Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skin care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Annie Qaiser, Co-Founder of Silk Road Wellness, located in St. Paul, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Silk Road Wellness is the first and only natural skincare and wellness brand in the USA, inspired by Islamic wellness traditions and halal principles. Our luxurious handcrafted products are halal-certified and alcohol-free, designed to accommodate the personal beliefs of the largest overlooked market in the multi-billion dollar beauty industry. Halal is an Arabic term and refers to selecting the best and highest standard of everything - from ingredients, sources, business ethics, customer relations, and more. Halal refers to a holistic lifestyle and covers all the fragmented beauty alternatives such as clean beauty, green beauty, sustainable beauty, zero waste beauty, organic beauty, animal cruelty-free, and more.
Our customers are conscious of their consumption, the impact on the environment and ecosystem, the effect on the local economy, and lessening the toxic aftermath of synthetic personal care products. Consumers are becoming aware of how toxic substances in wellness products are harming their health and the environment. From harmful single-use plastic packaging to deadly microbeads in facial cleansers, there is no doubt that the cosmetics and wellness industry plays a huge role in environmental distress. As stewards of the Earth, we take responsibility and offer eco-conscious reusable packaging with plant-based sustainable ingredients. When people make conscious decisions impacting the environment, they leave everything better than how we found it.
Tell us about yourself
Nearly 15 years as a new mom, I became aware of the impact of body care products. I was horrified at the thought of using toxic and synthetic ingredients connected to long-term health issues. As a Muslim, I was aware of avoiding products containing fats and byproducts from impermissible sources.
I created our products based on our personal requirements. Finding natural body care products that utilized ingredients that mattered to us on a cultural level and followed our faith requirements wasn't easy. As others began requesting our products, my husband encouraged me to create a wellness brand. Over the years, we have refined our products and created our products based on what our friends, family, and customers have suggested.
After years of researching and refining, my husband and I launched Silk Road Wellness at the end of 2018. Our halal* skincare and wellness brand is a unique combination of traditional healing, prophetic wisdom, and modern beauty standards, a bold fusion of Eastern and Western herbal knowledge.
We created the brand to accommodate Muslims
but as we scale our business, it is evident that halal is universal and offers natural healing benefits to all.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our goal is to introduce and normalize the beauty and simplicity of halal holistic wellness and Islamic traditions. The historical Silk Road was created to bridge cultures and share exotic goods. Silk Road Wellness is based on a similar concept of connectivity. Our brand represents tradition, culture, herbalism, inner beauty, and faith. In the past few months, we have formed retail partnerships with local co-ops, holiday markets, boutiques, and gift shops. Our products are also in a couple of stores at the Mall of America. Customers can also order directly through our website.
All of our halal-friendly products - solid lotions, natural deodorants, toothpowder, tea spice blends, face masks and polishes, lip care, hair care, and more - are inspired by Islamic wellness practices and South Asian culture. Handcrafted in Minnesota, we use powerful and healing botanicals such as blackseed, moringa, frankincense, aloe, turmeric, and olives. Our ingredient list is transparent and easy to understand, so customers know exactly what they're using. Our products are made in small batches, resulting in high-quality skin and body botanicals that are affordable and fresh.
We are proud of our Pakistani heritage, Islamic faith, and Minnesotan roots. Our goal is to procure ingredients from local sources as much as possible, helping sustain the economy and supporting local businesses. We also purchase ingredients from Pakistan and Canada directly from the local small businesses to ensure a positive impact on livelihoods.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Managing and juggling everything in life simultaneously! At times, there aren't enough hours in the day.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be focused on the end goal.
- Be prepared for setbacks.
- There are multiple ways to reach the end goal, do what fits you best.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://silkroadwellness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilkRdWellness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silkroadwellness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qannq/
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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