We recently connected with Leda Toussaint and have shared our conversation below.

Leda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

Oooo. This is such a great question. I was recently invited to the More Than Graphics Podcast to discuss growth. Growth in my business and life in general. One of the most important things to remember about growth is the guarantee of pain associated with growing or being stretched. I’m not talking about physical pain, although sometimes it feels like it. I’m talking about mental and emotional labor, work, and effort experienced through unexpected problems.

One of the most impactful problems I faced this past year affected my business and personal life. My organic feminine care company, Gntle, started selling on Amazon. It was the perfect business move to increase visibility and gain new customers. Up until this point, I operated my business in a safe zone, selling and sharing the product with like-minded women. I built a personal attachment to the business because the company’s start stemmed from a personal struggle. This was not apparent before opening my Amazon store, but I was in for a rude awakening.

With more visibility comes great scrutiny. This was a life lesson I needed to prepare for. As I started to sell my organic feminine washes on Amazon, an e-comm giant, I opened myself up to the unfiltered opinions of others. For the first time, I received a 1-star rating and review. What?! One star! Completely unexpected! This was the first time someone told me they didn’t like me or my product. Yup, you read that right. I internalized this review and thought it was a personal attack on me and my character. Even though hundreds of other women loved the product. Talk about an inflated ego. LOL!

At the same time, I was reading a book, “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. One of the agreements is to avoid taking things personally. This agreement helped me to see that everything is not for everyone. People are entitled to their opinions. People may not like what you do, what you sell, or who you are, and that’s ok. I am not excluded from this principle. You are not excluded from this principle. So here’s the growth.

Gntle is an all-natural feminine care company that offers organic feminine wash products. I created the business from a personal struggle, but I am not the business. I operate the industry to share and sell the products to as many women as possible, but if a consumer doesn’t like the product, it doesn’t mean they don’t like me. Hell, they don’t even know me not to like me. The growing pain showed up as I had to detach my agenda from the business. I had to separate the consumer’s response to the product from what I thought was a response to me. And lastly, I had to sever my attachment to what others thought about me or the business/products. Interestingly enough, this was freeing for me.

I love operating my business, but I can’t treat my business like my baby if I want it to grow. It’s impossible to share Gntle with the world and shield it from the world simultaneously. So now, I look forward to the 1-star reviews. It’s an opportunity to make adjustments in the business, and that’s how Gntle can maintain growth.

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.

GNTLE is an all-natural feminine care company born out of my personal vulvovaginal issues. I created a gentle and sophisticated feminine wash formula with four simple ingredients that aid in a woman’s vulva cleansing and healing process. Every element in the GNLTE products is natural and hand-selected to bring our customers the safest care possible.

GNTLE’s natural feminine washes were created to give a triple vulva balancing effect while eliminating odor as well. Combined, the natural ingredients help balance the vulva’s natural moisture, pH, and good and bad bacteria.
This is the first feminine wash of its kind on the market, and I am so proud of that!

GNTLE is a resource that provides access to better personal care, safe hygiene options, and access to a pathway to total well-being. Most importantly, GNTLE provides access to a safe space for women to learn about their bodies and become their own advocates.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

Access to better personal care, safe hygiene options, and access to a pathway to total well-being. Most importantly, GNTLE provides access to a safe space for women to learn about their bodies and become their own advocates. This makes a difference in our world because access creates a seat at the table for women to help dismantle the “taboo-ness” around female reproductive health and sexual wellness. Ultimately, GNTLE is a resource that’s here to empower women. An empowered woman can make a massive difference in the world.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

As an entrepreneur, you have to get comfortable not knowing the answer but be willing to find out. There are plenty of books that can help you find the answers you are looking for. Real entrepreneurs are readers. Don’t let anyone tell you any different.

There are a few books that helped give me clarity about my business and that helped to change the trajectory of my business. So here we go.

Mindset Books – the foundation of your thinking will help you in your business
1. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
2. A New Earth by Eckard Tolle
3. Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
4. Outliars by Malcolm Gladwell

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gntlewash.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gntleladywash/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gntleladywash

Image Credits
Photographer: Crystale Spearman https://www.instagram.com/eyeimagery/?hl=en