Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Linda Mash, Owner of Linda's Natural Remedies, located in Oshawa, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I create and sell all-natural, handcrafted health and beauty products, such as lip balms, face creams, body lotions, skin toners, body sprays, deodorants, heel balms, soaps, bath bombs, and more. My customers are people looking to maximize their health and well-being by moving toward a more chemical-free lifestyle.
Tell us about yourself
In an effort to maximize the health of my family, I began my research on how to make our home as chemical-free as possible. I started investing in essential oils to help improve our health and well-being. This was the beginning of my journey to further create a healthier, more chemical-free household. The more I researched and experimented with essential oils, exploring their many benefits and uses, the more recipes I discovered, adapted, and created to benefit our home.
Soon I was regularly introducing more and more toxin-free products to my family. I began making and using my own all-natural products for skin care, bathing, cleaning, etc. We now exclusively use my homemade hand and face creams, lip balms, skin toners, tinctures, household cleaners, soaps, and more.
I absolutely love these products and won’t go back to store-bought again. Not only are these products chemical-free and therefore non-toxic, but they are also made with high-quality ingredients that have many health benefits for you, your family, and your home. I’ve been sharing these products with friends and family for several years. They constantly encourage me to make them available for purchase to a wider audience. And now I’m ready to do so!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is hearing people tell me my products work for them. Knowing I’ve created a product that resolves an issue someone is having or increases their well-being in some way gives me a wonderful sense of pride!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that I’ve come up against with this business is getting the word out about my products and reaching the people who will most benefit from using them. Because this started as something I was doing for family and friends, most of my early customer connections came from word of mouth. Reaching beyond my immediate community has been the biggest hurdle so far.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Research! Research! Research! Be sure you do your research. In my case, this means researching recipes, properties of ingredients, demand for various products, etc. Also, research your target market. Know who will use your products or services.
- Show me the money! You need start-up money to get set up. Money ensures you can access the materials, tools, and resources you need to get your business up and going.
- Slow and steady wins the race! Establish a core base of solid products you can stand behind, then introduce new products slowly. And don’t be afraid to get rid of products that don’t work out.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://lindasnaturalremedies.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindasnaturalremedies.ca
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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