Reinventing Rashaad: K&R Wireless Solutions

It doesn't take long to realize Rashaad is a naturally gifted salesman. Between transactions at the cash register and conversations with customers at his shop, K&R Wireless Solutions in Bastrop, Louisiana, he spoke to us about the struggles that made him into the man, business owner, and a staple of the community he is today.

Rashaad started his college education, but things changed when he learned he would soon become a father, something that would eventually become his most important venture. Thrown in this new circumstance, he left his education behind to support his family. However, Rashaad never stopped learning. Rashaad joined the National Guard and began working. His career in mobile devices began when he sold phones and quickly climbed up the ranks to be the number 2 salesperson in his region for Verizon. It was a natural fit when Rashaad became a manager for Verizon and then later Cricket, where he opened four stores for the company.

In 2016, Rashaad hit rock bottom. He lost his job, car, house, and family. The loss nearly destroyed Rashaad, but he tapped into his natural entrepreneurship and took on his most important project, rebuilding his life. 

His track record in the cell phone industry led him to the next opportunity that would eventually change his life. He received a call to become a contractor as a mobile repair technician while he was working a comfortable job where he felt no passion. When he talked to his family and friends about the opportunity, they were skeptical and told him not to take the risk. One person supported Rashaad, his girlfriend Kharyne who told him she trusted his judgment and would support him on any path he embarks. It should come as no surprise she later became Rashaad’s wife and helped him launch K&R Wireless Solutions. Rashaad became a leader working in repairs, quickly learning and moving up the ranks in the industry.

Rashaad found success and prosperity. Rashaad and Kharyne added to their family, bought a home, paid off their debt, and felt comfortable, making money that could support the life they always wanted. Even in the ideal life they created, Rashaad felt tired. He needed something to inspire him and give him back some freedom he lost by working on others dreams. Rashaad recalls the exact day his life changed, August 4, 2020. He had a late shift at work. His wife saw his fatigue and told him to pull the trigger on a dream he always had. Right then and there, they both decided he would sign a lease on a building he had been looking at and open his store to repair phones. On August 5, 2020, Rashaad walked into his new space with a folding table, chair, and toolkit and began to repair phones and build his business.

October 25, 2022, we are interviewing Rashaad and can hear the buzzing of his busy shop; phones ringing, the front door open and shut, and customers shopping. We hear Kharyne helping customers and repairing phones, something she learned from Rashaad along the way. Rashaad has grown his store from one folding table into, what he calls a mini "Best Buy," with over 100,000 dollars in inventory. His sales have grown significantly year after year. 

Rashaad is a retailer with Certified Cell, which offers consignment cell phone inventory to businesses. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the inventory from Certified Cell,” said Rashaad. Rashaad said the partnership with Certified Cell allows him to continue to grow without financial risk. That is good because he has big plans. “I want to open 5 stores. I have 5 children and I want each of my children to have something. I want to leave something for them,” Rashaad said.

Not only does Rashaad want to leave a legacy for his family, but he is also passionate about leaving this world a better place. Rashaad talks about the environmental impact of e-waste “If something is broken, fix it. Don’t throw it away." He believes in keeping devices out of landfills and in his customer's hands for affordable prices.

Resilient and hardworking, Rashaad fought to overcome his hurdles to achieve his goals. We appreciate his partnership and feel honored to help him pursue his dreams.