Honor the Past, Grow the Future - Strong Roots 9

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tia Raiford, owner of Strong Roots 9, located in Brunswick, GA, USA.

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

My business is called Lewa, a subsidiary of my larger company, Strong Roots 9. Lewa, meaning Beautiful in Yoruba, is a collection of body and face products created and curated with BIPOC women & men in mind to encourage feeling good both inside and out!

Our products are made with fresh ingredients grown and harvested on Gilliard Farms, our family farm in Brunswick, GA, which has been in my husband’s family for six generations. Our cruelty-free, vegan, and all-natural products are based on skin & body care traditions passed down from the women before us and are our go-to when we think of feeling and looking great!

Tell us about yourself

Getting started on my business started well over a decade ago. I began a personal journey of wellness, which was focused on reducing inflammation inside my body, which turned into how natural anti-inflammatory ingredients could benefit me from the beauty wellness angle. I discovered that turmeric is used in Ayurvedic.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is watching the business grow from an idea to building relationships with people. When you have an idea, you never know what may click with a customer, and being able to see that not only do I see the idea flourishing but having customers and my personal network say, "you're really on to something," has been the biggest accomplishment.

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

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is knowing when and how to grow your team. My husband and I are funding our business as we grow, and the resources and people we have added to our team- and when they are added- have been very deliberate as we grow.

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

1. Have a plan- the plan can, may, and will change, but having a plan will set you on a course to visualize the future.
2. Know your wheelhouse, and build your team of others that have strengths in what you don't.
3. Have fun. You are hopefully committing to your passion.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.strongroots9.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreStrongRoots9/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strongroots9/

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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