We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chanda Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Chanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

As a Scorpio we have been known to be characterized as being creative, my creativity was put to the test when my mom developed symptoms of red, scaly, itchy, flaky, thickening skin. My mom had visited her PCP, and several dermatologists and all came to the conclusion that it was a dermatology issue. She was treated with topical steroids, Vaseline, oral steroids and other prescribed creams. She despised how they made her feel and how they made her smell like a walking medicine cabinet. I decided to do some research on more natural and organically made products, that not only helped her skin heal but also cost less and smelled better. I purchased some Shea Butter, however, in its natural state it can be hard to touch and difficult to apply especially for someone with
a disability. The team of doctors working with mom were able to figure out and properly diagnose her with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL). CTCL is known for the red, scaly, itchy flaky skin symptoms and rash it can cause, CTCL is very difficult to diagnose is what we found out. In the meantime, I continued my research and figured out I could mix Shea Butta with various other kinds of butter and oil organic oils to get a softer more pliable consistency, this process took approximately two years. Watching my mom’s face and seeing the excitement when I gave her my very first plastic soup container of ROSE-scented Whipped Shea Butta was the most meaningful to me. I had given her happiness in a plastic container, and she LOVED it. I had accomplished my goal of making a product that not only helped to heal the skin but also smelled good. It is a natural product with no parabens or other unnecessary ingredients. I don’t claim to heal, but Shea Butter, Kokum Butter, and Mango Butters are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that do have healing properties.

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?

My name is Chanda Williams, and I am from Boston Massachusetts. I am the owner and CEO of KQs BUTTAs. I make and sell a variety of Shea Butter-based products. My main product is my Whipped Shea Butter which can be used in your hair all the way to your toes. I always say, “Head to Toe Whole Body Essentials”. My products serve to bring moisture back to your skin, the anti-inflammatory properties may help soothe skin issues such as eczema, they could help heal cuts and scrapes, and they could also help with anti-aging because of their antioxidants I mean no one ever thinks I look my age (SHEA BUTTA BABY)! I also work as a phlebotomist four days a week which means I never stop. On my days off with my family, making products, fulfilling online orders, or prepping for vendor events or pop-up shops. I don’t claim to work miracles or heal although my customers might say differently, however, I do claim to give you a great product and fantastic customer service.

What sets me apart from others in my field are my scented BUTTAs. I have anything from Blue Balls (eucalyptus, thyme, cedarwood) to Sunflower (citrus, Pear blossom, white lily) to a Pi-Nana (Pineapple Banana) I’m sure this one explains itself. I love what I do and I wouldn’t change anything because watching the smiles on my customers face when they first test a product or open a jar is more than I can ask for.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience, funny this question should be put forth as I was just sharing some of what keeps me going at a pop-up shop. When I started my business, I would only share my products with family and friends, and I had many people tell me that I should sell my Butters at popups. So started my journey of being a vendor, I did some research and found this lovely little company and although they charged a fee it wasn’t a lot. I would be in the same place every month all year which meant my customers would always know where to find me, which was a blessing as I had many return customers I got to know them on a personal level to the point they would call and say “I’m going to run down on my lunch can you run me out some….’ and because I knew them so well I could just pick a Butta that I knew they would love. They trusted me and I trusted them, very important in any business. Covid shut them down like many others, unfortunately. When things opened back up, I decided to jump back in the pool at the same place because my customers would follow. Well, I went online and filled out my application for an event and I received the nastiest most unprofessional email I had EVER received in regard to my business. As I type this, I can’t help but get teary-eyed because that one email made me doubt myself, my company, and my worth or existence in this industry. I shut my business down, but then by the hands of faith, I received two emails that week from customers one who had been gifted my product while recovering from breast cancer and another from a new customer whose child suffered from eczema both praising my products and telling me that my product was the only thing that helped or worked for them. So I’m still here and I will keep making my product for people like them and my mom. My goal is to OOOPS I can’t say, but I do have a future plan.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building on social media was awful for me the only thing I knew was FaceBook and all that other stuff was foreign. I was constantly asking my kids over and over how to do simple things on these new sites such as IG, & TIKTOK. I’m still learning the TOK but i’ve gotten pretty good at IG. I would say watch the tutorials learn how to do reels and post make a reel or post and send it to all your followers. I am growing my audience by offering a discount to my customers if they make a post or if one of their friends purchases a product. Practice makes perfect, but we all know NO one is perfect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kqsbutta.com/
• Instagram: kqs_buttas
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KQsBUTTAs
• Linkedin: chanda williams

Image Credits
Sharon Whitaker (mom), Quentin Lee Jr. (son), Kyeisha Pierre (daughter), Civannah Charles (grandaughter)