We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vanessa Woods-White a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Vanessa , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?
One of the most important lessons I learned during my career in corporate America was that presentation is everything. When I was growing my career, I was young, inexperienced, yet coachable and eager. One of my first big promotions was becoming a Training Coordinator where I learned how to put together training programs for employees and most importantly, get the buy-in from others. Not only did the content need to offer learning, but “how” it was packaged was just as important. So the aesthetics of the presentation and marketing materials needed to be on point. Those words have stuck with me over the years. Even as I was raising my daughter, that is one thing that instilled in her. When it came to her homework, her job applications and even how she approached sports, presentation was everything. I must admit when I first started my business it was a “side hustle” so I was more concerned about the product itself and not so much the packaging. But when I decided to make it a business, that quickly had to change. I knew that my products were amazing, but after investing in the packaging and presentation, it was evident that it was the missing ingredient. I quickly saw the sales increase exponentially!
Vanessa , 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?
My journey began in 2009 when I was a busy mom raising my daughter and juggling a demanding career. I found myself using my bathroom as a quiet, safe place to collect my thoughts after a long day and to replenish my soul with prayer and long baths. I realized that in order for me to be the best mom I could be, I had to make myself a priority. This is where the idea of selfcare was birthed. I was practicing selfcare before it became a trendy word!
My first time making products was after attending a free candle making class. I made extra money by selling them to friends. Shortly after, I began selling the candles and homemade soaps out of the trunk of my car in parking lots and began sharing my ideas about selfcare with my customers. After about a year, I became overwhelmed by the demand and had to put the “business” on hold. Although I went on to build a successful career in corporate America, I would find opportunities in my work to encourage others to take care of their mind, body and soul. In 2018, after shopping at a major retail store that sold similar products, I decided to officially go in to business! The passion to create products and help others never went away. Divine Perfection Body Care was officially born. A full line of body care products to include body wash, body scrubs, body butters and soaps was created for men & women to indulge in selfcare at home.
Our products allow men and women to easily make selfcare a lifestyle. We offer products that we all use in our daily lives, but we have curated them to include essential oils, vegan ingredients, and paraben free ingredients to offer a healthier way to enjoy them. All ingredients are sourced here in the U.S. and are of the highest quality. It’s important for us to keep our price points affordable so that no matter what walk of life you’re on you will be able to enjoy selfcare.
I’m most proud of how we have been able to grow a Brand that started in my trunk and now that stands out in the marketplace with a loyal customer base. One thing about me is that I believe success is never final. Our Brand will continue to evolve as time goes on. I’m excited about what the future holds!
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
I am so thankful for the amazing repeat customers that we have. Paying attention to the details is so important when building brand loyalty. I truly believe that it is because of my background in the hospitality industry that taught me about brand loyalty. Like with any other company, I have competitors. But I think what I do a but differently is really personalize the experience for my customers. My anticipatory nature has allowed me to have a very strong, loyal customer base. We use vehicles such as emails, text messages and social media shout outs to help foster loyalty in our brand. From the time they sign up for our newsletters, when they receive their personalized message in their orders, to seeking their feedback when launching a new product, brand loyalty is at the forefront of how we operate.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Wow! The biggest lesson I had to unlearn is thinking that I can do it all by myself. Growing up, my parents raised me to be independent and gave me the opportunity to “figure out” some things to better prepare me for life. But as I became an adult that way of thinking didn’t allow me to receive help from others easily. In business you NEED other people. Whether it be you relying on suppliers, your employees or collaborating with other businesses, you need other people. That is one thing I would I would advise all business owners to consider. Your ability to build relationships with others and leverage those relationships will be the moment your business is truly headed in the right direction. No successful person rarely does everything alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://divineperfectionbodycare.com
- Instagram: @divineperfectionbodycare
- Facebook: Facebook.com/divineperfectionbodycare
Image Credits
Divine Perfection Body Care