We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rhiana Rew-Coleman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rhiana, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I’ve been 6 feet tall and full figured since the age of 15. Back then it was difficult to find fashionable and trendy clothing like my smaller peers so used fashion accessories such as jewelry and handbags to improve my “frumpy” clothing options. As I entered into high school and then college I would always get compliments on purses and earrings I would wear. Soon after, family and friend were telling me I should start a fashion accessories business. I didn’t have any entrepreneurs or business owners in my circle so starting business seems like something foreign and unattainable for me, I went back and forth with the idea of starting my business or 8 years and even became a licensed esthetician and practiced for 5 years, but deep down inside I knew I had a true calling. I chose the name Essential Things Co because I wanted to sell the Essential Things a woman needed to take their ensemble from being a drag to fab! In March of 2019 I launched Essential Things Co and haven’t look back! Its been a labor of love that I would do all over again.

Rhiana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a wife, mother, and insurance professional who moonlights as a small business owner. Essential things Co started as a passion project that turned into a business. At ETC we specialize in all fashion accessory items for men and women such as handbags, sunglasses, bracelets, earrings, and gift items. we are well known in the Cincinnati metropolitan area for our earring selection. As a child who was over weight growing up and not having the best or most popular clothing options growing up I realized I could improve the overall outfit by pairing a nice purse or earring with the outfit. I remember that feeling of creativity and somewhat of a trend setter and I wanted young girls and women who couldn’t find those ideal clothing option or couldn’t afford higher end pieces to still feel that could remix items they already owned with affordable accessories from ETC. In wanting every young girl to have some form of affordable luxury I started donating jewelry and bow tie to low income teens for proms and homecoming dances in Cincinnati and Columbus annually. This is something I take immense pride in. I take pride in providing good quality items and customer service is a top priority.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I started my ETC journey in March of 2019 and had a phenomenal 9 months of business. In January 2020 I found out I was pregnant and it was high risk. Then 2 short month later the world as we know it changed forever. When Covid hit the USA my whole life changed in more ways than one. My job functions and duties changes suddenly, my retail sales slowed down, and I was having complications with my health and pregnancy. I slipped into a depression and did not work on my business much and even considered closing the business for good. As the months went on I delivered a health baby girl and my mental health improved. So I went back to the drawing board to create a new marketing plan and relaunch my brand. I was so proud I pushed through that difficult time and was able to focus on my health and ultimately come back better than ever.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was so used to selling and interacting with my customers in person at pop-up events and such and didn’t really put much time and energy into learning social media marketing. So when we entered the pandemic that literally the only way I could reach my customers. Initially it was hard for me to pivot and learn these new skills but I knew it was necessary. I had to learn to read analytics, engagement, and content creation.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.essentialthingsco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essentialthingsco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essentialthingsco