Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jewels Burdick. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jewels, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Back in 2010, life threw a curveball my way when my mom, in her early 60s, started having memory issues. Everyone thought it was Alzheimer’s or dementia, which was terrifying. She’d forget things, get confused, and one day, she even called me from town, upset because she couldn’t remember why she went there. Even her trainer suggested Alzheimer’s – the last thing you want to hear. After a ton of research and tests, we found out it wasn’t Alzheimer’s but an overload of aluminum chloride from the antiperspirants she was using. This ingredient, meant to stop sweating, was sneaking into her bloodstream, reaching her brain, and causing Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. It was shocking, and I couldn’t wrap my head around why such a thing was considered safe to use.
In my quest for answers, I stumbled upon a game-changing book called “The Green Beauty Guide,” written by a doctor from Europe. She basically called out American cosmetic companies for using harmful ingredients. Armed with this info and a list of banned ingredients in Europe and Japan, I hit a well-known natural store hoping to find clean, non-toxic products. Guess what? Almost every product had those banned ingredients!
So, I decided to try the DIY recipes from the book, but honestly, I wasn’t a fan of the formulas. That’s when I thought, “Why not create my own skincare line, one I can trust for my family?” It became a sort of passion project.
After about a year of formulating, my friends noticed my skin was looking really good. They asked what skincare line I was using, and when I told them, they were shocked! Mostly because I hadn’t shared with them what I was up to! After several of them tried the products, they encouraged me to start selling the line. That got me thinking, and I slowly started turning my kitchen experiments into a business.
From the beginning, my mission has been simple: create affordable natural skincare, that works. It all started with wanting something safe for my mom and ended up becoming a journey to offer something good for everyone. It’s not just about skincare; it’s about a choice – a choice for quality, affordability, and something that really works. And that’s the heart and soul of what we do.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Growing up on a farm, my childhood was filled with work on the farm with my father. We tended to livestock, maintained a large family garden, and even made maple syrup every spring. My grandmother, a wizard in the kitchen, mesmerized me with her ability to whip up recipes seemingly out of thin air, using the bounties we harvested. Unsurprisingly, my journey led me to the food industry, with a strong emphasis on farm-to-table practices. In my early 30s, I decided to add a splash of creativity to my journey and enrolled in Graphic Design school at Pratt Institute in the heart of New York City. However, life had its own plans, guiding me back to the scenic landscapes of Colorado after college. Here, I found myself immersed in the world of coffee, utilizing my design skills to craft branding for numerous small businesses. Eventually, I took a leap and founded my own design agency.
Yet, after years spent in front of a computer screen, I began to yearn for a more hands-on, tangible connection with my work. The turning point came when my mother’s health started declining. I felt a pull back to the kitchen, not for food but to create natural skincare using ingredients you could almost eat. This passion led me to the School for Natural Skincare in the UK, where I honed my skills and turned my enthusiasm into a profession.
The genesis of Simple Body can be traced back to my frustration with the natural deodorant options available on the market. Like many of you, I had tried them all, only to find them lacking. Tired of spending a small fortune on products that fell short, I set out to create my own – a natural deodorant that actually worked. It was my inaugural creation, and to this day, it remains a source of immense pride, with customers still exclaiming, “It works!” 14 years later.
Today, Simple Body’s focus extends beyond deodorants to a comprehensive skincare line. Working with people of all ages, I find joy in helping them customize a skincare routine tailored to their unique needs. Our offerings address a range of personal skincare concerns, and I am committed to making our expertise accessible. We provide free in-store or Zoom skincare consultations, a service many suggest I charge for. However, helping people achieve their skincare goals is more important to me than a price tag. I’m passionate about ensuring our skincare line is not just effective but affordable for all.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In the heart of the holiday season, a crucial time for retail, a formidable challenge emerged just before the bustling fourth quarter. Shifts in my supplier network forced me to search for a new preservative for my products. After exhaustive research, I decided on a natural preservative from a new supplier. The preservative performed well in our tests. A bulk order was placed, and production kicked into high gear for the impending holiday rush. As the familiar whirlwind of October through December unfolded, marked by tireless hours and high-volume sales, anticipation for a well-deserved vacation with my husband grew. However, the tranquility of that vacation was shattered when my phone rang with a call from a longtime customer. She reported discovering mold in her recent purchase. A sinking feeling gripped me, and soon, more reports of mold poured in, turning my vacation into a crisis management battleground.
Being miles away, out of the country, and grappling with the identification of the issue, my vacation transformed into anything but a relaxing escape. Sleepless nights brought the harsh realization that all products incorporating the new preservative had to be recalled and replaced. Existing inventory faced disposal and recreation. Would my customers maintain their trust? Was closure looming for the business I cherished? Could I recover financially?
Despite the daunting questions, I delved into researching new preservatives, recalculating formulas, and rigorous product testing. Today, the business not only stands but thrives, a testament to the resilience displayed during that pivotal crisis. My loyal customers, appreciative of the transparency and integrity I upheld, responded with understanding, continuing to place their trust in my products. In moments of overwhelm, I clung to the philosophy of tackling issues minute by minute, avoiding the anxiety of contemplating the uncertain future. Staying present proved to be the anchor that guided me through what stands as the most challenging ordeal of my life.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
Having a thriving business while nurturing my side hustle was a stroke of luck. When I embarked on Simple Body, it wasn’t with the grand plan of turning it into a business—it was merely about crafting natural products for my family and me. As I dived into developing formulas, my personal funds footed the bill for ingredients, equipment, and packaging. The organic evolution from a passion project to a full-fledged business found me with a commercial office space, which I transformed into a retail store, and a modest inventory—all financed from my personal funds to kickstart Simple Body. In those initial years, every penny of profit was plowed back into the venture, fueling research and development, expansion, and operational expenses. Luckily, my design agency’s salary provided a financial cushion.
For anyone contemplating a dive into entrepreneurship, I always advocate having a full-time job that covers the bills while your side hustle gains traction, if possible. It’s a prudent approach. When the moment arrived for me to bid farewell to my design agency and dedicate myself entirely to Simple Body, I could finally draw a modest salary from the profits.
What’s more, I’ve had the privilege of steering the ship without external investors. 100% self-funding has been my chosen path, and remarkably, it has proven effective. It’s a formula I often share with aspiring entrepreneurs today – let your side hustle grow while you have a steady income, and when the time is right, make the leap with confidence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplebodyproducts.com
- Instagram: @simplebodyproducts
- Facebook: /simplebody
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCmECAMX6C9xHtAaDeN_VrA
Image Credits
all images by @simplebodyproducts