What advice would you give young women who have the dream of starting their own business?
The advice I would give them is to educate yourself as fully as you possibly can before you engage in whatever company or business that you want. Now there is a great way to do that. You can find a lot of great information on Google, check out books in the library, reach out to different consultant firms and so forth.
The more educated you are, the more success you will have. And be sure to put in the hard work. I am always working. I work around the clock. I am always writing something. I have six books out and I am always trying to build businesses that will help build people up and inspire them.
Speaking of your many business ventures, can you tell us about your upcoming shoe collection?
Sheikh Shoes is a huge company. There are 140 stores around the country. I decided to work with them because when they approached me, I felt that they understood my vision. I did my show at New York Fashion Week thanks to VH1 and that was huge exposure. They just loved my personality and my fashion sense and after a few meetings we decided that it was a perfect fit.
I wanted to be able to put something out into the market that everyone can afford that’s great quality and makes women feel beautiful. My signature collection is set to launch late this spring. You can expect lots of sexy stiletto heels, versatile casual shoes and trendy handbags at an affordable price point of $50 to $100.
I’m excited because with Sheikh, I can depend on their good quality, they’re affordable and I will be able to reach a lot of people.
You mentioned a bit earlier, that you have written six books. Can you tell us a little bit about each publication?
Yes, I do. The first one is called A Marriage of Basketball, which my husband and I wrote, which is our journey and our story and all about how he made it to the league, our kids, and how we keep our marriage alive from a male and female perspective.
Then I went on to write five more. I wrote a book called Woman, a fantastic book on beauty, lifestyle, nutrition, fashion; you name it. It’s just a really great handbook for women. We did a book called Luv Pons; again, co-written with my husband Doug Christie about relationships, having fun and keeping the fire in your relationship alive.
There’s Proud To Be a Colored Girl, which also includes an eco-friendly clothing line and a song which is all about accepting and loving our different ethnicities. Sexual Relations, which I just wrote, tells his and her side of finding greater intimacy. A few of my celebrity friends are featured in there, where they offer their own antidotes from their relationships. It’s really going to be a fun, sexy guide for relationships.
Mos of my books are relationship oriented, for women or meant to inspire. My last book is called, In The Land Of Sex And Money, and that’s my first semi-fiction book, so I’m excited about it. I also have the movie script which I just completed. So I’ll be coming out with a movie for that at the end of the year.
Aside from your publications, on what other projects are you currently working?
Well, I am in the middle of launching a cosmetic collection called J.INC, which I am really excited about. Right now, we have eye shadow, lipstick and nail polish which will be offered at a very economical price. Each product is [animal] cruelty free and there’s a little bit something for everyone, from 8-year-old girls to adults to high fashion [users.] It will launch this summer and should be at all of the major department stores as well as www.JackieChristie.com.
What can fans expect from you during this season?
My fans can expect a lot of changes. I don’t want to give away the show but they can always expect the real. It’s going to be an amazing show. There are going to be a lot of twists and turns. So this is definitely going to be my favorite season of “Basketball Wives” that we’ve had. And I so look forward to just everyone enjoying it and going into the next season.
For more information on Jackie Christie and her many ventures, including her new radio show “Infinite Love,” on blogtalkradio, visit www.JackieChristie.com.
