Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Reycel Baysa, president of Organic Fiji, located in Camarillo, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Organic Fiji creates clean, plant-based, island-inspired, coconut oil-infused body products. We aim to inspire customers with the simple South Pacific islander traditions from which our brand was born. Our customers are really eclectic, being as the products are so multifunctional and versatile. They are people who appreciate quality products, transparent and mindful ingredient listings, good customer service, and even the tropical vibes we pack into each container ;)
Tell us about yourself
I am originally from a small, beautiful island community in the South Pacific. After my own negative experience with the damaging reactions of unknown skincare chemicals, I turned to natural alternatives – rediscovering my roots in ancient wellness rituals practiced by the generations of Pacific Islanders before me and honoring my family customs and recipes.
Coconuts, coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut meat are woven into every part of my health, wellness, beauty, and kitchen routines - I couldn't live without it!
I saw the power of raw coconut oil combined with healing botanicals from nature, and I just knew I had to be an advocate for its marvelous potential. The thought of other people being able to experience the same shift towards holistic self-care that I did, and improve their whole body health, motivates me daily! People deserve clean products without the greenwashing so they can make mindful choices for themselves and their families.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am really proud of how clean we have created the products and how well they perform. It's not always easy to find ingredients that your beliefs align with as well as function in the product. It's also very challenging and expensive to go through the organic certification processes - but we believe in empowering the customers with the knowledge that their product is free of toxic chemicals and the product is true to its label. This is important to us to uphold these values.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
We love connecting with customers and hearing their success stories, and we love crafting the products to their fullest potential, but the hardest part of being a business owner is often the operations, especially during the pandemic. The supply chain has become unreliable, and unforeseen issues pop up that then end up impacting the business. We work hard to find quick solutions, so our customers are not affected.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Always work from your heart. Truly believe in something, and it will grow.
- Don't sacrifice your ethics for cost or time; hold on to your standards, and it will show in your end product.
- Work as a team and value your people. Everyone that touches the process has a part to play, and if their skills are valued, they will shine, and in turn, your business will flourish.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://organicfiji.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/organicfiji
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organicfiji/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/organicfiji
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
