We were lucky to catch up with Adria Marshall recently and have shared our conversation below.

Adria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

Now that Ecoslay is a successful business, it’s quite tempting to wish that I had started my business sooner. But when I realistically play out the movie that is my life, I begin to see that all of its twists and turns have led me to where I am today. If not for this journey, the outcome would have been less than stellar. For instance, my experience as a Software Developer has played a huge part in the creation of my website, as well as the ability to analyze social media trends and navigate apps. Likewise, if I hadn’t been a Quality Assurance analyst for several years, I wouldn’t have gained the troubleshooting and problem-solving skills that I use on a daily basis. So when it’s all said and done, I think that this journey has played out exactly as it should have.

Adria, 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?

Ecoslay manufactures and distributes sustainably packaged, plant-based products for wavy, curly, coily, and kinky hair. It’s an understatement to say that our products are responsibly sourced. In fact, we care deeply about the integrity of our ingredients to the extent that we have partnered with Truly Living Well, a local urban farm in Atlanta, to cultivate many of the ingredients used in our products. With our commitment to using the finest ingredients, our products are highly effective in providing moisture, reducing frizz, and addressing the other specific needs of textured hair.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

I’m proud to say that every Ecoslay product is still handmade to order. When I first started, I learned to manufacture products through a relentless combination of YouTube videos and trial-and-error. As the orders started to pile up, I did explore the option of using a manufacturing facility. However, I was disheartened when they proposed taking shortcuts with quality and ingredients. Instead, I made the decision to create my own ‘manufacturing facility’ by hiring and training staff who shared our vision. Now, I have an incredible production team and work closely with a chemist who shares our natural-first mindset. Together, we ensure that our products are not only effective but also safe. Along the way, I have learned a great deal and made numerous mistakes, too many to list, really!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Ecoslay is self-funded. I still vividly remember the day when I nervously approached my husband and suggested pulling $300 from our savings to make my first Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) purchase. Fortunately, that $300 has multiplied into a thriving business. I am cautious when it comes to investors because I am deeply committed to staying true to our vision. My greatest fear is having to compromise my integrity in favor of financial considerations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ecoslay.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ecoslay
• Facebook: facebook.com/ecoslay
• Twitter: twitter.com/ecoslay

Image Credits
Jaxon Photography