We recently connected with Amanda Panda and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Panda Organics is more than just a small business. It’s my journey and lifestyle. I created Panda Organics in 2018. The idea came to me much sooner though. To make a long story short, I had been homeless for a year. I traveled to 22 different states with only the things that I could carry. On that journey I was introduced to different ways of being, culture, and a better way of living. That might sound crazy considering I was homeless. But I was introduced to simplicity and community. Things I never experienced as an only child in the suburbs. After this journey I returned back to Alabama. My mission was to inspire lifestyle change, conscious consuming, sustainable ways of living, and living in harmony with nature. I started setting up every weekend at our local flea market. You could rent out booths for cheap. I grew my business at the flea market first, eventually I created an Etsy. After a year of being my own biggest fan I eventually moved into a framing shop in my town. I continued to grow, I started doing local events, I eventually bought a 28-ft bus and started a mobile shop in my city! It’s been an incredible journey. There’s so much more to my story. I’m a 35 year old, single mom to two teenage boys. I have a 1 acre homestead, I grow all my own vegetables, I have chickens, and I’m a lifestyle writer for my local paper. I live in Dothan Alabama and we’re not the smallest town but I’m definitely somewhere where I knew I could promote change. Be the change you want to see in the world, that’s been my motto. I’m grateful for anybody who takes the time to read my story and give me an opportunity to grow even more.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My brand is my lifestyle. All of the products that I make are made with love and intention. I choose only the healthiest ingredients. A lot of the ingredients that I use are from my own garden. My best sellers are my Fire Cider and Magnesium Mist. I have a long list of awesome reviews and testimonies from customers who have shared their stories with me. Making a difference in people’s lives makes everything worth it.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
I have never received any kind of funding or loans for my business. I started from the ground up with no outside help from friends or family. I first started propagating plants to grow and sell. I would visit thrift stores to find things to repurpose. I begin to build my inventory, add new items, and eventually purchased different things in wholesale.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
My social media presents has bounced between Instagram and Facebook. When I first created my Etsy, my business was predominantly ran on Instagram. My friends and I formed a community of like minded women. I was shipping out 10 to 30 packages every week. Slow and steady has always been my motto. My audience is real, authentic, and full of love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PandaOrganics
- Instagram: A.PandaOrganics
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/a.pandaorganics?mibextid=ZbWKwL
