We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa Hilton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa below.
Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.
At a very young age I began working with my mom in just about every industry you can imagine. My mom, Joann, is the most talented woman I’ve ever met in my life. I get the “wearing many hats “ from her No doubt.
Mom started working as a bank teller when she got married then restaurant and hotel management in the corporate world. But I always remember Ninfa’s and her “side Hustles” as a single parent of 3 kids, the most.
While I was in highschool she worked in a florist shop in Old Town Spring part time and made most mums
And corsages etc for Spring High School.
I was her little helper and worked the lunch rooms to make sales and take orders then helped make and deliver them. It was fun and everyone loved her work. It was a bonus to be in all lunches without skipping lol
I worked with mom at Ninfa’s on 1960 she was with the company 16 years and friends with Mama Ninfa like we would go swimming in her pool with her grandsons Dominic and Donte lol I felt like a little Kardashians without all the drama hahaha in high school, I was a hostess with the mostest. She then started her own coffee shop where we set up and basically did pop up’s in the Alley Theater so I got to be exposed to the arts quite young. Mom still worked as a florist only she had opened up her own little shop in Old Town Spring and I worked with her there also. She had her own catering company and all of us even cousins and best friends worked for her. Great memories ! So my whole life I started out working for my mother. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if I had never worked for my mother. You see everyone has a work mode and a non Working mode that we get into. Growing up always in work mode taught me to have the work ethic that I have and I too wear many hats and could not be more glad cause mom is my BEST boss ever she is proficient, honest, reliable, creative, festive and I’m still learning from her everyday cause now I have my own shop in Old Town Spring and guess what !?!?! Mom works for me now. AND she is also always Employee of the month lol
Mom taught me to survive on all levels and no matter what obstacles come your way that if you stand by your morals, work hard, show up, and stay honest everything….. every thing will work out. Thank you mom for teaching me THE HUSTLE , cause cue the music…. everyday I’m HUSTLEN…:-)
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a 2 time Stroke survivor and I got into the cannabis industry after seeing what it did for me in my healing. I have had other health issues and battles
But I mainly share this cause it’s what I remember most.
I had paralysis to the left side , depression, aphasia, photophobia, memory loss, severe fatigue syndrome, and PTSD.
I still deal with some of this but it’s invisibly debilitating. I manage daily using CBD but like most people it can become super expensive when your needing long term.
So I went to Colorado to get educated then to California and as of today I’ve taken over 73 classes some credited
Some not but the education is never ending all things in medical field are that way. I continued to educate myself and share my knowledge with others who are in that dark place of hopelessness as I was after a life altering illness. I also help people learn about the Texas medical marijuana program. I can’t tell you how important it is to have someone just understand what your going through.
Long story short
I now still practice as an Oncology Canna Aesthetician and help explain and educate all things Cannabis in all intake forms go over medical history, pharmaceutical meds, lifestyle and help make recommendations I AM NOT A DOCTOR, I AM A LICENSED CANNABIS PRACTITIONER. This I make very clear and I usually work with my clients doctors because I love my clients and truly care and want to help them above make a sale.
Maybe that’s why I’m not rollin in the dough lol speaking of now that I have my Cannabis Chef Certification I will be adding
More fresh baked edibles to the Hemplication consumable hemp product line.
I am licensed by the State and US Health Dept. Did you know you can search the Health Dept for licenses by category and name of Business and make sure they are actual “legit” it’s public and every single business selling hemp/ CBD should be registered. Buyer Beware!
I started using CBD in my med spa and opened specializing in just that in 2018. I am considered a true pioneer in the industry here in Houston. DUE TO COVID I have had to move and combine my other businesses so it’s truly an experience more than anything come check it out you’ll see! This April 20th will be my 4 year anniversary and start of my 5th year in business in the Cannabis industry. Big deal for LatinX single mom. Come support Small & Local!!! Spa is appointment only but walk in consultation s are availability or you can book online and you can also shop online
Now on my website www.Hemplication.com
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start?
I started with $2000. That’s all I had after the two strokes, ok I was buried in medical debt. I had No credit cause I had been cleaning it up so it wasn’t bad just non existent.
So when I started I had max 3 of each items lol I was ok with that cause it was new and I was getting a lot of resistance.
I was getting booked for services then my regulars stated trusting me and trying CBD isolate was all I sold in beginning.
Then I just didn’t have the product for the the demand especially after being featured in channel 13! I had people waiting on line and lost some but those who stuck with me helped me grow and my orders started growing. I started cutting some products that I didn’t feel worked as good but managed to stay afloat. When the pandemic hit I had just moved into a double suite so I just knew I’d
Never make it but I never gave up. I applied and applied for loan after loan no banks would lend. Then square closed that account anyone in the industry can tell you that whole deal was
No fun. But I managed to find a bank and they have worked with me just fine.
I never received any stimulus until I was
About to have to close my doors. I had already closed my art studio in the Silos just couldn’t afford and
No one was really buying art at the time.
When I got that first and only stimulus
I was able to get product to move to smaller location and get product to reopen in Old Town Spring.
I have borrowed a little from two friends and my mom but made pAyments on those and just thankful I had help. The more people learned of my education they started coming more and more and referring their loved oneS and now I am in an incredible location and I have received a grant from Harris County and this has helped me stay open but most importantly
My hustle game is strong lol it hasn’t been easy and I spent a lot of 12 hour days sometimes but I love where I am and what I do. I have since partnered with some amazing companies to help give back to the community.
So yeah I started my business with $2000 l crazy to see how far I have come now that I think about it .
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Word of mouth has been the most effective way for growing my clientele. People get to talking to me and most appreciate my honesty and extensive knowledge.
We are heavily censored so I can’t even pay to boost ads and my tag they audiences are limited due to the business industry. Although not sure
How I see celebrities having sponsored ads for same stuff don’t know , but that’s just how it goes. I have paid for ads in local magazine and coupon books but no real return on those it’s just me I guess people like me and my vibe at my shop I guess lol come see why!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Hemplication.com
- Instagram: Hemplication
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hemplication/
- Twitter: Hemplication88