We recently connected with Lauren Summers and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

M3 Mental Matters is my organization 50% of sales goes towards helping those in need or can not afford mental health services such as therapy, medication, transportation, inpatient/outpatient services. I got this idea from God he took me down memory lane of my experience not being able to afford insurance, to high , lost job because of my own mental health journal. It was had to find a therapist that was not over booked, and dedicated to serving me to help me to my healing journey. So I created the organization and website platform to display resources so you can get everything you need to get started in one place instead of going all over the internet and asking multiple people helping you. I have a therapist and coach page with contact info. Helpful numbers and contact information. I host events and started a podcast series that will be released soon. I handmade all the items with the logo made with love and care.

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

My chef business LauRed teaches people how to eat healthy and correctly. I have seasoning blends that are salt I usePink Himalayan salt and other natural preservatives ingredients to infuse the flavors of the food you are eating naturally. I’m a private chef so I give exclusive service to clients on an intentional intimate level to make sure the client and guest food experience is top tier. I take food allergies and diets seriously because I have food allergies so I know how it is trying to find and receive a good meal. M3 My Mental Matters fifty percent of purchases from the website goes towards scholarships fund to help those in need to pay for mental health treatment that can not afford or have insurance.
Girl Give Me Your Hand is a social and virtual incubator for women support on many different levels, mentorship, business opportunities, self care, entrepreneurship, motivation, self love, womanhood. SelfCation Boxes for self care to implement SelfCare but using women owned businesses to fill the boxes for women to purchase for self or as a gift to unbox. LauRed arts is me being creative creating logos, designs, flyers, anything dealing with my business creative, also helping small businesses make their brands top tier promotions items. I also create personalized items with woodwork, acrylic, vinyl and event planning/decor and much more.
The most important factor is that I get to help people and do what genuinely love to do is Help People. I get to hear many stories I’m a trustworthy person and they know me and feel me to be a safe place. I share my stories of experiences and people are shocked that we have things in common. That brings me joy when others get a gem dropped, déjà vu, revelation, or healing. It comes in all spaces and forms from me listening, cooking, making personalized creations, events, posting share others accomplishments or business, give back money to help someone find a new peace and joy in mental health services. I will use everything I am giving to help others in many different ways I am able to. I have different assignments they are not always the same. I’m giving many projects to work on and they have different meanings and help others daily. I know I’m doing right because many people have successfully made it to the point where they are thriving and pushing through now helping others.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

I sell my products on Big Cartel web domain site. I look forward selling in stores also Amazon. I chose Big Cartel because you get a free website you get to showcase 5 items for free! Saves an entrepreneur that is just starting. You can link many platforms that are free to the website win for for me. When I scale up more I can increase add on and still won’t break the bank. They have designs that are pleasing to the eyes you can change and make it from what you want your page to look like. It’s not complicated you can make it in under a hour if you have all the information to plug everything in.

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

Yes! Each product I hand make from logos, ideas, labels, you name it I make it. I’m always into Labor of Love! I want people to feel the love I put into my products so they can enjoy, and appreciate them as much as I do. They have a part of my labor love personally in hand now. My LauRed seasoning I blend, mix, grind them all, label seal and deliver to the carrier service. Sometimes I can deliver if you close lol. My M3 My Mental Matters I create design, print and heat press on each product and package. I love it because I’m spreading awareness, joy, love, and peace. It warms my heart to see someone have it on or repost. I tried it all myself to see what I wanted to do how I like it, changes I want to make to grow and scale. I’m intentional that was the word for the year for me for 2023. I been looking at different vendors to get different pieces to try different colors and ideas I have. The ideas just keep flowing. You just have to keep following to see what I have in store M3 will not just be limited to apparel.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://mymentalmatters3.bigcartel.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mymentalmatters3?igshid=YzAwZjE1ZTI0Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyMentalMatters3?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: http://laured.bigcartel.com/