Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lovisa Woodson II. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lovisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

Over the years, I’ve launched many ventures—and usually, I just jump right in. But with Adorned by Abena, the process was more intentional and a bit of a slow burn. The idea was first inspired by my husband, who encouraged me to wear waist beads. I first wore them for our wedding in August 2024. I loved how beautiful they were and how feminine they made me feel—the cultural significance was intriguing.

Months later, I thought about starting a waist bead business to provide a tangible experience as many of my other ventures have been service bases, but for months it was just an Idea. I went back and forth, unsure of where to start and whether to have someone else make my waist beads or learn to do it myself. I started researching materials, pricing, potential artisans, and other logistics—trying to figure out how to turn my inspiration into a brand.

Everything shifted during my next trip to Ghana to visit my husband in February–March 2025. One afternoon, we discovered the restaurant we planned to dine at was permanently closed. Just a few doors down was a boutique where I stopped in to purchase outfits and have some custom made. While speaking with the owner, she mentioned she could teach me how to make waist beads. I took her up on the offer and paid for private lessons. She taught me how to make traditional waist beads, bracelets, and earrings using authentic Ghanaian techniques.

That hands-on experience lit a fire in me. While still in Ghana, I began sourcing beads and materials—doing as much as I could without overpacking for my trip back home. That’s when the idea finally became real and I knew I was ready to move forward. I chose a name that reflected Ghanaian tradition, a color palette that was rich, inviting and felt like love, designed my logo, and soon began shaping my brand story.

My first sales happened naturally, just two weeks after getting back to the states. While photographing a women’s retreat in late March, I brought my supplies with me in hopes of having time to create more designs. While I never found that time, I did manage to pique the interest of the women who were there. They were especially drawn to my waist beads and made purchases on the spot.

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.

I’m known for being a Jane of All Trades. I’m a visionary and entrepreneur with a deep love for Ghanaian culture, creativity, and legacy. Adorned by Abena was born out of a surprise to my husband on our wedding day—but over time, it became something much more personal and transformative. Wearing waist beads helped me feel more connected to my body, more in tune with my femininity, and more rooted in my African heritage.

Named after my Ghanaian day name, Abena, meaning “born on a Tuesday”—is my way of sharing that experience with other women. I design artisan waist beads and bracelets using authentic materials and traditional techniques that reflect the beauty of Ghana’s culture. My bracelets feature beads made by the Krobo people in Ghana, who use an intricate, centuries-old process to create Krobo beads from recycled glass.

Every piece I sell supports the Ghanaian economy—from the local bead markets where I source my materials to the artisans and vendors I collaborate with. I’m proud that my brand not only empowers women to feel beautiful, confident, and seen, but also gives back to the communities and culture that inspired it.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Though Adorned by Abena is still in its infancy, I’ve already had to pivot and adapt to overcome challenges. One of my early setbacks was getting locked out of my Etsy store—completely out of the blue, right after uploading my very first product. To this day, I haven’t been able to regain access. And Etsy’s support? Practically nonexistent.

I realized quickly: I couldn’t afford to build my brand on unstable ground.

So instead of waiting for a resolution that might never come—and risking this happening after building a loyal customer base—I chose to move forward in another direction.

As a temporary solution while I explored more reliable platforms, I built a simple yet beautiful website using Canva. Since I already had a Canva Pro subscription, it was a cost-effective way to establish an immediate web presence and start telling the story behind my brand. It wasn’t just about having a store—it was about giving Adorned by Abena a digital space that felt like home.

At the same time, I created a WhatsApp catalog of my waist beads and bracelets, sharing it directly with friends, family, and early supporters via text and social media. It was grassroots, personal, and surprisingly effective. I focused on connection and storytelling rather than perfection—and it worked.

These early pivots reminded me that sometimes, starting scrappy isn’t a setback—it’s a strategy. And in these early stages, I’m reminded that resilience and resourcefulness are just as essential as creativity and passion.

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

Initially, Etsy seemed like the perfect choice for a quick and simple launch. But after being locked out of my account with no meaningful support or resolution, I lost trust in the platform—especially as a primary sales channel. Still, I wasn’t eager to dive into a complex platform, nor did I have the budget to hire a web designer. I just wanted something that worked—something that could grow with me. After weighing my options, I reluctantly decided to build my ecommerce site via Shopify.

Shopify is powerful. It’s trusted by major brands and comes with all the tools you need to run a professional online store. But let me be honest—it’s not exactly beginner-friendly. You need to be fairly tech-savvy to navigate the backend, customize your design, and troubleshoot issues. While I had the skills, I didn’t necessarily want the hassle at this early stage.

There were moments I felt stuck, but I reminded myself that I’ve figured out harder things before. With the help of ChatGPT, I was able to write and tweak code when needed—something that saved me both time and money. And after all the trial and error, I finally got it to reflect my brand vision.

Today, I’m incredibly proud of the site I built. It’s not just functional—it’s beautiful. I’ve received so many compliments, and more importantly, I now have a digital home that can grow with my business. It was a harder route, but the foundation is solid—and that peace of mind is invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://adornedbyabena.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/adornedbyabena
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/adornedbyabena
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@adornedbyabena