Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jane Heur. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Jane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
Naming our brand, Roseray, was a reflection of a deeply personal and transformative realization. I had always held the belief that beauty was a pursuit primarily associated with youth, a notion that sadly reinforced shallow ideals. In the beauty industry, I witnessed the pervasive pressure to conform to certain standards, the need for specific products to attain a predefined concept of beauty.
However, a remarkable shift occurred when my mother entered the picture. In an act as simple as gifting her some new skincare products, I witnessed a profound change. My mother, a woman of simple pleasures and minimal interest in luxury, was visibly delighted by this small gesture. She, who had never been swayed by brand names or extravagant items, suddenly became deeply engrossed in her new skincare routine. Her dedication, the meticulous care with which she applied each product every evening, and the joy she found in the scent of roses within her skincare revealed an essential truth: the desire to feel beautiful knows no age limits.
This revelation was an epiphany – a realization that beauty isn’t confined to youth but is, in fact, a timeless and powerful force. Skincare and beauty products, I learned, were not just commodities but tools for self-care, mechanisms to nurture the soul and spirit. In the name ‘Roseray,’ I found a way to encapsulate this discovery – the rose, a symbol of beauty and grace, intertwined with the concept of a radiant, sunny day. ‘Ray’ not only symbolizes the radiant, sunny day but also signifies the power to brighten and bring happiness to the lives of those we touch.
Inspired by this newfound perspective, I embarked on a journey to create a business that not only provides skincare but also extends to essential home products. I wanted to bridge the gap between skincare and home essentials, offering a comprehensive range of products that touched our lives intimately, just like skincare does. Our lineup includes items like soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, and more – all meticulously crafted to ensure they are gentle on the skin, safe for the whole family, and in harmony with our vision of radiant, joyful living.
Roseray is more than a brand; it’s a tribute to the enduring power of beauty and self-care, the simple joys they bring, and the notion that every woman, regardless of age, deserves to feel beautiful. It’s also a testament to our commitment to nurturing homes with products that embody our vision of radiant, kind living.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hello, I’m Jane Heur, the founder of Roseray. My journey into the world of beauty and self-care began in the beauty and entertainment industries, where I had the privilege of witnessing the power of beauty. It was a revelation that would ultimately lead me to establish Roseray, a brand with a unique mission – to bridge the realms of skincare and home essentials.
My inspiration for Roseray came from a desire to offer safe, gentle, and sustainable products for individuals and families. I wanted to create a brand where people wouldn’t have to worry about harsh, skin-irritating ingredients. Our commitment to sustainability led us to incorporate biodegradable ingredients, ensuring that we care for the earth just as much as we care for our customers.
At Roseray, we provide a wide range of products encompassing both skincare and home essentials. Our skincare collection is thoughtfully curated, featuring products from visionary K-Beauty brands that share our commitment to quality and sustainability. We invest a considerable amount of effort in researching and selecting ingredients that not only benefit the skin but also minimize our impact on the environment.
What sets us apart is our dedication to delivering kind products. We recognize that there’s a substantial audience seeking products that are gentle, especially on sensitive skin, and safe for the entire family. Families, in particular, appreciate the peace of mind that our products provide. They can trust that our offerings meet high standards without compromising on quality, allowing them to prioritize both their well-being and the health of the planet.
Our unique selling proposition is simple yet powerful – skincare meets home essentials. Our range isn’t limited to basic cleaning products; it’s about enhancing your daily rituals, nourishing your skin, and ensuring it stays safe.
One of our proudest achievements has been the expansion of our brand into physical locations. Currently, you can find Roseray products at Yoboseyo Superette in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Civitas Coffee in La Mirada, CA. These spaces allow us to connect with our community and offer our products in a tangible, hands-on way.
In essence, Roseray is about offering kind products – products that are gentle to you, your family, and the earth. Our mission is to provide high-quality products that contribute to your self-care and well-being, embodying the concept of ‘beauty with a purpose.’
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
My entrepreneurial journey with Roseray began as a side hustle, a humble venture born out of a profound passion for skincare and a keen desire to bridge the gap between beauty and home essentials. In those early days, I dived headfirst into the beauty industry, curating a selection of natural, high-quality K-Beauty skincare products from various brands. My goal was clear – to not only provide people with skincare they could trust but also to raise awareness about the importance of gentle, skin-friendly ingredients.
However, the beauty industry is a sea of competition, and getting noticed amid the vastness of online commerce was no small feat. Armed with my background in marketing, I embarked on a journey to carve out a niche for Roseray. I meticulously optimized my website to improve its visibility on search engines, inching it higher on Google’s ranking. This was a challenging phase, one that demanded every ounce of my dedication and expertise.
Recognizing the power of personal connection, I decided to take a more hands-on approach. I ventured into the world of pop-up markets, where I could engage with customers face-to-face. These events were invaluable opportunities not only to showcase my products but also to share the Roseray story. People could see and feel the products right in front of them, a tactile experience that allowed me to market the brand and build meaningful customer relationships.
As the journey continued, a pivotal moment arrived when I expanded the scope of Roseray to include home essentials. This expansion was fueled by a growing passion and a desire to offer a comprehensive range of products that extended beyond skincare. I began creating products under the Roseray brand, meticulously crafted with the same commitment to gentle, earth-friendly ingredients that our customers had come to trust.
It was during this transformative phase that I made a life-altering decision – to dedicate myself fully to Roseray. The passion I felt for the brand, coupled with the belief in the products we were creating, propelled me to commit all my time and energy to its growth. This marked the transition from a side hustle to my main business and career.
Today, Roseray stands as a testament to the power of passion and dedication. We’ve expanded our presence, with our products gracing the shelves of physical stores. Our goal now is to continue scaling Roseray, bringing our kind products to even more people. The journey has been marked by challenges, learning experiences, and remarkable successes, but what remains unchanged is our commitment to providing products that care for individuals, their families, and the earth.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the most profound lessons I’ve had to unlearn on my entrepreneurial journey is the notion of overnight success, a belief perpetuated by the selective portrayal of success on social media. It’s an illusion that can be both tempting and demoralizing, as it suggests that building a thriving business happens quickly and almost effortlessly. The reality, however, is far from this romanticized image.
The backstory to this lesson is rooted in the era of social media, where carefully curated success stories often dominate our feeds. We see businesses skyrocketing seemingly overnight, entrepreneurs flaunting their achievements, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. In this digital age, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that building a business is a swift ascent to glory.
It’s this misconception that I, like many others, came to believe early on. The relentless comparison to those showcasing only the glamorous parts of their journey led me to mistakenly assume that success should come instantaneously. I expected rapid growth and immediate recognition, and when those didn’t materialize, it became disheartening.
The turning point in unlearning this lesson came when I realized the detrimental impact it was having on my passion and drive. I began to see that this obsession with speed and surface-level success was eroding the very essence of why I started my business in the first place. I had embarked on this journey out of love for what I do and a genuine desire to provide value to my customers. But the pressure I was putting on myself to replicate the apparent overnight successes I saw on social media was overshadowing my initial enthusiasm.
Gradually, I understood that scaling takes time and dedication. It’s a journey marked by incremental steps, small victories, and persistent effort. Success isn’t defined solely by the destination; it’s equally about the lessons learned, the growth achieved, and the impact made along the way. I began to appreciate that every moment spent on my business, even in its early stages, was a valuable investment in its future.
This shift in perspective was liberating. It allowed me to rekindle my passion, to remember why I embarked on this journey, and to recognize that it’s entirely acceptable to start small and progress at one’s own pace. I learned that there’s immense value in the process, in the journey itself, and in the resilience developed through challenges.
In the end, it’s the journey that truly matters. And personally, I’m still learning and growing, slowly but surely, alongside my business, embracing every lesson and challenge that comes my way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.roseray.com
- Instagram: @roseray_official
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/roseraydotcom
Image Credits
Ruth Kim