We were lucky to catch up with Whitney Frederic recently and have shared our conversation below.
Whitney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
I was motivated to start It’s Seasoned because it allowed me to showcase 3 things that I love: experimenting, cooking, and helping others. As a scientist with over 5 years of lab experience I have always found myself being the ‘curious George’ in rooms where some chose to stay silent. I always wanted to know “why”, and through research, I sought out ways to tackle many challenging questions. The summer of 2018 was no different. One morning on my daily commute, I learned that the FDA recalled several batches of a drug used to treat hypertension, because it contained traces of a known carcinogen. My thoughts— why were individuals subjected to taking medicine to treat one illness, then being placed at risk for something just life-threatening like cancer. I took it upon myself to do research, and learned about how our dietary choices can contribute to illness. With that, having a family history of hypertension and learning that it is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which is a leading cause of death in America, sparked my desire to do something about. In doing so, It’s Seasoned was born— and we curate seasoning blends with our customers health in mind: no msg. No gmos. No artificial flavors, preservatives or dyes.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
It’s Seasoned™ is more than just a seasoning company, what sets us apart is that we are a food/wellness brand that caters to customers with hypertension and customers who prefer healthier alternatives. We believe in the power of evidence-based research— and there is growing evidence to support the fact that individuals can improve their blood pressure levels when they exercise regularly, eat healthy, and reduce sodium in their diets. That said, we are on a mission to educate and empower individuals to be more aware of what they put into their bodies..
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Social media, attending pop-up shops, word of mouth, and being a part of organizations like Buy From a Black Woman.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I started working instacart part-time in addition to my full-time job as a research technician.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.itsseasoned.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsseasoned
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsseasoned
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/its-seasoned%E2%84%A2/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itsseasoned
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsseasoned3122
Image Credits
Product Photos by Daniel Jackson
Pop-up Shop Photo by Lamarr O’Connor Photography
Buy from A Black Woman H&M Event Photo by Marjorie Frederic