Inspired by her grandmother and encouraged by her deep faith, Natalie Craig has had an innate desire to help others since she was a young girl. Her interests first led her to nursing, where she served in hospitals and learned about many dire cases, including those experienced by at-risk children. By Brianna Bohn
Inspired by her grandmother and encouraged by her deep faith, Natalie Craig has had an innate desire to help others since she was a young girl. Her interests first led her to nursing, where she served in hospitals and learned about many dire cases, including those experienced by at-risk children. Years later, even after a career change into hairdressing and business management, Craig continued to be drawn to helping at-risk youth. She founded Walk In Their Shoes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children in group home settings, in 2017.
At first, Craig was gathering new clothes and shoes for children in need. However, after learning about a significant problem that affects children in shelters, her efforts shifted. “Kids who get picked up by Child Protective Services get a trash bag to put their belongings in, and then they go from one shelter or foster care to another, feeling like trash,” she explained. “I knew I had to fix that. I designed a bag that looks like a luxury bag, but it has an insulated hidden compartment to store food and other things in, it has backpack straps and it’s washable.”
As the CEO and founder of REGIMEN™, a successful luxury salon for men, Craig knew that she could broaden the impact of her nonprofit if she tapped into the generosity of her clientele. REGIMEN partnered with Walk In Their Shoes, and for every immersion bag purchased, another is donated to a foster child so they have a safe place to keep their belongings. According to Craig, the response has been incredible, and she already has 500 bags in production. Her goal is to have franchisees help their communities while benefiting from another revenue stream.
“Every franchise location will be able to retail the immersion bags, and whether a bag is purchased retail or wholesale, another bag will be donated to a child. This salon is not just about the business industry; it’s about giving back what God has blessed you with. As a child, you’re taught to help others. We’re taking this nationwide so franchisees can help everyone in their communities,” Craig said.
Staying true to her roots, Craig is dedicated to taking care of her immediate community – her hairdressers – as well. “Hairdressers and barbers don’t have insurance, they don’t have a 401k, and those are things I’m pushing with the franchise. Our hairdressers deserve better, including a good wage. We’re offering a 401k and health insurance through Paychex; we’re bringing a lot of things that a corporate company has for their employees,” Craig said.
REGIMEN is shaking up the hair salon industry, which according to IBISWorld has a market size of $48.3 billion. This is a ground-floor opportunity for those wanting to build a business that invests in the self-esteem and confidence of its clients and community. As REGIMEN continues to grow, Craig remains committed to spreading awareness about children in need.
“This is my calling. I want to make an impact,” Craig said.
Brianna Bohn