We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Malik Chambers a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Malik, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

The name of my company is inspired by Betty Jean Burton, my grandmother. I had the privilege of living at my grandparents house when I first moved to Houston permanently in 2008. At the time, my mother was in and out of various hospitals, struggling with a rare respiratory disease. Though the circumstances surrounding my residence at grandmother’s house were difficult to master, I quickly learned how much wisdom and directional guidance that Betty had to offer in those years of living with her. In her lifetime, Betty started her own tax servicing company, served as a minister at her Church, and was an aggressive investor in the Houston real estate market. Most of all, her networking skills made a lasting impression on her friends and family members. Betty’s influence and entrepreneurial spirit is what led me to creating Betty’s Book.

Malik, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Betty was a skincare enthusiast, keeping a repertoire of body soaps, perfumes, and moisturizers in her bedroom at all times. By her influence, we started our business selling body butters and skincare products at small parties and local markets back in late 2020. Now, we are an independent storytelling label, focused on spotlighting local artists, entrepreneurs, and self starters! Our goal is to document history in a manner that allows our partners and collaborators to maintain authority over their own stories. Betty’s Book is an online archive that will host exclusive content, interviews, and media covering the various journeys of conscious entrepreneurs and artisans in our community. Oftentimes, history is told from the perspective of those who hold institutional power. Betty’s Book aims to serve as a beacon of accessible information, inspirational stories, and resources to our subscribers.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I created the idea of Betty’s Book with the initial goal of becoming a resident “Hood Historian.” But, in order to gain traction, I needed a creative networking product that could give my business the credibility that I thought it deserved. I created “Betty’s Butter”, my skincare product line, with the hopes of stepping my foot into local farmers markets and pop ups. One of my best marketing tools has been utilizing my skincare products to promote other aspects of my business, like story-telling and music management. For example, I may hand out a couple of lip balms at a concert, letting people know to follow to the Betty’s Book Instagram logo plastered on the lip balm cartridge. Typically, people will keep one lip balm for themselves, and give the other to a friend. Most of all, the products are a showing of good faith to our clients. The point being is that we make great products, and we write even better stories!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

My sister handed me my first brick…Of shea butter of course!

All jokes aside, my older sister, Celena, was another big influence on my journey to creating a skincare line. Since about 2012, she began using all natural products to maintain her hair and skin. Most pharmacy store moisturizers and soaps irritated her skin, and she was left with no choice but to create her own. She gave me her personal body butter recipe, and even handed me my first box of base ingredients.

From there, I selling small order 2 ounce cans at my Church, and amongst my family and friends. At the time, we had only three herbal body butter scents. Therefore my first supporter were my peers, and they continue to support my business today.

Contact Info:

• Website: bettysbook.com
• Instagram: bettysbookinfo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-malik-chambers-1a4758144/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDAflajQXBYehml9ThW_tAA

Image Credits
Adrian Vigil Dozie