1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to the show. 2 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 2: I am Rashan McDonald, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 2: where we encourage. 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: People to stop reading other people's success stories and start 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: planning their own. 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 2: Listen up as I interview entrepreneurs from around the country, 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 2: talk to celebrities and ask them how they are running 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 2: their companies, and speak with dog profits who are making. 9 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: A difference in their local communities. 10 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 2: Now, sit back and listen as we unlock the secrets 11 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: to their success. 12 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: On Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Hi, I am Rashon McDonald. 13 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: I host this weekly Money Making Conversation Master Class show. 14 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 2: The interviews and information that this show provides are for everyone. 15 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 2: It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and 16 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 2: really start living your own. I'm here to help you 17 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 2: reach your American dream. My guests founded R and R 18 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 2: Skincare and Nigeria. It's a premier woman owned beauty brand 19 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 2: dedicated to crafting high quality, cruelty free skincare products that 20 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: harness the power of Africa's natural resources. Please welcome me 21 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 2: the Money Making Conversations Master Class. Valerie oh Bossi Hirish, 22 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: thank you for motherland, the Motherland. I will admit you know, 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: I made a visit to the motherland, UH, to South Africa. 24 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 2: Down there Durban and Johannesburg and Steve Harvey and I 25 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 2: we were broadcasting the morning show from that area, and 26 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 2: I was and I'm gonna just tell you this, honestly, 27 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 2: there were so many stereotypes that I have been introduced 28 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 2: by being raised in America that I was worried about 29 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 2: the technology being available to us to broadcast a morning 30 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 2: show back to America. Does that annoy you that those 31 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 2: type of stereotypes of inefficiencies, poor technology. 'le gonna use 32 00:01:55,240 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 2: the word ignorance UH dominates the media precent of Africa. 33 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 3: I think ignorance doesn't always have to be an insult. 34 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 3: If you don't know, you just don't know better. Right, 35 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:12,119 Speaker 3: So until you experience or you research personally to find 36 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 3: out more, how are you going to know. You've been 37 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 3: fed stories right your whole life and being told what 38 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 3: Africa is like. So it's intentional, so you don't go 39 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 3: back there. But when you go, you have your own experience, 40 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 3: you get to know the reality on ground. Yes, the 41 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 3: continent is still developing, but we are warhead in so 42 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 3: many different ways that people wouldn't even begin to understand. 43 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 4: So until you. 44 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 3: Get there and until you share your experience, how is 45 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 3: anyone going to know? And thankfully we have the Internet 46 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 3: and we have Instagram and stuff, so people it's a 47 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 3: global village. Now everyone gets to see how people partied 48 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 3: in Legos in December and Acra in January, and they 49 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 3: get to know that there's more to life than just 50 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 3: their immediate purview. And I think that I don't get annoyed. 51 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 3: I think that it's for everybody to experience themselves. We 52 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,959 Speaker 3: all have our preconceptions. Until we break down those barriers, 53 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 3: then how are we going to know. 54 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: I'm gonna get a knowing because you know so you 55 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 2: because you know you you sell them the product. 56 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: Money may come this myself, I can get to know. 57 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: I get mad because I was mad. 58 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 2: Because I'm running around worried about and I landed. I 59 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 2: was mad because I was like, wow, it was just 60 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 2: like landing in Atlanta, Georgia, you know, and that really 61 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 2: bothered me because it went, I went. You know what 62 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 2: they promote safaris, They never come back and talk about. 63 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 2: There's always a war, conflicts that are promoted. 64 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: You know, I grew up a cent a dollar. You 65 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: could save a little kid who's starving in Africa. 66 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: This is the stuff that I grew up on, you 67 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 2: know what I'm saying, and and but no one's coming 68 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: back to retell that story. And so I wanted to 69 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 2: make sure, you know, the perceptions should be shut down. 70 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: Like you said, there are social media out there, and 71 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 2: you know, Africa is one of the biggest uh Hollywood 72 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: type producing areas in the country. 73 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: In fact, on Netflix. 74 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 2: You know, the the amount of content that's coming out 75 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 2: of Africa is now on Netflix is amazing, and I 76 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: think that also kills a lot of the. 77 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 4: Stereoy absolutely in the music. 78 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 3: Look at the music industry, you know, that's exactly the 79 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 3: Nigerian and African music industry has really blown up. And 80 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 3: so for me, even when I left the UK to 81 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 3: move back to Africa, and my entry point was Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria. 82 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 4: My husband is Nigerian and. 83 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 3: I'm from Ghana, but we both grew up in the 84 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 3: UK and I moved there to live with him after 85 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 3: we got married. And for me, it was a perfect 86 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 3: place to go from London to Legos because Legos is 87 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 3: so dynamic and the music industry was really burgeoning then 88 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 3: in two thousand and nine, the film industry was huge already. 89 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,559 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I think was about to do a big deal 90 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: down there. 91 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, also in Ghana as well, Actual Indurance. He's been 92 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 3: working in Ghana to do some so work there to 93 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 3: ensure that production can take place and take place well. 94 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 4: So there's so much going on in the fashion industry, 95 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 4: absolutely is huge. 96 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: I'm wearing a gunion and the sports you know, y'all 97 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 2: dominating m and a oh my god in sports. 98 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, y'all just a dominant force. 99 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 3: So you know, there's so much going on, There's so 100 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 3: many opportunities. So I like that the world has opened 101 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 3: up to seeing what Africa has to offer and even 102 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 3: me through beauty. People might think that beauty is shallow, right, 103 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 3: but if we can show the richness of our raw 104 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 3: materials and our ingredients through beauty and share that with 105 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 3: the rest of the world, then people can understand that, 106 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 3: you know, good stuff does come out of Africa because 107 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 3: for so many years people have believed that only bad 108 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 3: things come out. 109 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:48,239 Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely Now, nice transition using the word beauty. 110 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, are in our skincare? 111 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 4: Yes? 112 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: Why are you? Why are you producing that? Why are 113 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: you the face of that. 114 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 3: Brand because it's what came naturally to me, is what 115 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 3: God had put on my heart, and he found a 116 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 3: way for me to access the rest of the world 117 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 3: through what I do. And my experience and background is 118 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,239 Speaker 3: in PR and communications. I had my own PR agency 119 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 3: when I lived in London, I worked in the music industry, 120 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 3: in fashion beauty. So landing in Lagos and just finding 121 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 3: out the ground was so fresh to building brands. You 122 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 3: know people definitely, that's big populations. Virginia has like over 123 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 3: two hundred million people, Ghana over thirty million people, right, 124 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 3: And we're so used to bringing in products from the 125 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 3: rest of the world, so we know Europe and America 126 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 3: to be the place where everything great is produced. But 127 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 3: the reality is that, you know, the raw materials are 128 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 3: coming from the continent and going over there to be produced. 129 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 3: Whether that's leather, right, whether that's shade, butter, whatever it is. Yeah, 130 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 3: it leaves the continent raw and then it's produced into 131 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 3: finished products elsewhere. 132 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 4: And chocolates, look at chocolate chocolates not. 133 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 3: From Switzerland, let me tell you, it is from Aricas 134 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 3: and it's from Ghana. But the raw cacao or cocoa 135 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 3: is leaving the continent and being value added elsewhere. And 136 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 3: we believe that chocolate's from Belgium, you know. So I 137 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 3: think that the time has come a new generation of 138 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 3: people are going back home and creating finished products, brands, 139 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 3: African owned brands coming out of the continent using materials. 140 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 4: So thank you. 141 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 2: That's important because so many because people don't know, we 142 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: get we get confused about where the final destination of 143 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 2: products are being distributed versus where it was source. And 144 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 2: Africa has been the sourcing capital of the world for 145 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: so many years. And the fact that you as an entrepreneur, 146 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: let's put it right, You're an entrepreneur, a business owner 147 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: made the conscious decision woman owned business owner. So do 148 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 2: you right now to get your product is online? 149 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: It's virtually on. 150 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 4: Yeah. 151 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: But you do have stores, we do. Where are they located? 152 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 3: We have three Moat owned stores, one in Legos that 153 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 3: was the first door we ever opened in twenty thirteen, 154 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 3: and then we are now headquartered in Acra, Ghana, which 155 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: is where I'm from, and we have two stores there, 156 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 3: so one in the center of town in Labori, which 157 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 3: is a vibrant hub of hospitality, food, restaurants, clubs. 158 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: You good storyteller. 159 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 3: I'm like to gots been multiple times. And we also 160 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 3: have a store at the airport, So in the departure 161 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 3: lounge at Ghana's and Acara Airport to Come International Airport. 162 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 3: So as you're leaving, you pick up a piece of 163 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 3: Ghana and come and share it with your friends. 164 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 4: Your family will keep it for yourself. 165 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,599 Speaker 2: So what is the experience like going into you the 166 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: first stores in twenty thirteen. Is there an experience? Do 167 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 2: you do hair there? 168 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: Or is just products being product based? 169 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 3: We wanted to create an experience come in and buy 170 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 3: products that are made here, you know, buy us for everybody, 171 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 3: so you know, you just want to walk into a store. 172 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 3: Because one of my frustrations when I moved back, I 173 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 3: would go to the store, I find something I like 174 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 3: today and I go back next week and it's gone right. 175 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 3: You know, they're not manufacturing it here, so I'd have 176 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 3: to be importing it, and so there's always gaps. 177 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 4: There's always gaps. You can't always get what you need. 178 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 3: So the purpose gradually grew so that at the end 179 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 3: of the day, we get it today, when you come 180 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 3: back next month, is still there because we're producing locally 181 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 3: we're sourcing locally and you're always going to be able 182 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 3: to find that product. 183 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 4: So we wanted people to. 184 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 3: Experience that brand feeling when you walk into our stores. 185 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 2: Awesome, awesome, Let's talk about the product now, you know 186 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: we have it right here, or the logo or that 187 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 2: look really resonates with me, you know, because it's it's 188 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 2: a thought process. Talk about that whole design and then 189 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 2: we're going to get into the product. And how was 190 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 2: just you know, started the evolution of our at our skillcare. 191 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 3: So the logo actually, I'm so glad you touched on that. 192 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 3: This is a new logo. 193 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 4: Okay, so when we start graduation, thank you. 194 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 3: We have another logo, and we recently rebranded just in June. 195 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 4: So June twenty fourth, we relaunched Our in our we 196 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 4: used to be called our Luxury okay. 197 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 3: And we rebranded as Are in our Skincare. Not that 198 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,439 Speaker 3: we've dropped the luxury. The luxury is in the quality 199 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 3: of what we do. But we found that the name 200 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 3: used to alienate people. People think that the price point 201 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 3: would be beyond what they could reach, but actually our 202 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 3: products are so affordable. So we thought that luxury is 203 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 3: something that you should feel won't say. So we dropped 204 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 3: the luxury and we're now in our skincare. So we 205 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 3: did have a logo similar to ours in a symbol, 206 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 3: but our creative team decided to change the logo against 207 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 3: my wishes at the time that when they came back 208 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 3: with what they had, I absolutely. 209 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: Love that beautiful. 210 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: It's really is much and I'm glad you dropped luxury 211 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 2: because when I hear R in our luxury, I think 212 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:52,839 Speaker 2: of I think of. 213 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: A resort, I think of a rob report, you know, luxury. 214 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 2: I don't think of anything that's related to something that 215 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: I would put on my face or take care of 216 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 2: my body. 217 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: Because of that, and so this is a very smart 218 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: to me. 219 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 2: I like to consider myself a branding and marketing expert. 220 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: Home Run, thank you the logos. Home Run. You're telling 221 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: them what you do skincare. 222 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 2: People know exactly what they're getting where they walk in 223 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 2: the store and they walk out and they share with 224 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: other people. 225 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 1: Excellent move. Now twenty ten, was this an idea or product? 226 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,599 Speaker 1: In twenty ten when it was founded. 227 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 4: It was in need. 228 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 3: Okay talk to me about telling I just give them birth. 229 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 3: Becoming a mother for the first time. I have three 230 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 3: kids now three daughters. Actually they did. They did have 231 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 3: them quite kind of quick. There'll be girls now they're fourteen, twelve, 232 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 3: and ten. But when I had my first baby, I 233 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 3: just needed something natural to use on her skin. I 234 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 3: didn't want to use the products that everybody used for 235 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 3: babies for years, because I mean the important right, because 236 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 3: we know that it's not necessarily the best thing. So 237 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 3: being in Nigeria, I wanted to use something local and regional, 238 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:09,239 Speaker 3: you know, and indigenous to the soil. And Shaye precedes 239 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 3: everything that I've done. It's been around for centuries, right, 240 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 3: and we know the goodness of shay because. 241 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: Everybody uses it absolutely. 242 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 3: The proof in concept is there all the big brands 243 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 3: you shake in their formulations. But we weren't turning it 244 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,559 Speaker 3: into an enjoyable product. It was just the raw shape 245 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 3: butter and you'd have to put it in the microwave. 246 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 4: On the stove whip it up. 247 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, and people were willing to do that, but I 248 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 3: wasn't one of those people. You know, when you have 249 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 3: a crying baby, you don't have time to now put 250 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 3: things on the stove and start whipping up your formulations. 251 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 4: There are people that are very good at that that's 252 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 4: not me. 253 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 3: So I was thinking about the fact that I would 254 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,839 Speaker 3: love to create a product that makes using these raw 255 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 3: materials from the continent enjoyable and suitable for a baby, 256 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 3: but suitable for the rest of the family too. So 257 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 3: when we discovered Shay in a liquid form, which is 258 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 3: our shape oil, that was a game changer for me. 259 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 4: That was our first product. That was our first product. 260 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: And will you say shade are how is it used? 261 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 3: It's used directly on your skin, So shade same way 262 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 3: you do shave butter right, okay, pure she rubbing it 263 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 3: onto your skin to moisturize and looking moisture. Okay, this 264 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:18,719 Speaker 3: is the oil version. So sha is made up of 265 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 3: two parts. Can get two technical solid and liquid. When 266 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 3: you separate the liquid from the solid parts, so you 267 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 3: have steering and oilin So the olin is the oil 268 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 3: and that's what we. 269 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 4: Are giving you. 270 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 3: So it still has all the amazing properties moisturizing, healing, 271 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 3: all of those good things, all of the good stuff. 272 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 3: And we've bottled it and we learned how to blend 273 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 3: essential oil. 274 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: So limit to lower you down, Valerie. 275 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 2: Okay, now this is your first product, you Shay first product. 276 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: Okay, are you selling it? Okay, not yet, Okay, cool, 277 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: continue with your story point. 278 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 3: So I was sharing with my husband actually that oh, 279 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 3: I've come across Shaye in an oil and this is 280 00:13:58,200 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 3: what we're going to use for the baby. And he 281 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 3: was like, you know what, I've never seen that before 282 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 3: and I don't think it's widely available in legos or 283 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 3: in Nigeria. 284 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 4: Yeah, bulbs, you're talking. 285 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, money maker, money maker exactly. 286 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 3: As a branding person, I've thought that, you know, this 287 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 3: is there's definitely an opportunity here. 288 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 4: So before we go spending too. 289 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 3: Much money, let's get like samples and stuff from the suppliers, 290 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 3: bottle it, share it with our friends and family, use 291 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 3: it first, then share it with our friends and family. 292 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 3: And what we did, I even had someone mock up 293 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 3: a logo for me. I ordered like a box of 294 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 3: plastic bottles online and I just shared it with the 295 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 3: people close to me and I just said, if you 296 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 3: like it, come back and buy it. 297 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 4: And that's how it started. 298 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: Okay. So and they we talked about R and R means. 299 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 3: Work, so ur and is my daughter's initials name is Rebecca. 300 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 3: Was my first daughter and she's named after my mother 301 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 3: and my husband's mother. 302 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 4: So my mom is Rebecca and my mother in law 303 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 4: is Rose. 304 00:14:58,040 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: That's beautiful. 305 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 3: So we named it after the two of them. And 306 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 3: she's got Rebecca Roh's And. 307 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 4: When you have a child, you always send a name 308 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 4: of your business. It's such a woman thing to do. 309 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 3: But yeah, so we decided Arena would be the name 310 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 3: of the company. And it also stands for rest and 311 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 3: recuperation or rest and relaxation, so you. 312 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 4: Have like a double meaning there, and I just felt 313 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 4: that it was. 314 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 3: Exactly and so Arena means a lot to me because 315 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 3: it not only represents my daughter, also represents my mother, 316 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 3: my mother in law, so generational heritage, you know, it 317 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 3: speaks to the legacy aspects of the brand. 318 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 5: Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more 319 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 5: money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making 320 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 5: Conversations Masterclass, hosted by Rashan MacDonald. Money Making Conversations Masterclass 321 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 5: continues online at Moneymakingconversations dot com and follow money Making 322 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 5: Conversations Masterclass Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 323 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 2: This that first time I've said down with an individual 324 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 2: who's developed an idea. The whole idea is I have 325 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 2: a dream that's what it really is. Yeah, Now when 326 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 2: you start sharing that dream with people, what were they 327 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 2: saying to you, Valerie about I think I can put 328 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 2: this on the shares. I think people would buy this 329 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 2: from What were they telling you? Were they motivating you 330 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 2: or they're looking at you like really? 331 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 4: Yeah? 332 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 3: Well you definitely have some of the people that were 333 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 3: like hmm, okay, let's see where this goes. But I 334 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 3: think the majority of people were very very passionate about 335 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 3: the idea. 336 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 4: They were. 337 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 3: They've got behind us pretty quickly, and they saw they 338 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:50,119 Speaker 3: saw the potential for the business, and they were very supportive. 339 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 3: So from my mother to my mother in law, we 340 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 3: turned my mother in law's garage and sw a manufactory. 341 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 4: After my husband kicked me out of the house. 342 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 3: I mean kick me out of his kitchen, not actually 343 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 3: out of his house, but kick me out of his 344 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 3: kitchen because I'd taken over the dining room, everything that 345 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:08,719 Speaker 3: were boxes everywhere. So we converted his mom's space, her 346 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 3: garage into our factory, compliant, fully compliant factory so that 347 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 3: we could start producing on a slightly larger scale because 348 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 3: the interest did start to flow in and definitely, I 349 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 3: think support more than you know negativity has surrounded this 350 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 3: brand for day one. 351 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 2: This is the part when I started asking the entrepreneur question, Okay, 352 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:30,959 Speaker 2: what did your business plan look like? 353 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:31,880 Speaker 4: I didn't have one. 354 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: Okay, so you started a business without a business plan? 355 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: Was that smart? 356 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 4: Yep? Listen. I didn't go to business school. 357 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 3: I come from the school of hard knocks in right 358 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 3: and experience. 359 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 4: Okay. 360 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 3: I went to university. I studied branding, communications, culture and media. 361 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 3: I went to work in the PR world, initially music, 362 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 3: then consumer pr. I've worked with brands. I understand what 363 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 3: people like, what people don't like. And I'm African. I 364 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 3: lived in the diaspora for my childhood and early adulthood. 365 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:06,120 Speaker 3: I left England at twenty nine moved back to the continent. Well, 366 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 3: I say moved back. I never actually lived on the continent. 367 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 3: I was back and forth all the time. But I 368 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 3: did my entire schooling up until the age, up until 369 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 3: university in the UK, and moved to Africa in twenty nine. 370 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 3: And I realized that Africa was having your renaissance in 371 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 3: the creative space, especially, and we were starting to take 372 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,119 Speaker 3: ownership of what was ours and I had to be 373 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 3: part of that. And I had a responsibility as well, 374 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 3: like God put this responsibility on me to empower our economy, 375 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 3: not just human beings, but the economy in general. Because 376 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:40,959 Speaker 3: you know that if you bring in more than you 377 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 3: put out, you're always going to be a poor nation 378 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 3: or poor continent. So we have a responsibility to put 379 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 3: out more than we bring in. And so creating a 380 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:53,640 Speaker 3: brand was one a gap a need, but. 381 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 4: Also I saw in need. 382 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 3: But I also over time realized that there was a 383 00:18:57,760 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 3: responsibility on my shoulders. 384 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: Cruel cruelty free. 385 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, when you do the tested on your or your product, we. 386 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 4: Test on humans, not animals. And because there's yeah, they 387 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 4: can say ouch. And also because there's no need. 388 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 3: You know, the ingredients we use are historically, you know 389 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:22,400 Speaker 3: backed my great grandmother and her probably ancestors as well, 390 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 3: use these raw materials to cook, to eat with, to 391 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 3: do several things with my phone. No, I'm good, Yeah, 392 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 3: to do all of these things. So Shaye has been 393 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 3: around for centuries. It's okay, I didn't invent shape. 394 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 2: Well, let's talk about this because of the fact that 395 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 2: it's not so much you're inventing it, but you're bringing 396 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 2: a brand to America and exposing it to a miracle 397 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 2: a Polish brand, yes, but you want to maintain that 398 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,159 Speaker 2: the African slaver to. 399 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 1: Why is that important? 400 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 3: Because we have to maintain the authenticity and the integrity 401 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 3: of who we are. I think it's important people to 402 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 3: know where we've come from. We don't intend to hide 403 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 3: that in any way. We just wanted to make our 404 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 3: raw materials sexy. If I can say that, you know, 405 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 3: let's bring it back. We have to make it appealing 406 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 3: and elegant and classy. But you know, in terms of 407 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 3: what's in the bottle, that all comes from other nature. 408 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 2: Okay, cool, Let's start talking about some of the stuff 409 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 2: that the infamous black soap. I've seen it in the 410 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 2: square and so why are you or why should I be. 411 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: Encouraged to use this liquid. 412 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 4: Black soap again? 413 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:43,679 Speaker 3: It's like the modernization of historical context. Shaye and sorry. 414 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 3: Black soap is a traditional cleansing method has been used 415 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 3: also for decades, and how do we make that more 416 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 3: appealing and more accessible to people? Not everybody wants to 417 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 3: use a soap bar, although nowadays, with the circular economy 418 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,439 Speaker 3: people wanting to have less waste, people are more happy 419 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 3: to use soap bars. 420 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,160 Speaker 4: Again, but if you're a shower gel person, right. 421 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 2: That's what I'm saying. That's why immediately gravitated it. I 422 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 2: am not a barshaal question I have so this is 423 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 2: something I will be buying because I enjoy I just 424 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 2: enjoy that aspect of it versus a soap that it 425 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 2: eventually looks ugly. 426 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 4: Exactly, I'm exactly the same. I'm a liquid soap person. 427 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 4: I love a shower gel. 428 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 3: So a lot of the need is created from my 429 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 3: own personal needs and creating. 430 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 4: Something that is easy to use. 431 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 3: You don't want to make using these things difficult, Otherwise 432 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 3: people will use it once twice and they'll be like, 433 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 3: let me go back to what I'm familiar with. 434 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 4: So I want to make it. 435 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 3: So that it can sit on the shelf next to 436 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 3: all of those brands that you've used your whole life 437 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 3: and be happy to switch it out. 438 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 2: Because now what is the difference, Because I want to 439 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 2: I think you have right here, you have the body all, yes, 440 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 2: this what's your first product exactly, and then you have 441 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 2: right here you have the the body butter. 442 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, why do you need both? 443 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 3: Because everyone's preferences are different. Some people like more of 444 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 3: a thicker application. 445 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: That's what the butter. 446 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:14,120 Speaker 4: That's what you're gonna get with the butter. 447 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 3: So it's a with butter, so it's still very light 448 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 3: compared to how rawschit butter is. 449 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,919 Speaker 4: We whip it, we add our essential. 450 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 3: Oils or you know, little proprietary bits and pieces which 451 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 3: are all one hundred percent natural oil sourced locally, and 452 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 3: some people just prefer butter. Some people want an oil 453 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 3: something that's a bit lighter and easier and quicker to apply. 454 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 4: So it just all depends comes down to. 455 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 1: Preference, right, because then you have the hand cream. 456 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 2: Yes, now I'm just asking, okay, because I have the oil, 457 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 2: I have the butter, and then I have the hand cream. 458 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 2: I'm assuming the hand cream is strictly for the hand, 459 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 2: but they don't. You got these dry knuckles, Yeah, means so, 460 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 2: so I used it. 461 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 3: You can put that in your car, in your little 462 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 3: man pers if you have one, and or your briefcase, 463 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 3: and then the ladies put it in their handbag, so 464 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 3: you just carry around with you when you need a 465 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 3: little moisture top up, because you know the weather can 466 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 3: be dry. Even in West Africa, we have a season 467 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 3: called Hammertan which is very very very dry. So your 468 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 3: lips get dry, your skin gets very dry, so it's 469 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 3: good to have that on your all times. 470 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 4: Just top up. 471 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 2: Your product is named after your first daughter, Yes, now, 472 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 2: but your mother of three entrepreneur? 473 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: How do you balance that? 474 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 3: I love that question, and I'll tell you why because 475 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 3: I like to say that no one asks the men 476 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,360 Speaker 3: these questions. They always ask the women, how do you balance? 477 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 3: Because our load is heavy? 478 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 4: But kids until then? 479 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 1: But then I gotta go back to the source. 480 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 3: Yes, and I think that it's difficult at times. You 481 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:04,439 Speaker 3: can't give everything one hundred percent all the time, so 482 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 3: there's seasons. So right now I'm away from my kids. 483 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 3: Right right, they're facetiming me and they're like, oh, Mommy 484 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 3: this or Mummy that their dad is there, but they're 485 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 3: calling me, who is one thousand miles away, to ask 486 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 3: me the most inane question. 487 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 4: So I think that it's just you. 488 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 3: You can't always balance everything, but you know, sometimes you 489 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 3: just pick up the heaviest balls and focus on those 490 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 3: at that specific time. The Sometimes when the girls are good, 491 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 3: they don't really need me. They've got everything working in 492 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 3: their favor and there they're good to go. But there's 493 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 3: other times where I need to put on my mom 494 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 3: hat and put everything aside. But I'm very, very fortunate 495 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 3: to have a lot of good support. My husband is 496 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 3: an amazing support. He's actually, you know, one of the partners. 497 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 3: He like I said, to help me conceptualize his business, 498 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,439 Speaker 3: and I couldn't have done it without him. I have 499 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 3: an amazing team in Ghana, in Nigeria and now in 500 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 3: the US. 501 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: So there's going to be real that that just away 502 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:05,400 Speaker 1: for vacation. You know, money made conversations. I see expansion 503 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 1: in my vision visionary. 504 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 2: Talk about your expansion ideas because you have three stores 505 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 2: back home, which is fantastic because finally you're keeping You're 506 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 2: not our source, you're not sourcing out your product, making 507 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 2: the product their employing people. Yes, revenue is staying in 508 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 2: the community, which I admire. So that's been the main 509 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:32,360 Speaker 2: issue with Africa in general. But you're over here, come 510 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 2: on now, talk to me now. 511 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 3: Because you know, I think that we've also found our 512 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 3: tribe over here, and I've been here several times. I 513 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 3: did like essence first in twenty nineteen, so pre COVID, 514 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 3: there's pre COVID, and then post COVID and pre COVID. 515 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 3: We did some activations here, and we realized that as 516 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 3: we spoke to people, people experienced our products, the feedback 517 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 3: was just unbelievable. And we really truly felt that we 518 00:25:56,040 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 3: found our people outside of the continent. And I knew 519 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 3: eventually we had to come back. So with the rebrand 520 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:08,199 Speaker 3: and these new opportunities, and I just thought that this 521 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 3: was the right time to come back to America and 522 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,199 Speaker 3: meet our people again. So I'm here right now because 523 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 3: we've got some activations, having some conversations. Right we did 524 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 3: something in Miami just yesterday, and the land in Atlanta 525 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 3: today and straight into your studios. So and thank you 526 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 3: for having me. 527 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:28,400 Speaker 2: And well, you know, first of all, I don't we're 528 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,399 Speaker 2: not rapping this interview up because that sounds like you're 529 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 2: about to go there, you know, because I really want 530 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 2: people to slow down and understand that the product is 531 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:40,160 Speaker 2: available down the online. It is okay, and you don't 532 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 2: have to wait to the product to get to that. 533 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 2: So this this interview is by breaking down misconception. 534 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: You know, oh it's in Africa, when I'm gonna get 535 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: it next year, you know what I'm saying. 536 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:55,199 Speaker 2: So let's talk about the whole process that the art 537 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,199 Speaker 2: of being placed how has handled in Africa, so we 538 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 2: can develop that trust with an audience over here. 539 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 1: There has a lot of misconceptions. 540 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 2: Nurse, I'm sure's the one person gonna go shut what 541 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 2: you're talking about? I trust them, Well, that's you. But 542 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 2: we're trying to sell to everybody. We want everybody to 543 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:13,199 Speaker 2: have the same trust that they have walking in their 544 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 2: local drugs. Yeah, those products have been tested. They feel 545 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 2: that it's on that shelf. They can buy it absolutely. 546 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 2: Now you're here with a product that I want to buy, 547 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 2: but it's sitting in a manufacturing location and a store 548 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 2: in Africa. 549 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 1: Talk about that process. 550 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 3: So we take quality control very seriously and compliance so 551 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 3: no one needs to worry about testing or quality because 552 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 3: we have Food and Drugs Authority for Ghana testing, we 553 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 3: have Ghana Standards Authority. We have all of the compliance 554 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 3: sides ticked and we're entering the US. Everything goes through 555 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 3: FDA checks before it's released. And yes, we manufacture everything 556 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 3: on the continent, but we bring it to you here fresh. 557 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 3: It's toward in our warehouse partners or our logistics partners, 558 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 3: and then it shipped out to you this country, so 559 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 3: you don't have to wait a million years, even if 560 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 3: we're shipping it, even if we were shipping it from 561 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 3: the million years, you know. 562 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,439 Speaker 2: But but you know what people for distance absolutely, you know, 563 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:13,680 Speaker 2: like I said, you know Chicago, I know that's that, 564 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:18,879 Speaker 2: you know, Mexico, Canada, Africa and so. And we're trying 565 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 2: to encourage people to go online to be able to 566 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 2: try the product because the product can't get shifted to 567 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 2: you in a very time the matter, and if you 568 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,959 Speaker 2: like it, you order it again. And so with that 569 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 2: being said, how do you market your brain? 570 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 1: You over here? 571 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 2: You know you over but you're over there? How are 572 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 2: you marketing your brain? You know you already told me 573 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 2: for Sean, you know, before I started this, I had 574 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 2: a PR. Yes, so you are much aware about marketing. 575 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 2: Tell us about this and art. 576 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 4: And for me, PR is what I do. It comes naturally. 577 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 3: But we have a marketing team, both local and global 578 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 3: marketing team that are helping us get the word out there. 579 00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: You just say all local and global global. 580 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, shout out to my global team. They are doing 581 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 4: a great job. The tribes, they are doing a great job. 582 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 3: But again, it takes time, it takes experience. And one 583 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 3: of the great things that people can access is social media. 584 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 3: Social media is free and we've been building our audience 585 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 3: for over a decade now, and say Instagram for example, 586 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 3: So you can go on there, you can feel, you 587 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 3: can touch, you can read our story, you can watch 588 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 3: our story. We've done so many documentaries in house about 589 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 3: our story and about our production facility. So we produce 590 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 3: our own raw materials. You can see the women that 591 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 3: are part of that. You can understand where it comes from. 592 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 3: We have quality and processes. We meet all of the 593 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 3: standards good manufacturing practice. If you're into manufacturing, you know 594 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 3: about that. We're clean where that is concerned. And to 595 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 3: see the women at the end of the value chain 596 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 3: who pick the nuts, produce into butter, make the soaps. 597 00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 4: They're all part of this story. 598 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 3: So every single product you you know, it does eventually 599 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 3: go back to them. It feeds back into that and 600 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:10,959 Speaker 3: the supply chain. Yeah, pride and also our hope and 601 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 3: our goal is to change their lives in terms of 602 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:17,959 Speaker 3: their economic prospects. 603 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 2: Right, well, I'm gonna just tell you I'm impressed by 604 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 2: the process. First of all, you know you are standing communicator, 605 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 2: but you because let's be just a story we're trying 606 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 2: to tell you know, the logo are in our skincare 607 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 2: very impressive. 608 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: I love it was just kind of like a brown 609 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: and green. 610 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, very neutral and earthy, very. 611 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 2: Neutral, but it also feels like it is Africa in 612 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 2: a sense, you know, feel like earth tones strong earth 613 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 2: tones here. And the fact that you're giving us the 614 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 2: hand cream, You're giving us the which I love, you know, 615 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 2: the lotion body for the bath, and then you have 616 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 2: the body body off, which was the first, and then 617 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 2: you have the cream of all. What is the big 618 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 2: picture we talked about it earlier as we close. What 619 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 2: is the big picture for our and our skincare? 620 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 3: I think just growing an African brand and taking it 621 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 3: to the rest of the world and sharing the beauty 622 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 3: of Africa through our formulations, through what we do, and 623 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 3: letting people know that this is just a small representative 624 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 3: of the entire continent and what is capable of. 625 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 2: Well, my friend, thank you for coming on Money Making 626 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:29,600 Speaker 2: Conversation having really I appreciate it. I appreciate you taking 627 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 2: the time to come in here and share your story 628 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 2: but also share an international perspective on success. 629 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 4: Thank you. The pleasure is all mine. Thank you so 630 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 4: much for having. 631 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 1: Me, which are so thank you. 632 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 2: This has been another edition of Money Making Conversation Masterclass 633 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 2: posted by me Rashaun McDonald. Thank you to our guests 634 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 2: on the show today and thank you our listening to 635 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 2: audience now. If you want to listen to any episode 636 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 2: I want to be a guest on the show, visit 637 00:31:55,480 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 2: Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money Making Conversation. 638 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 2: Join us next week and remember to always leave with 639 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 2: your gifts. 640 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 1: Keep winning. 641 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 5: Mm hmmm.