We recently connected with Pamala Brooks and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Pamala, thanks for joining us today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

I do. Before I was called to create Simply Melanated, LLC, I ran “BNLS Store,” an online retail and apparel shop inspired by professional notaries public, paralegals, and other industry professionals of color. I sold t-shirts, tote bags, wall clocks, pillows, and other items that depicted women of color in an elegant, artistic light. My goal was to encourage professional women of color to proudly display these items in their office spaces to inspire a sense of self-love, worthiness, and confidence. This is because women of color are often marginalized in certain professional spaces, where their unique culture is sometimes seen as a handicap. When I officially launched BNLS Store, I received a lot of support, in terms of people liking the bold concept and the originality of the artwork. Still, unfortunately, that did not translate into sales. Friends and family supported my shop by purchasing an item here and there, but overall, the concept did not resonate with my targeted base. I took that as a failure because this business did not take off the way I had hoped it would, which eventually resulted in my closing the store. Though my business did not garner the financial success I would have liked, I did learn a great deal in terms of how to run and manage an online store, the importance of great marketing, and how to connect with your base. I also realized that my goal of encouraging others did still become a reality, in that I noticed a trend of professional women creating similar themes around these same concepts. I took that to mean the business model was not a failure, in that I did accomplish my goal of inspiring others. Perhaps, it was just not meant for me to capitalize financially from that very important message.

Pamala, 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?

Simply Melanated, LLC is an online retail shop dedicated to holistic healing and self-care, inspired by my healing journey and collective energetic shift toward natural healing and spirituality. The overall idea behind Simply Melanated is to heal the whole person, i.e. the mind, body, and spirit through self-care. Our day-to-day lives require that we dedicate so much of ourselves to our jobs, families, and other responsibilities, but somewhere along the line, we have forgotten that it is equally important to take care of ourselves, as well.

To achieve this goal, I have created a unique collection of products that promote wellness and spiritual growth. Every product in the shop is carefully selected and personally tested to provide the best possible experience for customers. The shop offers a variety of natural and healing tools, including luxurious shea butter and raw African black soap to heal the body, insightful tarot cards to inspire spiritual growth, soothing teas, and aromatic candles to calm the mind.

Our creams and lotions are of premium quality and will rival the lotions and body oils utilized at a luxury spa. Moisturizing the skin, reducing the appearance of acne, dark spots, and other blemishes, will create glowing, healthy skin. When one’s appearance improves, so does their confidence, which has a direct impact on one’s attitude and mental health. To assist with easing the mind, Simply Melanated seeks to offer aromatherapy candles and soothing herbal teas, which will positively impact one’s mood. It is proven that candles create a relaxing atmosphere, while tea calms the body and releases stress. Once the mind and body have been taken care of, we must then focus on the spiritual element of healing. As a spiritualist myself, I believe it is equally important to balance your energy, along with your mental, and physical body. One can encourage good vibes with singing bowls, sage, tarot cards, and crystals.

At this time, the shop is still in its beginning stages, with skincare and aroma therapy items coming soon. So far, I have created a tarot deck called, “The Regal Tarot” which depicts regal figures and artwork to tell the story of the fool. My overall aim is to create a sanctuary where customers can find the tools they need to embark on their own journeys of healing and self-discovery because I am a strong believer that one’s mind, body, and spirit must be cared for respectively, so that the individual can heal and refresh themselves, as a whole. It is my hope that you all will join me on this journey

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Though my products haven’t officially launched yet, I plan to outsource the manufacturing to a professional company. To find the best quality, I have sampled several items from several companies, to find the best products. It was a bit of a process because I am very picky about what I consume, and what I put on my skin. It is my goal to sell only the best to my customers, which requires careful testing on my part. Right now, I have narrowed it down to two companies. I found them via social media and absolutely love the premium quality of their products. I have learned how challenging it is to maintain the consistency and integrity of a good quality product when you have to mass-produce it. This is because I initially planned to create some of the products by hand myself, but I quickly learned that the finished product can slightly differ between batches. The difference may be slight, but, I figured I should leave it to the professionals.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Certainly. This business in itself is a pivot from my typical line of work. I am a paralegal and notary public by trade and have been so for the past 17 years. I have always been a spiritual person, but that part of me has largely remained hidden from the public due to the professional branding of my other company. It feels unauthentic for me to continue to operate in that light alone because my spirituality is a huge part of my life, in addition to my vocation. It feels as if I am denying that part of myself in public, which goes against what I stand for. I believe one should always be true to oneself and operate from a place of honesty and integrity. Therefore, I believe it is time to reveal this part of myself to the world. This revelation has however guided me to transition or pivot from that line of work to having a desire to heal others. Having consistently garnered success in the same line of work for almost 20 years is a huge accomplishment in my book, but sometimes, one has to move on to other things, as one grows.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.simplymelanated.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplymelanated888
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplymelanated888
• Youtube: https://www.instagram.com/simplymelanated888
• Other: REGAL TAROT DECK AVAILABLE NOW: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/marketplace/regal-tarot-deck.html

Image Credits

Pamala Brooks, Owner and Founder of Simply Melanated, LLC