Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jessica Pratt, Co-Founder of Leiamoon LLC., located in Sherman, CT, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

LEIAMOON is a company focused on distributing information, developing products, and sharing stories to provide tools for women's self-care. Our focus is on the practice of vaginal steaming, and the main product we've developed is a home electronic vaginal steam seat. Our customers are people looking to transform and enhance their relationship with their womb space. Whether they're post-period, postpartum, trying to get pregnant, menopausal, or simply interested in giving their most sensitive area some TLC, vaginal steaming has something valuable to offer.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a licensed architect, and about six summers ago, I was dealing with intense burnout that was affecting my mood and menstrual cycle. I learned about the ancient ritual of vaginal steaming at a community gathering (thank you, Brooklyn, NY!), was gifted with some calming herbs for v-steaming, and went home to give it a shot. I felt immediately grounded and relaxed and realized how rare it was to allow my body to open in complete calmness, on my own terms, in my own space. Integrating v-steaming as a regular practice each month after my period, I felt very tuned in to the vital role of self-care in my life. My husband and business partner, Andrew, encouraged me to use my design skills to create a modern steam seat to make vaginal steaming easier, safer, and more accessible to a greater audience. We believe that transforming our relationship to the womb space is a vital step towards improving our relationships with ourselves, each other, and the planet. The vagina, the womb space, the yoni—whatever word you choose to call it—is the incredible source of all human life, so we're quite motivated to help others connect with, care for, and honor this incredible part of the body.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In 2019, when I became a mom, we also launched our first successful crowdfunding campaign to begin prototyping the LEIAMOON Steam Seat design. With the support of our community cheering us on, we began the intense process of creating an unprecedented electronic product from drawing to a tangible physical object, hand-in-hand with our manufacturing partner. After years of detailed development, earning patents, and undergoing strict material and safety testing, we're now in the midst of our very first production run!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

As entrepreneurs and parents running a lean startup, our attention can feel rather divided. There is so much to do to manage our products and brand each day... from marketing and social media to packaging design and managing inventory to communicating with our customers and factory. Our list of 'to-do's' is always long and always being added to, so it can feel paralyzing at times. We have to wear many hats and take on tasks that aren't typically in our comfort zone. However, being a husband and wife team, we do a good job of dividing and conquering and holding each other accountable. We consciously take time to be grateful for the opportunities we're creating and remind ourselves that we're doing the best we can on this unique journey together.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don't stop. Keep going! The road is long and winding, but if you stop, so does everything else.
  2. As much as everyone loathes it at times, build a strong presence on social media and your email list to story-tell as you go. Having a community of people supporting what you do is highly motivating and grows a strong network when you're ready to sell.
  3. Find and ask for help when you need it. You'll be surprised how many resources are out there. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Come check out our latest campaign on IndieGogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/leiamoon-your-home-electronic-steam-seat.

New to vaginal steaming? Everything you need to know is on our website, including animated diagrams and videos, so please check it out and connect with us! www.leiamoon.com

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.leiamoon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leiamoonwomen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leiamoonwomen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leiamoonwomen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leiamoon/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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