We recently connected with Renee Malone and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Renee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?
Hello, my name is Renee M. I am the owner and founder of Pampered Life Naturals. We are based out of South Central, Los Angeles. We are an all-natural, plant-based skincare company focusing on people with chronic skin conditions like eczema. Our goal is to make affordable skin care products so people won’t have to spend much money taking care of their skin. We started in 2015 after pausing my jewelry business because of a lack of available places to sell my jewelry. Also, I took more of a role in caring for my momma because she was becoming unwell and needed help with day-to-day tasks. Also, I have a daughter in Special Education as well, so my time was divided between going to my daughter’s school and running errands for my mom. My business was very basic just soap, bath bombs, candles, wax melts, lotion bars, and sugar scrubs. I used to dig into trash cans and pick up cans and bottles to pay for supplies. At first, my skincare company was under the same name as my jewelry company Flapperlifehandmade. My concept was more artisan-style skincare then people were approaching me about what products I have for acne for example. In 2016 my family became homeless. We were displaced in a motel for a month until our next place was ready. At the time I didn’t have a car I had to catch buses and trains with a canopy, table, my tablecloth, and merchandise, One day after we moved, I was returning from Montebello I had to change buses in Downtown Los Angeles, but the drivers on bus line 45 wouldn’t let me get on the bus with my stuff. They did not care that I was stranded I needed to get home to my mom and special needs daughter. I called my mom on the phone crying she arranged a cab to come bring me home. In 2018 I met a man at Central Ave Jazz Festival in South Central. He was hosting a poetry open mic every 2nd Friday night by where I lived I can walk to work now I was very blessed to get a chance to sell my products to the people. Sadly in 2018 my mother was declining in her health and passed away in 2020. Inspired by my Nana’s approach to holistic healing while she was alive. I structured my skin care products to be more from the Earth by focusing on healing properties and less on how good it smells. Too many skin care products have chemicals that affect our endocrine glands and over time a person can get cancer from continued toxic skin care products. Including the products you buy from dollar stores can be toxic. I make products with simple ingredients from grocery stores locally, wholesale companies out of Ohio, and Farmer’s Markets in the Los Angeles area. We have had repeat customers since 2018, we have products inside retail located inside the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall called My Black Beauty Box. We are a pop-up micro business that services the Los Angeles County Area. We offer classes, consultations, DIY skincare classes, business advice to other cosmetics makers, and parties. Due to the cost of living and doing business Pampered Life Naturals had to discontinue making certain products. Also because of inflation being a retailer has been rough. Sales have been low, and customers doing more window shopping than buying. While I make products that benefit many skin types, it’s been hard to convince people to invest in good products that do not cost $30, 40,50 dollars per unit. I love what I do! I love when customers tell me how well a product works no amount of money can take that away. Our goal is to have a mobile boutique to travel to different cities in without taking up sidewalks like with a 10×10 canopy. Also, We want to have a flagship location in different states for people to try our products out so they can order online and know how the products will work. Also, we want to have vending machines with products like hand sanitizer, hand soap, mini shampoo, conditioner, laundry soap, and lip balms for convenience in other places where vending machines are allowed. Next year because of the instability of the economy Pampered Life Naturals will focus more on wholesale accounts, consignment deals, and online sales. We will pop up around Los Angeles street vending 3-4 times a week, but our focus is staying in business and not going out of business. My hope is when people read this article that it inspires them despite challenges to keep going, keep working, keep fighting, and keep striving.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I used to make decorative, artisan-style soaps ad candles until I was asked if I had products for acne then I changed my entire product line. Now I have had a customer base since 2018! I love how once they hear Pampered Life Naturals they know the brand in Los Angeles.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Humblebee and Me on Youtube is a great resource she has a resource and recipe guide to formulate different products also Wholesale Supplies Plus has a wealth of resources on its website www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com and on YouTube
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Business is a gamble I wish I had people that could guide me and mentor me I have yet to find people that can help me I do advise if you have friends and family that know the business or are well connected with different people that’s a huge bonus. Many people have friends and family to help them, and I have me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pamperedlifenaturals.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/pamperedlifenaturals
- Other: TicTok @PamperedLifeNaturals2
Image Credits
photos taken by Renee Malone