We recently connected with Audrene Dias and have shared our conversation below.

Audrene, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Interestingly, I hail from the beautiful island of Jamaica, where I grew up surrounded by Rastafarian culture. Within this culture, the word ‘Ital’ is commonly used to describe food, and is derived from the word ‘vital’ with the removal of the letter ‘V’. This term signifies natural, organic, fresh, and pure food. Inspired by this concept, I have applied it to my products.

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

I entered the body care industry as a result of trying to find a solution to the skin issues I was facing at the time. Nothing I used seemed to work for me, so I started to switch my deodorant, detergent, shampoos, and eventually, topical products. After a while, I began making body butter for myself to ensure that I knew what I was putting on my body. It took some time to perfect the recipe, but eventually, family and friends began to try it out. Initially, I did not intend to sell them, but I saw an opportunity to make some extra money on the side. I also taught myself how to make soaps. I realized that most store-bought soaps are not actually soaps and are loaded with chemicals that our skin and body do not need.

Currently, my product line includes body butters, handmade soaps, body oils, bath salts, beard oils & balms, and body care accessories. Our body butters provide deep hydration, nourishment, and protection to the skin, while promoting healthy skin regeneration. Similarly, our soaps offer a natural alternative, catering to individual needs and reducing the environmental impact of soap production.

What sets us apart is our focus on sustainability. As of now, most of our packaging is eco-friendly, reusable, or recyclable. We are also taking necessary steps towards becoming a fully sustainable company. In addition, we are socially responsible and donate a portion of our profits to organizations that focus on women’s health.

I feel grateful for my ability to persevere through challenging times, particularly when it comes to health and business. It has been a tough journey, but I have learned a lot about resilience and determination along the way, and I am proud of what I have been able to achieve. I had an idea and was able to bring it to life.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

I have my own website, italsoapco.com, and I use Shopify as my platform. I chose Shopify because it is user-friendly, especially for someone with limited website building skills. With Shopify, I was able to customize the design to represent my brand the way I wanted it. Additionally, Shopify provides me with the ability to accept multiple forms of payment, as well as shipping, pickup, and local delivery options. I can also use multiple apps on the platform to aid in customizing my store. The only drawback is that the cost can increase depending on the features you want to access.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I am working on building more of a social media presence. Online, I strive to provide informative content related to women’s health, particularly regarding endocrine diseases such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, and others. Additionally, I demonstrate the process of making products and discuss the benefits of the ingredients I use. The mission of our business is ‘to inspire people to live, think, and be healthier while taking care of their skin, body, and environment.’ Our online presence is dedicated to teaching exactly that. I aim to educate and inform the community about the factors that harm us and how we can take better care of ourselves and the environment.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.italsoapco.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ital_Creations_llc
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/italcreationsllc
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@italcreations6997

Image Credits
Some images were shot by Joseph Abad Instagram Handle: @iamjosephabad http://josephabad.net/photographer