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

Kristina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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?

I didn’t really intend to make a business out of selling my natural deodorant. (The only product I had at the time) I had just started seeing my now fiancé, shortly after making products for myself. We got to talking over tea and coffee one morning about what we wanted to do in the future and she encouraged me to make a living out of selling my products. I’m an overthinker so the idea to execution part took a bit of time, and yet it still felt too fast for me, if I’m being honest.

Once I decided to make the leap, trial and error to create multiple scents of my deodorants was my next step. Then came my business name, logo and labels. How did I want to represent my products? This took some time but I had some help from a friend who owns a copy and print shop. Angie and I worked together to create my “brand”. Once I had my brand established, I reached out to a coworker who started his own candle business about a year prior. He helped me get into my first pop up market in town! This all happened in a matter of a few months.
I remember going to Marshalls and thrift stores with my fiancé to build my “shop” for my very first pop up market. It was fun figuring out how I wanted to present my products and build my stand!

Somewhere in the midst of all that, we had a mini photo shoot at home so I could have content for my new business Instagram and website. My website, at the time, was not at the front of my mind and it showed. I pictured myself as the friendly neighborhood market lady who only relied on farmers markets and word of mouth to keep my new little business running. haha
Building my website came last, after my first market and about a year after that as well. For me, that was the hardest thing to figure out.

Kristina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Sure thing! I am a SoCal gal who loves the outdoors, wishes she could fly, but also wants to be a mermaid! I am 30 years young, Latina mixed, and started my business because I cared about what I was putting on my skin and wanted to reduce my waste at the same time. I graduated from culinary school with my associates in Baking and Pastry, so I enjoyed playing with recipes, which I think helped in my transition to creating my business. Plus I loved the idea of making all my household items at home. It makes me feel witchy in a way and I love it!

My Earth Potions now carries not only Deodorants, but Reef Friendly Sunscreen, SPF Face Moisturizers, Clay Masks, antiaging Face Oils, Bug Repellent, Soothing Salves, Lotion Bars, Lip Balms, and Armpit Detoxes! With plans to add new products as well! All of our products, with the exception of our lotion bars and some of our lip balms, are vegan as well!

What I’m really proud of and what I feel sets me apart from others is that I truly care about where I source my ingredients from. All the ingredients l source are Certified Organic, my Shea and Cocoa Butters are Fair Trade, the beeswax is sourced as ethically as possible, and all my oils are cold pressed to insure sustainability and nutrient density from each ingredient.
So when you purchase an item from my shop, you aren’t just buying another organic product. You are buying a product that was made with love, a product that was sourced responsibly from mother earth, connecting us back to nature!
And when you’re done with your MEP product, the containers can either be repurposed, recycled or composted!

Being able to share this journey and message with others has truly been a gift and has helped me grow as an individual. I get to expand my knowledge about our beautiful planet while learning how to work with her symbiotically, across multiple aspects in my life.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn, and sometimes continue to unlearn, is that I don’t have to have all the answers or knowhow to start something new. You just need the drive, support, and a decent plan.

I was scared to start a business with no actual knowledge in how to start or run a business. I only had one product at the time and was still learning about the ingredients I was using and wanted to use. I didn’t feel worthy or smart enough, but I had to remind myself that everyone has to start from somewhere. Even a mighty forest started from one pinecone.
I was learning as I was growing my business and that’s okay. Never stop learning and growing, earthlings!

Today I have more knowledge about a number of oils, butters and plants that I didn’t know back then, and in 5 years, I’ll know even more!

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

I didn’t get a business loan or even a business credit card. I used my own funds to invest in my business. I still use my own funds because I’m hesitant to open a business/personal loan, which isn’t the wisest thing, but I do make sure to keep everything separate, as to not get my financials in a bunch.

If anyone has any recommendation about grants or loans, I’m all ears! I believe that using loans or grants instead of your own money to invest is a smarter and faster way to grow your business, I just haven’t taken the steps.

Use my story as a cautionary tale, folks! haha

Contact Info:

• Website: https://myearthpotions.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/myearthpotions
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/motherearthpotions