Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Zakiya Randell, founder of Muddy Roots Rituals, located in Northglenn, CO, USA.

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

Muddy roots rituals are a fusion of the occult, pop culture, and self-care! I could never settle on which way I wanted to take my fascination involving all things spooky scary Skeltons related, so I figured why not do it all.! I handcraft all different types of horror and occult-themed items from bath bombs, jewelry, spell jars, and other practicing witch goodies to sun catchers and art made out of bones.

I wouldn't say I'm very family-friendly. I mean, don't get me wrong, I have a lot of families that buy things for their creepy little kiddos but for the most part, I cater to the weirdos, you know? My customers consist of occultists and realistic witches… I'm talking about that momma witch that doesn't have time to stop chasing her kids around long enough to make up some jars for moon water even though she knows the waning moon is approaching, so she throws a few bottles of water out in the yard to catch some moonlight and may or may not remember to snag them before the sun hits them in the morning… those kinda witches are my people.

Listen, we are busy. Every single one of us is either on the move or is looking for a hand up from out of their slump, and that's what I'm here for. I want people to be able to practice honing in on their spiritual potential practically. I make spell jars in so many different forms because a lot of spell work is based on intention. Sometimes all you need is a reminder to focus on the spell at hand. "Say what you see until you see what you say," and what I mean by that is that you can want something so bad, but until you start speaking those things into existence, your results will be lacking. Your words and your thoughts are powerful, and intentions are everything, so remembering something as small as wearing your intuition spell jar earrings on a day when you know you need to trust your gut is like ringing the alarm on your brain to stay true to your goal. A large majority of my product Is designed to make it easier on you to practice your craft.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Zakiya, and I'm the owner and creator of muddy roots. I'm on my 27th level of this wild thing we call life. I'm a momma, a business owner, and most importantly, I'm an artist! I started muddy roots a few months after the birth of my son Eli in 2019. Muddy roots were always something I knew I needed to make happen, but my son really pushed me to go for it. Not only do I thrive to show my kids that it's more than possible to make your dreams a reality, but I also want them to know that artists don't starve forever if they do things right.

Other than my children, a huge motivation for me is that I gave myself a platform to make art of all different forms. One day I get to hand paint Captain Spaulding and Ouija board bath bombs. The next, I am draping chains and crystals from a deer spine or cow rib bone to evolve it into something breathtaking for the sun to dance upon. That really gets my soul going. I love that I built a space where I can create freely without restrictions or judgment; in turn, I have attracted the most beautiful people and clients that find appreciation in all things occult and beyond.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

When it comes to accomplishments, my business is still fairly new, so I am constantly celebrating the little things! Just making it to my first year and making it through the pandemic alone is a big deal, but I think I would have to say the coolest accomplishment was becoming a vendor for the horrid shop run by the founders and creators of Horrid Magazine. They really gave me a huge hand up into the horror scene. Every day I wake up and remember that I'm part of such a rad community and that alone feels like a huge accomplishment. Having some of my items in the store feels really surreal!

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

For me, I would have to say persistence. It's hard being your own boss because no one is going to get on you about not putting in that hundred percent. You have to fight off all of the slow days; you have to remind yourself that there is no closing crew to pass your unfinished work to. No one is going to pay for damages if things don't go as planned. That's all you. Holding on to that persistence to show up for yourself and your business daily is definitely one of the hardest parts.

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

  1. The first tip would be to just go for it. Why work for the man on building their business when you could work on building your own! I promise you will regret not trying it out a whole lot more than you would regret giving it a go.
  2. Second tip! Don't bail when things start to suck… because they will start to suck, but that's just the name of the game. There is light at the end of the tunnel. You got this!
  3. Thirdly.. ask for help! I know it can be intimidating to ask to pick other business owners' brains, but if you are surrounding yourself with the right people, you should have no issues getting the hang of owning and running your own business too!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MuddyRootsRituals
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MuddyRootsRituals/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muddyrootsrituals/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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