We were lucky to catch up with Junia Robinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Junia, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Every idea that I have ever had always came from a need that either I or those close to me ( my kids, husband, family or close friends ) had. The business that birthed a lot of who I am today ( and other business ventures ) is my Skin and Feminine care brand, JaCo Skin and Beauty, where I provide natural & organic handmade products.

When I became a mom in 2016 I became very cautious of what I put in and on his body which lead me to do the same for myself and my husband. As he got older and I also had another son at the time, he was a little over one years old and literally NOTHING worked on his skin to keep him moisturized. Everything I tried, even products that claimed to be natural, broke my babies out or would leave them back ashy or dry an hour or two later. They had their daddy’s skin! What I thought was because of football and him constantly on that harsh turf, nope. He just had some rough skin and passed it down to our sons.

So after trying everything and wasting a lot of money, I did my own research and bought all kinds of ingredients from stores online that had certified quality ingredients. That alone was the hardest part, honestly! After so much Googling, YouTubing and making my own formulations. I finally made my first product. My very own body butter.

At first I only made it for me, my children and husband. Then soon my mom noticed a difference in my kids and husbands skin and asked what I used. Once I told her I made it myself, she wanted me to make her and my dad some. Then my granny, then other family members and friends. Then one day I was like I should make this a business. I was completely out of my element, I didn’t have business owners, at the time, in my family other than my granny who did peoples taxes. But far as starting a business, making a website, making my own labels, figuring out all the legal and ground work of starting business, containers and ingredients in bulk. I mean literally everything, I had to figure out on my own and it took ALOT of money.

At the time I was a stay at home mom in our two bedroom apartment and my husband just became a truck driver. We were still new to adulting since we got married at 19 and 20, then had children and started having our own bills and responsibilities. It was hard but my husband saw my vision and made some sacrifices to help me fund my business from scratch. Once I created my website, logo, products and everything, which I did by myself because the more money I could save the better. I launched my business at my mothers first conference in October of 2018. That’s when JaCo was officially launched.

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.

Like I stated previously, I got into this industry because it started with a need within my family and myself. I love helping people with the gifts and talents that God has given me. I started off with just a body butter, a scrub and lip balm, but a short time later I created feminine soaps for women, antibacterial soaps for men and sensitive soaps for children. I not only wanted to solve a problem with my products but I wanted my customers to have products that not only worked but that they could trust.

When I went through all those different companies trying to find something better for me and my family. I researched so many ingredients and saw that a lot of ingredients were toxic, had a lot of chemicals, most were banned in certain states and countries because of the harm it did to our bodies. Even when I later released my very own organic, absorbent sanitary napkins and saw that they use recycled rash, dyes, chlorine and other chemicals to create sanitary napkins that we use in our most intimate area that can possibly cause ovarian cysts, fertility issues and more.

I wanted to be different from other companies and not focus on the profit but focus on the need, help that need and making it as affordable as possible for people to have products that are healthier, better and provide healing for themselves, their children and family.

I am proud to provide feminine care products that help women regain confidence, help solve a lot issues and problems we face and increase awareness when it comes to their most delicate area. To be able to have products that even men and children can trust and use. I am proud to provide skin care products that allows my customers to see that they can obtain healthy, clear skin with simple effective ingredients without all the extra stuff.

My goal is for JaCo Skin and Beauty to be a household name. Its been 5 years and I can say I am about 50% there, and I am just going to keep trusting God and putting in the work until he rains down more blessings!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When I begin to do my research about marketing, social media, going to different retreats, attending business webinars, the main thing I kept hearing was keeping up with your competitors, watching how they do and do that but in your own way, comment under their posts to attract more customers looking for your kind of products. I tried to take their advice but it did the opposite for me. It actually made me less confident because I begin to compare myself to these others brands and instead of focusing on what I bring to the table, I focused more so on what I lacked.

Being a business owner is honestly more about personal and spiritual growth than anything else. I had to literally go through a season where I had to unlearn what other successful people said I needed to do and started listening to what God wanted me to do. I no longer focused on other brands in the same industry as me because I wanted whatever I did to be what God gave me and not what I saw others doing. Because a lot of times you’ll find yourself being like those brands and not operating in your authentic self.

I literally had to find myself and remember who I am, my value and remember my why. I go to retreats or webinars to increase my knowledge in business, marketing strategies, capital etc. However, focusing on those who are in my same lane of business is something I had to unlearn. Because one thing for sure, what and who is for me, is for me and what other businesses do and have is for them.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I love to read! I am definetly one of those people that can get lost in book and 5-6 hours have gone by so quickly. In high school I use to read like 1200-1500 page books in 1-2 days. So it’s hard to narrow down recommended books. But these two books changed a lot for me both spiritually and in the business realm. “The Perfect Day to Boss up” by Rick Ross and “Disruptive Thinking” by T.D. Jakes. I sometimes reread them from time to time to reignite that fire under my feet, get my creative juices flowing or to build myself back up in certain areas. These are books that believe everybody should have on their shelf.

Oh and if you’re a man I suggest you add “A Mans Inability to Cry” by Dorian Robinson and I’m not just saying that because its my husbands book but because business men who’ve read it said it helped them a lot emotionally which in turn helped their business. You’ll be surprised. Like I said, being a business owner is more about personal and spiritual growth than anything else.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jacoskinandbeauty.com
• Instagram: @jacoskinandbeauty
• Facebook: Junia Robinson, JaCo Skin and Beauty
• Youtube: All Things Robinson

Image Credits
Photographer: London Porchia Instagram: @londonz.eye