We recently connected with Dr. Monica Ricks and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Ricks, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

As a chemistry major during my undergraduate studies, my first dream was to become a cosmetic chemist and develop scents for Bath and Body Works. I quickly found a passion for pharmacy and switched paths to achieve my goal of being a pharmacist. However, my dream of cosmetic chemistry never went away and would resurface almost 10 years after graduation. I started my company in 2019 after going through a very difficult divorce. During the process of the divorce I felt like I had the chance to reinvent myself and create a new vision for my life. I had to figure out how focus on self care and filling my own cup. In the ups and downs of life it is all too easy to get lost and forget to care for yourself as much as you care for others. In doing so I made it my mission to make self-care easy for people who needed to find themselves again. Even if it means taking 30 minutes to run a bath and use one of my body butters, or taking a little extra time to use one of my body washes in the shower. I want to be able to make it easy for people to take time for themselves and love on them as much as they deserve.

Dr. Ricks, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I initially got into this business as an initial idea from my mother. She sparked my interest in making bath products and we started out just making foot soaks in about 5 different scents. Eventually she noticed I enjoyed making the products and encouraged me to takeover the business. Presently I offer a wide array of natural and homemade skincare products ranging from face masks and body butters to beard balms and whipped soaps. I put my passion and love into every product I make and not one item leaves my hands without ensuring it is the highest quality and will satisfy my customer’s needs. I feel like it is important that my customers know my hands have touched every item and I have inspected and ensured its quality every time. That isn’t something that you can get with major retailers. My customers know what goes into each and every order and are delighted to know I put so much passion into my work.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

In the two years I have been operating my business my best advertisements and source of new customers has been other customers. Each jar I sell to each customer I look at as a paid advertisement. If they experience awesome customer service and they really enjoy the product- I have found that they don’t hesitate to tell friends, family, and co-workers. It really does my heart good to get referrals from customers who have tried my products and loved them. It is really the best feeling ever! Word of mouth has gotten my products into the hands of customers I have never met before all over the country!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As a single mother of a 6, 5, and 4 year old, I get very busy and life can also be overwhelming. At all times I have to navigate my way through managing being a full time healthcare worker, single parent, and a business owner. There are times when my plate seems overwhelmingly full and closing my business seems the easiest way to deal. I always find encouragement when a customer order comes through during those times because it reminds me that people really enjoy what I do. And to know I may help someone who is stuck in a rut and just wants something nice for themselves keeps me going. It also pushes me when my children look forward to being a part of the business. Leaving them something as a part of my legacy is important so on my hardest days I look to them for my strength.

Going through my divorce made me feel like the entire world was crashing down around me- but with starting my business it turned out that my life was just beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://escentualscollection.square.site/
• Facebook: @The eScentuals Collection by Monica R.