Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephanie Tan, Founder of NOOCI, located in Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
NOOCI (pronounced 'noo-chee') is a wellness brand that is on a mission to make Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) assessable to modern, health-conscious women who lead busy lifestyles.
Our non-GMO, plant-based supplements are made with traceable and rigorously tested ingredients, and they are formulated specifically for women’s body constitutions.
Tell us about yourself
Growing up, TCM was an integral part of my life and was used as a supplement to Western medicine to support my family’s long-term health. However, as life got busier, it became more convenient for me to turn to over-the-counter solutions. It wasn’t until the second pregnancy that I took a long pause to reassess my overall health. While quick fixes were easy, I wanted a holistic, natural approach to my long-term wellness, such as TCM.
However, I quickly realized in my research that the information is fragmented and convoluted even for people like myself who grew up familiar with TCM, and as a result, this ancient wisdom remains largely unappreciated in most parts of the world. That’s when the idea came to me - there needs to be a better way for other women like myself to access TCM and learn about its benefits, but in a more modern and approachable way. NOOCI was born out of my desire to close this knowledge gap, modernize TCM and make it assessable for today’s women.
One of the things I love most about running NOOCI is that I get to work with amazing women on a daily basis. We get to brainstorm, bounce ideas off of each other, and because we are creating something new in the marketplace, there are no rules. We strive to only create best-in-class products, so pushing and challenging each other is in our culture, which I love and what keeps me motivated!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm grateful that NOOCI has been featured by the likes of Bustle, Refinery29, and Bloomberg since launch, but I'd consider our biggest achievement thus far to be the positive feedback we've received from customers -- it means a lot that our products have made a difference in people’s lives.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Balancing work and family is something I find difficult. Last year, I gave birth to NOOCI at the same time as my son. It's challenging for a mother of two young children to forgo time with them. When my kids are old enough to understand what I'm building, I just want them to feel proud of it!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Talk to as many people as possible about your idea. You'll learn so much from everyone you speak with.
- Have a plan but make sure it is flexible enough for the unpredictability of things.
- Don't overthink things, and just get started!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://mynooci.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyNooci/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my_nooci/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nooci/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjtan06/
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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