We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Francesca Sakai. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Francesca below.
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.
Aloha! I’m Francesca Corinne Sakai, founder and creator of Passion Moon Potions. My home is in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, also known as the Orchid Island. Passion Moon Potions began from my love of pastry and desserts combined with the importance of lavishing oneself with quality skin care. I always loved being in the kitchen creating delicious things to eat. Baking sweets & decadent desserts was a way for me to express my love for this art through complex flavors and textures combined. As a coffee connoisseur, I also enjoyed making gorgeous designs in lattes using my artistic nature with the creamy coffee textures. I always enjoyed making desserts for people and was happy to put a satisfied smile on their faces. Finding the baking world to be far too fast-paced, I decided to start my own business to continue following my love of this art and keep my passions alive. I made the leap from desserts to skincare and combined my love for desserts and sweet-smelling skin products into literal desserts for the skin. Flowers have always drawn me in for their sweet scents and beauty. These floral expressions are embodied within my skin care products. For women, the moon represents a source of connection with nature. As I was experimenting with my recipes and creating luxuries for the skin, I created many potions in my laboratory, evolving into Passion Moon Potions.
When I came up with the idea to create my own line of skin care products, many of the dessert world scents and ingredients that I had learned about as a baker became key inspirations. Dark chocolate coconut lip balms and crème brulee whipped shea butters are just a few results of my endless inspirations and ideas! It’s very important for me to keep everything made with the best quality ingredients and to put my aloha into every product. I love to make and create new skin desserts that are both healthy for your skin and lusciously indulging at the same time, always leaving my customers smelling and feeling amazing. Passion Moon Potions embodies luxurious and indulgent skincare made in small batches with natural vegan-friendly ingredients.
Passion Moon Potions is a decadent dessert for your skin.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
My business did start as a side hustle. I worked many barista /baking jobs and started my business at the same time. I did it mostly as a hobby that turned into a full-time job 20 years later.
I joined Etsy in 2008, February I believe when they just launched. The first year I didn’t make any sales…Almost closed my shop and someone reached out to do product reviews on their YouTube channel. I was excited to try that out, and once I got my first sale things started to get better and pick up. Fast forward a few years..I was doing well in my little skincare business..I decided it was time to reach out to local shops to expand into the wholesale market. I went full-time in 2016, and still run my whole business as a solo entrepreneur.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
I think offering my products on multiple platforms. Etsy, Amazon, Shopify..Most of the social media platforms. Building an email marketing list. Sending free items for people to review, and have them share videos or written feedback. I did it all until people started reaching out to me to carry my products in their shops. That’s a fun feeling!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.passionmoonpotions.com
- Instagram: @Passionmoon808
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PassionMoonPotions