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

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

How did we come up with the name “Just Peachy Life”?
When the 2020 pandemic hit, life got very dark for the residents of Peach Hill. Especially for the children in the neighborhood. I joined forces with a few moms to create events in the community that were safe and brought positive energy and fun. We were recognized in local news outlets for events such as the Moorpark Halloween House Decorating Contest, Spooky Car Parade, and Shamrock Hunts.

From then on, I knew whatever I set out to do would have a positive impact on my family and others. Peach Hill in Moorpark is where it all began; it would only be prudent to give my community the recognition it deserves. Hence, the bright side in life became “Just Peachy Life!”

Nicole, 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?

I have a bachelor’s degree in Apparel Merchandising with a minor in marketing. Studied international business in 7 different provinces in China and come from a family that owns numerous small businesses. I set goals to exceed expectations and love to develop others. I have experience in public relations, event planning, advertising, and management, and worked as an executive in the fashion industry for over 20 years.

During the pandemic, being an at-risk household, we used a TON of hand sanitizer. My husband and I’s hands were dry and cracking. Our little kids didn’t want to use it because they said the gel felt like boogers. We tried countless brands and did not find any that met our expectations. As a mom, if something doesn’t exist you figure it out and make it yourself. I created an amazing formula that kills germs, does not dry out your hands or leave an oily residue, smells fantastic, and dries instantly. I partnered with the business department and a pharmacist from the FDA. With their guidance and a TON of research, our Magical Mist hand sanitizer is now an FDA-listed OTCD.

On lockdown with two toddlers, I had zero time to myself. Finding even five minutes a day, self-care became essential. As a member of countless online mommy groups, I knew I was not the only one struggling. So, I decided to create a line of clean products to help pamper those in need of some relaxation and release. Every product we have is something I wanted for myself. For years supporting small businesses has been a priority. The innovative ideas, customer relationships, and details that go into small businesses are what make them so appealing. Growing up in the Conejo Valley and an active member of Ventura County it is important to pay it forward. Just Peachy Life is always donating to different local charities and fundraisers. We sell our products on social media platforms @justpeachyca and our website www.justpeachy.life. We have booths at local Farmer’s Markets and events such as the Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off, Thousand Oaks Street Fair, Enegren’s Oktoberfest, and Holidays in the Village – a European Marketplace.

Nominated for the Moorpark Community Awards for Shop of the Year, Woman of the Year, Neighbor of the Year, and New Business of the Year has been a beaming highlight of my career. Our community is like one big family and it makes me feel excited and humbled. Being featured on the KCAL 9 News afternoon show was another EXTREMELY AWESOME moment. I shared Just Peachy Life products while representing our community and my favorite local charity, Conejo Community Outreach.

How’d you meet your business partner?

What started as the brainchild of three small-town moms during COVID-19, evolved into a full-time dream career for me. Sarah Stern, Liz Hames, and I spent many nights drinking truly’s in my garage coming up with ideas of how we would launch a business together. Sarah is a social media guru and Liz has worked as an executive in the bridal industry for many years. Our kids were best friends and we were each other’s voice of reason. The kids would play, and we would be testing out different essential oil brands and making blends to come up with the perfect scent. All of us were so busy with toddlers that we never had time to relax and take a bath. Hell, we were lucky if we got to pee by ourselves. Five-minute showers were our claim to fame for some alone time. What could make the five minutes in the shower even better? Voila, the Just Peachy Life Shower Steamer came to life.

The three of us had been using hand sanitizer way before Covid. We had babies and always had some in the house, car, and our diaper bags. During the pandemic sanitizer was sparse and people were making it with raw ethanol that smelled like moonshine. It was horrible. Liz and I pulled many late nights coming up with both Lavender and Peppermint blends for the Magical Mist Hand Sanitizer. As time went on, Sarah and her family moved out of state then Liz and her family did the same. This is when Just Peachy Life became my sole baby.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

What advice do you have for managing a team and maintaining high morale?
My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale is always lead by example. One of my greatest strengths is team development. Building a connection and trust with my employees is priority. I never want anyone to jump into a position feeling like it is sink or swim. I want them to feel comfortable and accountable in their role. I am clear on my expectations and recognize their hard work. My motto is, you can never ask a question to many times. I empower my employees by teaching them the business from the ground up. Making sure they are secure in how to do their job duties and jump in to work alongside them. Once I see they feel dependent enough to do the job self-directed, I teach them more elevated duties of the business. I do not add more responsibility to their plate but show them how and why I do mine the way I do. This way they feel comfortable moving up in their position. When they move up, they know what they are getting into and can focus on growing in their new role. I recognize their strengths and spend time with them to develop their weakness. When one is secure and empowered in their job, they enjoy what they do. They are proud of representing the company they work for. My employees feel their opinions and suggestions are heard. The work and dedication they put into this business matters. I develop job opportunities people want and look forward too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.justpeachy.life
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justpeachyca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justpeachyca
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@justpeachylife

Image Credits

Photography & Designs by Mikie Ericson