Look Back At 2018: A Message from Lorin & Kyle

“It’s been a year of unlocking purpose, inspiring and educating hundreds in the beauty industry, and making a difference in the lives of those who needed to be reminded of their worth. We can’t wait for more in 2019!”

We can’t believe that 2018 is over! When they say time flies, they aren’t kidding. It’s been a year filled with beautiful, challenging things, significant growth and the joy of partnering with more and more people who are inspired to make a difference with us! Here’s a look back at an amazing year:

New Products LAUNCHED…

We launched four new hair products in 2018 - Classic Shampoo, Styling Spray, Texture Paste, and Styling Cream…all of which have become fan favorites! We love hearing testimonies of the amazing things the products are doing for your hair, and we are so glad you LOVE the scents so much. We also launched our YouTube tutorials with YOU in mind. MISSIO had the honor of being featured in Twist & Pin’s Winter season and we loved creating fun tutorials with them! And of course, one of the best launches of the year was the launch of our candles! We could hardly keep them in stock!

Spreading MISSIO…

It was so amazing to get out of NC to spread the word about MISSIO this year. The highlights included speaking in Dallas at N2 Publishing’s National Conference, being featured in the POPSUGAR Playground in NYC, making new friends at a pop-up at Citizen Supply in Atlanta and exhibiting and educating at our first hair show at Premier Birmingham! Our brand continued to expanded across the country - now MISSIO products can be found East to West, as far as California - as well as ten other states- AL, FL, GA, IN, NE, OK, PA, SC, TN and VA!

Purpose + Impact…

EDUCATE: We had the opportunity to educate hundreds on the warning signs of human trafficking this year - from college students to individual salons to professionals at a beauty industry trade show. We know that this initiative is making an impact not only because of the incredible response and feedback, but also because of the calls and reports we have received about women being identified through the stylists and salon owners we have educated. 

MOBILIZE: Each opportunity we had to serve and mobilize others to serve this year was also incredibly meaningful! We partnered with organizations such as Five 14 Revolution, Vigilant Hope, and First Fruits Ministries to offer shower trailers days and haircuts to the homeless and vulnerable, as well as those in at-risk and recovery situations. We empowered and trained countless stylists to serve and launched our first three stylist Ambassadors, who are now leading services initiatives. We cheered on those inspired by MISSIO nationwide and received reports of them serving their own communities! After experiencing the devastation of Hurricane Florence on the East Coast, we rallied to provide two days of haircuts to hurricane victims at an emergency shelter in Wilmington, NC. To close the year MISSIO stylists donated thousands of dollars worth of salon gift certificates to our non-profit partners to be used by their staff and members who are overcoming exploitation.

GIVE: We were honored to help financially support our non-profit partners and their amazing work. Five 14 Revolution stands “for the one- impacting one life, one heart, one woman at a time- for freedom from sexual exploitation.” This year we helped contribute to their emergency fund to help the women they serve. We were also able to support the work of A Safe Place and sponsor a table at their “A Day in the Life Luncheon.” This was the first full year that the Emergency Shelter and was made available for housing - something to celebrate as it is the first of its kind on the East Coast! We wrapped up the year with amazing meetings with these two partner non-profits where we gave over $1,000 worth of Christmas gifts and financial support plus $2800 in gift cards and salon services. Lastly, following the hurricane, we completed our candle GIVE campaign and hand delivered candles to those affected by hurricane Florence to bring LIGHT into their homes - an unplanned and unexpected, yet very beautiful giving project.

Team and Office GROWTH…

We are proud to say we moved out of our garage and coffee shops into our first real office space and studio at the Cargo District. and we absolutely love being a part of Coworx Community in Wilmington, NC. We were privileged to grow our team, adding Lauren as our Salon Partnership Manager and two amazing interns this year - Catherine and Hayley. Mary, our Chief Brand Ambassador, became a mama AGAIN this past year - let’s just say she’s superwoman. ;) We’re incredibly proud of and grateful for our team and all that they do!

Thank YOU…

As we take the time to look back, there is so much that we have to be grateful for. We have seen the impact that each one of these initiatives has made in RESTORING worth and aiding in the rescue, recovery and rehabilitation of those subject to human trafficking and exploitation. And all of this was made possible by a dream, a God-given vision involving something as simple as hair products. Stylists have a unique ability to make a difference, and it’s amazing to see this vision come to life.

Thank you to those who have believed in MISSIO, who’ve partnered with this work through purchases and retail partnership, and those who’ve served with us. We have so much to celebrate all because of YOU and your support. Thank you for spreading the word and choosing MISSIO. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making a difference with us in 2018!!!

Looking AHEAD…

So what’s next in 2019? We can’t wait to share!!! We are excited about new products, partnerships, and opportunities to make an impact. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of this journey. Here’s to even more amazing things ahead!

With love and gratitude,

Lorin and Kyle (Founders of MISSIO Hair)