Natural & Organic Artisan Skincare - Me and a Tree Skincare

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Touchstone-Olivencia, founder of Me and a Tree Skincare, located in Wilder, TN, USA.

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

I am in the business of helping people be confident in their own skin - literally! I am in the business of HOPE. Hope for sensitive & problematic skin needs. My business is giving people confidence in the image they present to the world. Skin is something we show to other people, be it in our professional or personal lives. Having beautiful skin is like wearing your favorite pair of jeans or clothing item - you just feel more like your true self - playful, loving, confident - and professional.

Tell us about yourself

I was a business and music major, and little did I know how important both would be in my life. I was in the public eye a lot, being on stage, traveling, and recording while teaching voice, piano, and guitar to kids and adults. Then in 2008, a huge economic downturn crash happened. Creative music budgets dried up, and people were more focused on survival, and that showed me something important- arts take the hit first in economic downturns, and one needs to diversify.

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do, but I knew it was something using my hands and creativity as well as my enthusiasm for the truth. During this time of trying to figure things out, I tried jewelry making and paper designing for books (like ink and water art) and couldn't figure out how to do something China wasn't already doing cheaper.

I also always had a sensitive reaction to food and chemicals, particularly on my face and scalp. It was hard to wash my face in cold weather as my face would feel like it was burning when I touched a cloth to it. My scalp and hair were also hard to comb because my scalp would get these painful tiny blisters that hurt when I combed or brushed my hair after showering and shampooing. Since I had a health and herbal background, I decided that I needed to fix my own issue of psoriasis/eczema that would make flair under stress and chemicals in shampoos.

So, I gathered herbs, learned about chemistry, read many books, formulated for about two years, and came up with shampoo bars and a full face and body lotion cream line that even people with worse skin could use successfully.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The most incredible and almost surreal memory was people I knew, including friends and family, who told me that our lotion and soaps healed their eczema and wanted another bottle! I knew it worked for my issues but was delighted when people that had eczema on their bodies also were being relieved!

People would come up to me with tears in their eyes, saying, please don't ever stop making your products because they changed my life! I mean, I wasn't singing songs of hope at that moment, but I was still being a hope dealer! Just yesterday, a customer of ten years I had to call for an address correction over the phone said, "Michelle, I love your products, please don't stop making them!" Still! After all these years! I worked really hard on my formulas and never got tired of a thank you and words of appreciation, just like it was the first day.

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

Wearing many hats and knowing when to delegate. I think one of the most challenging things about owning a business is learning to trust others with responsibilities. There's no way you can do everything, especially as your business grows. I learned early on that you have to learn how to do everything before you turn it over to someone but when you finally do turn it over, let them do their job. It's easy to want to do it all yourself, but I would have never achieved success unless I learned to delegate. That is an art unto itself. But an important one!

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

Do something that comes naturally if possible. At the very least, something you know a lot about. I would say, just like the music business- you first need a "good product." Research and make sure you are passionate about the idea and don't mind expanding your knowledge with continuing education (classes, courses, research, reading, growing, changing).
Don't fall for the "investors" that come out of the woodwork and want to "help" by asking for all intellectual property (formulas and manufacturing flow in my case) and want a cut for helping you get an investor to help you. If you are already growing and getting sales, you may want to ride where you are at in your new business for a few years because growing slow and organically teaches you how to manage your business hands-on, which is something you can't really learn in any university.

If someone with more experience wants a cut, it can make an owner feel intimidated with their own baby. If you can do it without a partner and giving up a large percentage (or any percent) of your business, I highly recommend you do so. It will be yours, and you will enjoy the creativity and organic growth that is so much fun to experience as a budding entrepreneur.
Make sure there is a supply and demand BEFORE you get into paying to become a corporation or paying for anything other than your supplies. Whether you are selling a digital item, personal coaching, courses, etc., or widgets, you want to make sure people will buy it. If you can't sell to your friends and family, then you may want to rethink what you are doing. Pitch to people in your local area and see if they would pay for your services before you get into any debt. I personally did not use any debt starting my business and am happy about that decision.

Only sell what you would buy. Having integrity goes a long way in any business. Short cuts become huge problems later. I use all my products and make sure each ingredient is something I am proud of- and if not- I do not make it or offer it. This goes for profits as well. Do not cheapen a good product just for the sake of the numbers. Instead, charge more; if people love it, they will buy it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.meandatree.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meandatreeskincare
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meandatreeskincare/

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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