We were lucky to catch up with Cedeah Bland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cedeah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

At Diavian Naturals, love is the beating heart of everything we do. Our creations are a fusion of passion and care, embodying the essence of “made with love, from love.” Our brand is dedicated to leaving a lasting impact through our amazing hair and body products. At Diavian Naturals, we believe in making memories that last a lifetime and beyond. Our aspiration is to establish a timeless legacy and love.

Cedeah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve had a lifelong love affair with natural products, a passion that took hold even before I recognized it. I’ve been a natural girl all my life, never giving in to the peer pressure of a perm, even when I briefly considered it in junior high. Shoutout to my mom for always keeping me true to my natural self.

In high school, I began to truly appreciate my hair in its natural state. I learned how to do a fabulous braid-out and started going by the name “afrocutie.” Throughout those years, I was often labeled a “lazy natural.” I stuck to the basics when it came to my hair routine, yet it always turned out cute. I frequently rocked afros and buns, forming the signature styles of my high school days.

Styling my hair made me a lazy natural, yet wash day was always a priority. I washed my hair weekly and treated it with a mayo, egg, and olive oil blend every other week. Back then, I didn’t know how to mask the smell, so although it was a bit unpleasant, it was a necessary ritual. During my high school days, I also developed a strong fondness for shea butter, the raw, nutty scent straight out of the tub was addicting.

My go-to spot was at Atlantic & 4th Ave, where I would purchase every jar. At that time, I didn’t fully grasp how special these items were; all I knew was that I adored them in the moment. Fast forward to 2018, while working in security, I had an epiphany—I wanted to start my own business. Given my passion for cooking, I recognized that my venture should be “kitchen-related.”

That realization led me to the world of creating natural products. I ordered a few things online to experiment with to make body butter. That’s when I produced my very first batch, now known as the legendary “Biscuit Body Butter,” the OG body butter of Diavian Naturals. A few weeks later, I concocted the “Passion Sugar Scrub,” followed by the “Lotus Herbal Hair Growth Oil” and, last but not least, the “Cocopom Pomade.”

These were the foundational four products that marked the birth of Diavian Naturals. The journey officially commenced on March 14, 2019, with my first sale at work—a cute 1oz Biscuit Body Butter that I sold for $2. This humble beginning marks a beautiful memory.

For the first year, Diavian Naturals operated solely through word of mouth. I personally handled drop-offs on foot. Business was thriving in a way that felt good to me, and I felt content and self-assured with the feedback I was receiving. I was well aware that the positive feedback wasn’t just due to personal relationships; I knew my products had a voice of their own, and the reviews were genuinely authentic.

Recognizing the need to grow, I spent months working on ideas for my business. This involved finding the perfect logos, labels, brand colors, and jar designs. Finally, in the summer of 2020, all the pieces fell into place, leading to the official launch of Diavian Naturals on August 16th, 2020.

The business had a makeover. Instead of doing drop-offs, we started shipping, customers were receiving tracking numbers. It finally felt like a real business, I’m pretty proud of Diavian Naturals’ customer service. The business is on the upswing, the product range is expanding, and the love keeps flowing. Our motto is “Made with love, from love,” and we stand on that. We’ve got a total of 11 official products now and have shipped to over 20 states—all thanks to genuine love and trust.

Reflecting on this beautiful journey, the transformation from before to after is truly mind-blowing. I wholeheartedly love what I do, and I’m eagerly anticipating the exciting future ahead.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve learned the importance of keeping records of all orders and holding onto receipts. Every single customer means a lot to me. They sense the love we put into our products, and that appreciation is always mutual. Although most of the time orders go smoothly, occasionally there’s a dispute about an order received. Sometimes it’s a genuine error, and sometimes it’s intentional. Regardless, as a business owner, I’ve learned to be ready to provide evidence every time such a situation arises.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The most effective way to attract new customers has proven to be through pop-up shops. These events are important because they offer a chance to connect with people directly and showcase our products in person. Pop-up shops can sway those who were unsure about purchasing initially. Potential customer can experience the scent of the products firsthand, eliminating any guesswork. They can also touch and feel the product’s texture, which is a big advantage. While not everyone might make a purchase on the spot, some might return to our business weeks or even months later after realizing its value. This demonstrates that even if they don’t decide immediately, they still find our business significant enough to keep up with on social media, leading to conversions over time.

Contact Info:

• Website: DiavianNaturals.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/diaviannaturals
• Facebook: Facebook.com/diaviannaturals

Image Credits
Photo credit – Ambitious Shooters Instagram – @coolboip @ambitious.shooters