We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kobi Gregory & Tasha Harris . We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know more about Kobi Co. below.
Alright, Kobi Gregory & thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.
We believe businesses bear a responsibility to take care of their customers, to be stewards of the planet, and to do their part to create a more just and equitable world. We believe in taking care of ourselves, so we can go out into the world and make some good trouble. We believe in Black Girl Magic. We believe mental health, especially Black mental health, is paramount. We believe self care doesn’t have to be expensive, time consuming, or reserved for a privileged few. We believe music has the power to heal. (Especially Prince’s music.)
At Kobi Co. we are committed to giving back. A portion of our profits go toward our annual scholarship for BIPOC women, and our limited edition #BlackLivesMatter candle supports families affected by gun violence & police brutality. We will always do our part to uplift fellow Black-owned, women-owned companies, especially if they’re Minnesota grown (like we are), and we aim to provide a gender-affirming, LGBTQ+ aligned, antiracist workplace.
Our Scholarship:
https://www.lovekobico.com/pages/scholarship
Currently accepting applications for our scholarship for 2022.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
The cleanest waxes, wicks, and oils.
Fragrance combinations that are a whole vibe.
And curated playlists that combine scent with sound to create an immersive sensory experience.
Kobi Co. was founded in 2020 by 17-year-old Kobi Gregory, as a self care ritual to help her cope with the stress of distance learning during the pandemic. (2020 was a lot.) When her candles started selling, we decided to use a portion of the profits to start a college fund—which has since expanded into an annual scholarship we offer to young BIPOC women.
A few months into the pandemic / Kobi’s hobby turning into a full-on business, it was time for Momma to step in and regulate. 😎
Tasha Harris had recently quit her career in corporate finance after nearly two decades, feeling burned out and ready for a reset. She poured herself (get it?) into Kobi Co., helping secure partnerships and retail spots throughout Minneapolis, and growing the company into what it is today.
Throughout every step of our growth, we’ve stayed intentional.
We support independent, Black-owned businesses. We give back. We believe self care is non-negotiable in these crazy and upsetting times, and we want our candles & music to foster a calming, restorative vibe. We want you to be your best self, do your best work, and be the best friend, steward, and ancestor you can be. We are Minneapolis born-and-raised, and you can feel the hometown pride throughout all of our products, our relationships, and our dope taste in music.
We are the vibe-makers. And now, you can be one too.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
We are a mother daughter inter-generational team.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
In 2020, during the pandemic Kobi was suffering from stress and anxiety due to distance learning while in high school. She turned to candle making as a way to calm her mind and today we are a full fledged candle and wellness brand.
Key milestones:
Getting into all 8 Patina stores
Getting into the Electric Fetus
Getting out of the garage and into office space
Hiring contractors to help us sell at events and pop-ups
Sending 600 candles to Puerto Rico – they all arrived on time and nothing broke
Contact Info:
- Website: Https://lovekobico.com
- Instagram: Https;//www.Instagram.com/lovekobico
- Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/lovekobico
- Linkedin: Https://LinkedIn.com/Kobi Co
Image Credits
Uncommon Collaborative