We were lucky to catch up with Abisola Jaiye-Peterson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Abisola, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Sola’s Butters was founded in 2016 when I was desperately searching for relief from my eczema. I wanted a natural way to heal my inflamed, dry skin without relying on chemical-based products or steroid prescriptions.

Growing up in Nigeria, my mother used shea butter and other botanicals to nourish her skin. I decided to tap into those roots and began creating my own shea butter blends. I started sharing them with family and friends who also struggled with eczema and dry skin, and I quickly saw the impact. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and that’s when I realized there was a real need for Sola’s Butters.

I felt it was essential to offer people natural options to truly nourish and care for their skin. At the time, shea butter-based formulations weren’t as widely available in the market. What makes Sola’s Butters unique is that each product is hand-blended rather than whipped, creating a rich, dense formula that lasts longer. As we like to say, a little goes a long way.

Abisola, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Abisola Jaiye-Peterson. I was born in Nigeria and have spent most of my life in Minneapolis. Growing up, shea butter was a staple in our home. It was used for all kinds of healing and nourishment. That upbringing naturally shaped my passion for using ingredients from the earth, rather than relying on heavily processed or synthetic products.

Sola’s Butters started in 2016 when I was searching for relief from my eczema. I wanted a natural way to care for my inflamed, dry skin, so I began creating my own shea butter blends. I shared them with family and friends who were also dealing with eczema and dry skin, and the response was immediate. I experienced the benefits myself, and the feedback I received showed me there was a real need, so I decided to share Sola’s Butters more widely.

Today, Sola’s Butters offers a range of clean skin and hair care products, including hydrating body and hair butter blends, facial serums, hair oils, and body scrubs. Our products are made without sulfates, phthalates, or mineral oils. Instead, we use nutrient-rich botanicals like burdock root, baobab oil, and Jamaican black castor oil to truly nourish the skin and hair.

What sets us apart is not just our ingredients, but our formulations. Our butters are hand-blended rather than whipped, creating a rich, dense texture that lasts longer, so a little really does go a long way. We focus on creating products that are both effective and intentional.

I built this brand through grassroots efforts, starting at local pop-ups, attending workshops, and participating in accelerator programs to strengthen both the product and the business. I’m most proud of how far Sola’s Butters has come and the community that has supported us along the way. We’ve been able to grow into retail partnerships with local co-ops like The Wedge Community Co-op, Seward Community Co-op, and Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op.

More than anything, I want people to know that Sola’s Butters is rooted in care, culture, and intention. This brand was created from a personal need, and everything we make is designed to help others feel nourished, confident, and connected to natural care.

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

In 2024, I made the decision to rebrand Sola’s Butters to better reflect the quality of the products. That meant updating our logos and redesigning all of our labels. It wasn’t an easy process it required a lot of collaboration with my graphic designer and several rounds of going back to the drawing board to get it right.

But in the end, it was absolutely worth it. The final result feels more aligned, elevated, and professional, and it better represents the standard I’ve always had for the brand. It was a reminder that sometimes you have to pause, refine, and invest in your presentation in order to grow.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy in growing my clientele has been a strong focus on both quality products and excellent customer service. I want customers to feel confident that they’re using clean, thoughtfully made products they can trust.

Beyond that, I make it a priority to support them throughout their entire experience, from answering basic questions to ensuring they feel cared for after their purchase. That level of attention and trust has been key to building lasting relationships and repeat customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.solasbutters.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solasbutters
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solasbutters
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/solasbutters