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

Alright, Jamie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Over the course of my combined seventeen-year career in sales and interior design, I came to realize that my true purpose revolved around the ‘feel-good’ effect. My mission became centered on tuning into my client’s needs and presenting them with alternatives that enhanced their overall well-being. This became the guiding principle behind my work and the lightning strike of inspiration that gave birth to the concept of h+f.

Let’s rewind to 2015 – the year I hit rock bottom, which marked the genesis of hustle + flo™. I considered myself lucky after hearing stories about anxiety disorders because I had never experienced it. And, then it happened – my first panic attack at the age of 35. It was during this time that unresolved traumas surfaced, triggering anxiety and insomnia for the first time. This struggle led me to uncover the prevalence of anxiety, the number one mental health condition in the U.S. This revelation hit home as I discovered that friends and family were silently grappling with similar battles, but societal stigmas kept them from discussing it openly. Prescribed medications added further challenges, elevating my stress levels and even giving rise to suicidal thoughts.

Hitting rock bottom served as a wake-up call, propelling me onto a holistic healing journey where mindfulness practices and alternative medicine became my new foundation. And then came a life-changing moment: my introduction to CBD. After a four-year battle with anxiety and depression, CBD finally provided the relief I had been searching for. This marked the birth of my vision for h+f – to share and humanize the feel-good effect with the world.

Today, hustle + flo™ is a Latina-owned-and-led multi-functional wellness brand based in Brooklyn, N.Y. We amplify the healing potential of natural alternatives, particularly CBD as a complementary approach to holistic wellness. Our mission is to supercharge habits that elevate daily well-being. We do so through meticulously crafted blends designed for the fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle. These formulations, all certified organic are designed to boost focus, promote restful sleep, aid recovery, and alleviate stress.

Guided by a strong commitment to social responsibility, we prioritize sustainability, transparency, and community engagement. We source our products locally, collaborating with a certified organic, woman-owned farm in upstate N.Y. This reflects our dedication to minimal waste and a sustainable ethos that permeates every facet of our brand.

Our multifaceted approach to business empowers us to connect with and support our vibrant community, where we collaborate, grow, and heal together. We cultivate community through thoughtfully curated multi-sensory experiences enabling humans to connect, unearth the healing benefits of natural alternatives, and learn new ways to invest in their well-being.

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?

Misinformation, subpar products, and unsafe practices have exacerbated distrust in the CBD industry. Industry data reveals that 69% of consumers don’t know the difference between CBD vs. THC, and 63% of tested CBD products inaccurately state their CBD content, causing 39% of users to discontinue usage due to inefficacy. h+f is dedicated to reversing this trend.

Regrettably, these issues have plagued the CBD sector since the 2018 farm bill enactment. The industry’s growth attracted substantial funding, often lacking integrity. The inferior distillate from industrial hemp farms yielded low-quality products.

My own journey began with CBD from Colombia, where I discovered its remarkable sleep benefits. Intrigued by the broader healing aspects of the Cannabis family, I found that many of the big players sourced from industrial hemp farms. The differentiator? Marketing. Against all odds, I embarked on a journey to build an integrity-driven brand that would humanize the wellness experience and tackle the issues that are causing harm to the industry and its consumers.

hustle + flo™ (h+f) is uniquely positioned to tackle problems within the industry offering the relief consumers are seeking. We are our own consumers. Created by urbanites, for urbanites, we have a deep understanding of the demands of the on-the-go lifestyle hence formulating potent, conveniently packaged “feel-good” alternative healing solutions. Our competitive advantages include h+f’s commitment to transparency throughout our entire process, our effective formulation, and our honest, simplified messaging.

Sourced locally from a small, women-owned farm in NY, every aspect of hustle + flo™ – from processes to products and packaging – is nearly 100% sustainable and certified organic, leaving nothing to waste. Our NYC location has facilitated strategic partnerships with key players in the wellness and hospitality sectors, including Soho House, The William Vale, WTHN, Showfields, and Happy Buds. Through these partnerships, we co-create uplifting multi-sensory wellness events that introduce our audience to practices that shed light on empowering habits that enhance daily well-being.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

To date, h+f has been 100% self-funded. I invested a mix of capital – particularly ROI from a prior investment and lines of credit through credit card lending. This initial money was vital not only for our day-to-day operations and product development but also for kicking off our marketing plans and giving our brand a chance to grow.

As our business keeps moving forward, we’re fully aware that we need additional funds to take things to the next level. We’re looking to scale up and run more effective marketing campaigns, but that takes capital. We want to reach a broader audience, make a larger impact and invest in the necessary infrastructure to handle our growth. We’re actively exploring investment opportunities to make it happen and continue our exciting journey. You can have the best product in the world, but if no one sees it, the company won’t grow.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I am a Venezuelan-born immigrant and have been self-reliant since the age of 18. I migrated to Philadelphia at the age of 9 with my father after my parents decided that my brother and I would have better opportunities for a brighter future in the U.S. While I was raised by my father, I share an unbreakable bond with my mother, the most resilient woman I know; her strength has undoubtedly shaped my own resilience.

Operating and funding a business is challenging, but the complexity multiplies in regulated industries. Enduring these challenges requires resilience and an unwavering commitment and discipline – values my father instilled in me. Although my relationship with my father was tremulous during my upbringing, I’ve come to understand he did the best he could with what he knew, and I am proud of the person I’ve become through my journey.

Despite the obstacles, my motivation to create a brand that profoundly impacts lives remains unshaken. My healing journey led me here, and there is not an ounce of anything in my body that does not believe this will turn into something huge and incredibly powerful.

Thanks to CUNY’s intern program and the invaluable assistance of a part-time ally at h+f, I am no longer navigating this journey alone. We are now equipped to elevate h+f to new heights, bolstered by allies who share our unwavering belief in our mission. I trust that our impact resonates with your personal and professional missions.

As a Latina business owner, I’m dedicated to harnessing my heritage, strength, and passion to create a lasting legacy of a life well lived for myself, my community, and future generations. This involves breaking barriers, rediscovering ancient healing traditions, and fostering a sense of belonging.

You come first — because when you feel your best, you can be your best. Every explicit duality is an implicit unity: by healing internally and pouring back effortlessly into communities we co-exist with, we can hustle with flow instead of fatigue, build our futures without burnout, and create new realities of wellness that stay with us for generations.

Thank you for investing your time in getting to know us better.

With gratitude,

Jamie

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hustlenflo.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hustlenflo.co/?ref=tmsaam0qf7twvm