We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tavanya Wright a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tavanya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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?
I will try my best not to make this response very long. There was a time in my life, a very dark time that I was navigating my way through. And if I am being honest, failing miserably.
One day I picked up a journal and that is how I used to address myself every time I made an entry.
“Hello Love…” , My journal saved me.
Tavanya, 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 originally started my business because when I was working through my healing and spiritual journey I was having a very hard time getting the things I was looking for in one place. So, I had the bright idea to be able to offer that to solve a pain point. I wanted someone to ask my questions to who would give genuine answers without expecting something in return all of the time especially when these are the services that they claimed to offer.
My entire business is focused around self care, healing, spirituality and a village kind of feel. I can’t count the amount of times that I get emails and direct messages form my customers or random people who feel like they can confide in me and ask me for direction, or to just be listening ear. I know what it is like to need to vent and not have someone or have fear of being judged. I always want to be able to just be helpful. It takes a second to slow down and just be a human being.
I offer a variety of products. I make at home 100% soy candles for mediation, spiritual bath soak for stress relief, crystals, Tarot Card readings and Self-Care Kits that is tailored to the customer or who they are gifting it to. The products I offers can help with anxiety, stress, insomnia and the list goes on.
What I am most proud of is my resilience. After what I have been through NOBODY, not even myself in my wildest dreams would have thought I would be where I am today. & I thank God so much for the blessings.
Being able to host self-care events where people can gather and feel heard & seen is one of my biggest accomplishments to date. It is really crazy to see people, even strangers trust me with their energy and most vulnerable parts of them. My last event I highlighted 10 women owned small businesses and had over 100 guests purchase tickets. We had an amazing time.
Just being able to help other women who own small businesses realize what is possible is the biggest blessing. I am so humbled.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I used my 9-5 job to fund my business. I did not get a loan or any grants. I saved money and used it to start and fund it. At times it is still rough, working a 9-5 to keep my benefits and running a business can take its toll.
I did things slow, I made a plan. Paid what I needed to in order and slowly. It has paid off.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Being honest and truly yourself.
The thing about the business I am in, is right now spirituality is trendy. The aesthetic is appealing so customers can go anywhere and get what you offer for sometimes cheaper or more expensive but the quality is not as good.
What helped me is being vulnerable, showing my customers that I made my products myself by hand. Showing up and being consistent. People can tell when you are being “fake”. I do not hide things from my customers, what you see is what you get. I am not perfect, always pretty or having the best day every day. Im human
Contact Info:
- Website: www.myhellolove.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/myhellolove
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SageBaee/
Image Credits
Tavanya Wright