We were lucky to catch up with Jenna Switzer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

There are two stamps I wish to imprint on this world and be remembered by. I hope to leave a mark of inspiration; that no matter what your dream and passion is, that you can create something from it that will be adored and appreciated. And secondly, I am striving to bring healing and wellbeing into people’s lives, one bath at a time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My “aha” moment for creating my business, Vital You, struck me in 2018. I was attending the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, and prior to that went to Bauman College for holistic nutrition. During this time, I was also struggling with undiagnosed pelvic pain, which I would later discover was from Endometriosis and May Thurner syndrome. I felt extremely motivated to create a holistic remedy that combined all the healing modalities I loved and utilized into one cohesive product. This is how Vital You was born, fueled by my passion and yearning to heal both myself and others, and a need to harness all of my creative and herbal outlets.

At Vital You we specialize in handcrafted, small batch bath bombs and body products, mainly infused with CBD. Our mission is fusing herbal medicine and hemp to create a unique healing experience. We fulfill this by formulating our bath bombs and body products for specific ailments or conditions. Whether someone is seeking a deeper sleep, relief from physical discomfort, or overall relaxation, we have a product formulated just for you.

Unlike many other CBD or bath and body lines, there are a few key attributes of our brand that are unlike any other on the market. Firstly, our products are formulated with synergy in mind. This means that instead of being created with just one natural remedy, our products are infused with a wide variety of ingredients such as botanicals, essential oils, flower essences, gemstones, herbal infusions, plant-based colorants, and high-quality CBD. These powerful ingredients work together in harmony to produce the greatest potential for relief. Additionally, every single one of our products are handcrafted from start to finish in small batches with a great amount of love.

What I am most proud of for being the owner of Vital You is witnessing the impact our products are making in our customer’s lives. What fills me with the most pride is when I receive a review or message from someone gushing about how the products brought them relief, relaxation, or a coveted favorite, “made them feel like a noodle”. Because it is this exact reason that I had the passion and foresight to start this business. I knew these products could be as beautiful as they are healing, and directly receiving this feedback fuels me with even more passion to continue growing and sharing these products with the world.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

When the inspiration struck me to create a bath bomb line there was just one small issue… I had never made a bath bomb in my life. Those first batches of bombs I made reminded me a lot of the show “Nailed It”. I’d furiously be whipping up batch after batch of trial and error bombs in my kitchen until one day I had a recipe that proved to be worthy of my vision. As I shared earlier, since Vital You bath bombs are unique in the way they incorporate ingredients such as gemstones, flower petals, plant-based colorants and essential oils; the base recipe and technique took ample time to master, and for this reason, we have continued to manufacture all of our products in-house and will for the foreseeable future.

I have learned a multitude of lessons along the way in regards to manufacturing. First and foremost, I always knew I wanted a full line of products, not just bath bombs. At first, I thought I could make everything myself; bath bombs, face masks, salves, toners, face oils and so on, but I quickly realized that my expertise of manufacturing lies within the bath bomb realm. And so, I have a team of estheticians and herbalists who help with formulation and creation of other products. I love this because I am able to give these incredible women recognition for their creations, and also I do not have to be the one formulating every single product.

The labels and marketing representing your product is another crucial aspect of manufacturing and product development. For us, being a CBD infused and herbal product, we quickly had to learn the no-nos when it comes to claims and terminology. Additionally, the realm of CBD infused products is a forever changing landscape, and one you need to be continuously up to date with in terms of compliance and regulations.

And lastly, the big kahuna of manufacturing is keeping in mind the scalability of your product. Since we are a fully handcrafted product and are actively attempting to land larger, well-known retail placements, we are currently in the process of exploring this aspect. I would recommend getting curious around whether you can outsource your manufacturing? Can the packaging process be streamlined? Can the shipping process be more efficient? Is your branding and packaging eye-catching, within regulation and true to your brand? These key questions could save you ample time and money down the road, (and I wish I asked myself them years ago!).

Any advice for managing a team?

I am freaking blessed to have the most incredible people representing Vital You. When I started this business I knew one thing for certain; that I would create a safe container for my future team. A place where they would feel heard, appreciated, have room for personal growth, flexibility, and most importantly, have a voice within the business.

Vital You currently has 3 employees, nearly 10 independent contractors, and an affiliate ambassador team. My leadership style is unique in the way that I have created a family-like dynamic within our team. It is through this loving atmosphere that allows the individualized impact to shine within each of the members, and the safe space for sharing and growing. And don’t get me wrong, I was not born a natural leader. I was the girl that almost cried every time the teacher called on me because I hated public speaking and group projects made me uncomfortable because I enjoyed working alone. It was these last 5 years and the incredible VY team who have encouraged me to become the confident CEO I am today.

My biggest pieces of advice when it comes to managing a team is to remain vulnerable, sprinkle in moments of non-work activities, don’t be afraid to delegate, and never lose sight of your “why”. Remaining vulnerable looks like admitting when you are having a bad day or when you feel emotional. Showing this to your team reminds them that you are human and that you have off days, too. Non-work moments can look like team outings, yes, but also smaller moments like dance breaks, talking about your personal life, or something I have created at VY which are “Monday Meditations”. We use these moments to connect with one another, whether it truly be meditating, journaling, craft projects or sharing about our goals and aspirations. In my opinion, delegating is the kingpin of leadership. It allows your team members to feel the importance of their role, the trust you have for them, and also takes projects off of your plate. And lastly, never ever forget why you created your business in the first place. The days where nagging self-doubt comes to the forefront, always take a step back and recall your reason for creating this business. Your team will be the most inspired and empowered when you are in your fullest alignment and confidence of where your business is going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vitalyouproducts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vital.you/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitalyouproducts/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vitalyou/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfHD2SqaSZc

Image Credits
Jaylyn Begay