cut out the most interesting parts of the bandana and sew it on the side of the skirt. Rip the beads from the necklace and hand sew the beads on the skyline or lasso of the bandana to make the skirt 3-dimensional. I’ll take the spray paint and highlight various parts of the skirt around the distressed areas to give it more charac Why choose this particular career/industry? Media: TV is like my personality…unstructured, unpredictable, and high energy… Fashion: Well, I like creating any and everything from scratch and I LOVE AUTHENTIC pieces…whether its furniture or clothing or jewelry or original words behind an original beat. The thought of creating something from nothing is just amazing to me. I love to shop, but lately shopping had gotten boring because everything I saw was so redundant and worn by the masses…with absolutely no character to it….so I blazed my own trail. Is/was education important in achieving your goals? I have formal education in communication from UNC, and that has helped me communicate in all walks of live to the nth degree; however, I have no training PERIOD (aside from my good ole’ fashion trial and error on a sewing machine) with fashion. I know how to draw/sketch what I want and then I make/create the design from there. In the world of fashion…all you need is drive, a creative mind, networking skillz…and a good book on biz /industry tips. Of course, confidence and thinking outside the box is a PLUS, PLUS! What are some of your weaknesses and strengths? Strengths: Endless creativity, initiator, patient, resilient, prompt/efficient, and I’m loyal. Weakness: The rigid business side of things are a COMPLETE BORE TO ME so I have to dig deep to sit in biz meetings that lack the creative vibe, tendency to waiver in decisions at times (but that is quickly, and I mean quickly dissolving) What qualities are needed to survive in your career? In your industry? NETWORKING GURU and major CONTACTS, you need to master the art of persuasion, and a mind that is constantly thinking out of the box and one step ahead of the rest. What makes you unique? Media: I can have a conversation with ANYONE from ANYWHERE and be consistent and memorable. I talk with the same tone, energy and vocab as I would to the prez of the US to a homeless man. Fashion: The fact that all of my pieces are one-of-a-kind and not mass produced like almost every other line. No one else in the world will have a replica of the item you purchase. It’s extremely exclusive. What advice do you have for those interested in your career? In your industry? TV: You’ve got to love it to work in the field…often in creative fields…you will not make the major money like more rigid jobs… Fashion: Network, make your biz plan simple yet tremendously unique, and study your consumer and target audience, treat your customers like they are gold…without them, there’s no you. Words to live by? Motto? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Message Tarheelnny aka Sabrina and WIN and tell them what you think
By WIN on 7/14/2005
[read on] 
[37 comments]
The 2-Way
37 comments
Crusade galleries
posted by: ohsokool on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
living the dual life too huh? keep making moves and much sucsess with beanpYe.
posted by: sweet g on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Nice..u keep on hustling. Still waiting for them pieces to come my way girl.
luv wht your doing…Peace
posted by: BILL COSBY on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
THAT’S AWESOME. YOU ARE DEFINETLY A GO-GETTER. GOOD LUCK IN EVERYTING ELSE THAT YOU GET INVOLVED WITH. NICE WORK!
posted by: deka on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
get those accounts!!! don’t let anyone tell you wrong!
posted by: Ronnie on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
That skirt sounds fabulous!!! Keep up the good work w/ the jewelry.
posted by: RoyaleWithCheese on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Congrats sucka. Keep makin them accessories to success(I know that was corny but….)
posted by: dreadedcutiepie on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
congrats on your success tar! it’s good and very inspiring to see a sista holding it down!
and i need to hit you up on the clothing tip! sounds like you’re making some nice stuff! do ya thing!
posted by: FOLKS on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Tar, nice post and congrats on your success! Do you plan to continue in TV or do you plan to eventually work at your fashion line full time?
posted by: ultra on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
GREAT knowing you girl! Glad to have you on the Ladies Forum as well and I look forward to building and collaborating soon!
Power to the strong women!
posted by: socialb77 on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Country Girl making it happen in the BIG CITY
Kudos To You!!
posted by: 770Princess on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Go Big Country!!! Do it girl …
posted by: PrinceMarcel on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Professional single women
posted by: shadesnyc on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
to a fellow fashionista
cheers!
good luck with the line, and you know i will help however i can (whenever i can slow down!)
I STILL WANT THAT WHITE JACKET!!!!
posted by: LARRY LOVE on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
you still as country as a brown egg… but a unique one!
posted by: tarheelnny on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
thanks for the luv ya’ll!!
LL…I loved that brown egg comment…boy..too fuunny!
SWEET G..I haven’t forgotten about your artist…I haven’t forgotten at all.
SHADESNYC, 770, PRINCE, DEKA…thanks for the LUV!!
QUOTE
Tar, nice post and congrats on your success! Do you plan to continue in TV or do you plan to eventually work at your fashion line full time?
good question FOLKS…
well the main goal is for me to be my own boss for now until the biz REALLY REALLY takes off how I want it..I will continue to work in TV and bank that money in several accounts and only live off the $ I make off my company. I want to have 2 jobs but only live off one income. I will make investments with the TV money and in turn it will pay off for my biz and my life…I’m working out the details with my advisor.
posted by: Madi on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
All Looking good
posted by: frank lee on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
marry me !
posted by: bill lee on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
no…marry me!
posted by: Khris on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
wilson sit down!!
nah, i’m proud of u girl…keep doing yo thizzle….can’t wait til the next get together in NY
posted by: etoile noir on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
brown egg keep doing it!!!! khris, wilson and brooklyn will keep standing UP!!
you know i’m gonna hit u up for all my hook-ups before i leave.
posted by: commonwealth on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
definitly a all around good person. nice to see the hustle looking good! keep it up
foots!haha
posted by: LIL PEEDY on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
that’s what i’m talking ’bout ma…cause you know it’s like i always said “if it ain’t about a dollar, then who the he** told you that”…now let me shut up before i get evicted…
posted by: Meeko on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
yeah, yeah…i’m the hype man….nnnooooorrrrrtthhhhhhhh ccccaaacccciiiilllllaaaaacccccc….and check out my boy lil peedy’s video “POP AND LOCK”
posted by: eboogie3 on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
wow, what an inspiration…it was so nice talking with you the other day, women like you continue to remind me why its so important to pursue your passion relentlessly regardless of whatever! Thanks for the encouragement, your going to blow girl! Can’t wait for the website, I wish you continued success!
peace
posted by: ToshaT on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
DO YOUR THING LADY! NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO BEING YOUR OWN BOSS! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. LOOK FORWARD TO ROCKIN’ SOME OF YOUR CUSTOM MADE ITEMS! MUCH RESPECT!!!
posted by: Jeffrey S. Mandel on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Looking for in house counsel!?! Proud of you my Tarheel friend. . .and that’s coming from a diehard Hoosier! Is the hat for sale?
posted by: abranch on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Very inspiring.
posted by: Rahiem Shabazz on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Seems like I may be updating that Bio or writing an entirely different one for Ms. Fashionista. Holla back at your boy.
posted by: V Forsythe on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Keep up the creative designing! I wish you the best in the business world of fashion.
posted by: erban on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
you go ‘head!
posted by: Nando on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
WOW … what an AMAZING woman … so centered, motivated, and talented … she’s truly BREAKIN OUT!
Is she coming out w/ a mens line soon??
posted by: T.K.Rich on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
The importance of interning….I love it….This is very motivational…..Congrats….
posted by: Tanya on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
An intelligent, driven, personable and beautiful sister can NOT be stopped. Keep on keepin’ on and stay positive. Looking forward to your next showing. God Bless.
posted by: Kimberly Wilson on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
Hey Sab,
I am so very proud of you!!!!! WILSON STAND UP!!!!!!
posted by: brandon on 07/14/2005 at 10:31 am
mr. wonderful is a NOT ORIGINAL WORK. you copied that from Concep who makes gear in NYC. you copied the make love print EXACT. that’s wack
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