We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lia Larkin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lia below.

Lia , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

I have been a Nail Tech since I was 19, I love polish and polished nails. Though the years I have seen all types of different nails and nail diseases. After doing some research I discovered that CBD has vitamins, lipids, and essential fatty acids as well as being anti fungal and antibacterial and I thought why is this not in nail polish? I started mixing up colors and trying them out on m clients, they liked it so I began to sell it online and at markets.

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

I am a seasoned Nail Tech, been doing nail longer than I would like to admit. I love nail polish and color. Through the years I have seen all sorts of nails and nail disease on peoples hands and feet. I also believe in plant medicine and thought can this help natural nails as well? When I saw the CBD had vitamins, lipids, and essential fatty acid as well as being anti fungal and antimicrobial I thought why is this not in nail polish, I started mixing it up trying it out on my clients who received it well and so I began selling it online and at open air markets. All Canna Paint lacquers are hand mixed in small batches, it is also Ten Free, Vegan, and Cruelty Free. I release three new colors every three months, currently there are 36 colors, a base and top coat and three different cuticle oil scents, Jasmine, Tea Tree, & Vanilla. I recently retired to from doing nails to focus on polish full time and to give my back the much needed break. Looking forward to growing and expanding the brand.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Creating a business takes resilience and self discipline all by itself. When I decided to create a CBD product I had no idea how difficult banking would be, I mean it appears to be sold everywhere, grocers, gas stations etc. I had opened a business checking account only to find out the bank wouldn’t work with a CBD company, so I had to find a bank that would, and they are limited. My first website payment processor also did not allow CBD which I didn’t know either so two weeks after launching my site my payment processing was shut down. I then had to find all new banking, processing, and build a new website, I am not a computer person so it was real bummer for me to have to build another website. I much more enjoy creating and mixing up the polish.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I sell on my own site cannapaint.net, most site like Amazon and Etsy do not allow CBD products only hemp. The con is less visibility, the pro is not paying all the fees incorporated with third party selling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cannapaint.net/
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• Twitter: CannaPaint
• Youtube: Canna Paint
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