Kandi’s Crushin’ It

Among the top questions people Google about Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burrus: “Is Kandi Burruss a billionaire?”

Here’s your answer: Not yet, but she’s trying pretty damn hard to get there. 

In addition to being a Bravo-lebrity, Burruss is a Grammy award-winning songwriter (“No Scrubs”); erstwhile girl group singer (Xscape); Broadway producer (“Thoughts of a Colored Man,” debuting in October); actress (“The Chi”); restaurateur (Old Lady Gang and Blaze Steakhouse in Atlanta); retailer (Bedroom Kandi; Raising Ace; TAGS) .... frankly, it’s tiring to list all the irons in this woman’s fire.

So here’s the one thing Burruss is not: A Chuck E. Cheese franchisee. “Oh, I wanted a Chuck E. Cheese so bad,” she said. “I also wanted a Krispy Kreme because I love Krispy Kreme. Or a Waffle House.”

What stopped her? “I was talking to a financial manager and saying that I really wanted to get a Chuck E. Cheese. And he was like, ‘Why would you do that? Why don't you just start your own brand?’ I was like, ‘Well, I don't know!’ At the time, it really didn't seem feasible,” she said.

These days it is very feasible. Burruss and her husband/business partner Todd Tucker are currently toying with the idea of becoming franchisors of their Old Lady Gang southern food concept. 

It’s all quite the come-up for the teenager who used to read books like “The Millionaire Next Door” on the Xscape tour bus. While other young and successful entertainers were dreaming of diamonds and mansions, she was learning how to live below her means and the importance of multiple income streams. 

“I didn't go to college because my career started when I was in high school,” Burruss said. “But we all know the entertainment industry is not dependable. So I had to figure out ways to make money to continue living that lifestyle that I had started building at such an early age.”

Today, “multiple income streams” has become sort of a mantra for Burruss, one which she shares with the independent consultants of Bedroom Kandi, her direct sales business. The party based-business allows women with day jobs, particularly women of color, to create another income source for their household. “Multiple income streams is something I guess I’m passionate about,” she said.

So, 1851 Franchise caught up with Burruss to get her insights on franchising Old Lady Gang, helping women achieve success and joining Rihanna on billionaire’s row. 

1851 Franchise: You won a Grammy, but do you remember a single moment that was your highlight as an entrepreneur? 

Kandi Burruss: Well, this past year is a huge highlight for me in business. After everything went haywire with COVID, a lot of businesses went through some trying times. Initially, it was affecting my businesses as well. But my company, Bedroom Kandi, has gone on to have our biggest year —  the year of the pandemic. That is an extremely high moment in business for me.

1851: Bedroom Kandi was being sold through home parties via consultants, so that must have been a difficult pivot.

Burruss: We had to figure out ways to make it fun for people to do online parties. We had to be more creative. So early on, we started doing conference calls with our consultants and pushed the importance of using social media, the internet and thinking outside of the box. We also dropped prices of memberships to get more people who were interested in being part of our company to join. We had a record number of people who became consultants during that time. They came in with a new mentality and were using the internet and social media in different ways to promote their business. 

1851: Why do you think that was?

Burruss: It was like the consultants became even more determined. We just had our second virtual convention in August. The first one was last August, and we had to do a virtual convention then, whereas we normally do this in person. We had a record turnout because people can join from their home.

1851: How did you pivot your restaurants during the pandemic?

Burruss: It was a very scary time at first because initially we shut down for the first two months during the pandemic. When we opened back up, we just followed all of the COVID safety rules. We took a lot of our tables out of the restaurant to allow people to be spaced out more. 

1851: Have you considered franchising as a growth strategy for Old Lady Gang?

Burruss: It’s funny you just asked about that. My husband and I have just started really researching on how we go about doing that. We are currently shooting a television show about our restaurant so we are already doing well, but we just feel like it's going to be another level in 2022, and we would definitely love to see more of them in different cities. 

1851: Have you been approached about franchising in the past?

Burruss: Yes, but we were new. We were still trying to establish our rules, procedures, systems and regulations of how we wanted our restaurants to work. To make sure that locations were all going to have the same experience. We just thought it would be too early when we were first approached. Now, we're just getting more excited about the idea ... possibly.

1851: What are some of the challenges in broadening a personal brand to other sectors?

Burruss: You have to start out knowing your audience. I have a huge female following, so I feel like what I personally can relate to is typically what my fans or people who support me do as well. When I did my research before starting my adult brand, I discovered — I don't know if I can even say this in your publication —  a majority of women have never experienced an actual orgasm. I was like, ‘Okay, why does it always have to be so hush hush about a woman getting an adult product?’ It was my goal to normalize it. And for an African American woman, it really was unheard of, because for some reason in the African American community, it's always been like, ‘You’re not supposed to talk about sex, you’re not supposed to do this, you’re not supposed to do that.’ I suppose, though, that it was kind of shocking when I first brought out Bedroom Kandi. 

1851: Tell me about the importance of helping women create their own wealth through Bedroom Kandi.

Burruss: It's super important. I'm always pushing people to be their own boss. So people who never thought they could be entrepreneurs, we helped them become what they always wanted to be. 

1851: Rihanna, another singer-turned-entrepreneur, is now a billionaire and then some. Are you looking to join her in the billion-dollar club? 

Burruss: First, what she's done with her brands is amazing. I love what she's doing. I love the creativity behind it. But yes, of course, it would be a dream come true to be able to achieve billionaire status.