Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Ruiz

Hi Jamie , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

Back in 2012, I was a broke law student. I had little money to spend on the “extras” like facials, spa treatments, and massages. As a hobby, my classmates and I starting DIY’ing skincare, mostly sugar scrubs, to exchange with each other as a means of self care. I found that working with my hands provided great relief from studying.

During this time, my brother had been battling an addiction to opiates. Matt was in his early 20’s when he shattered his heel and was prescribed prescription pain killers. At that time, the over-prescrisptrion of pain killers was rampant, but taking place under the radar. Matt became addicted to prescription pain killers as a freshman in college. His life took a sharp left turn after that. He was unable to attend his first semester in college due to his injury and had to switch schools the upcoming semester. Matt’s addiction took him to dark places in the upcoming years and he became unrecognizable both inside and out.

At this time, self-care was crucial for me. My exfoliation routine with my handmade sugar scrub became a sweet escape from my heavy law school course load and tumultuous home life.

In 2014, my last year of law school, Matt succumbed to his addiction just two days after he was released from the county jail after serving out a probation violation sentence. He died on Christmas Eve. This moment transformed the trajectory of my life. I was unwilling at first to talk about Matt’s journey and mine. It was not until 5 years later that I was at a place where I could talk about our experience and start thinking about how I wanted to commemorate Matt’s memory.

In the years succeeding Matt’s passing, I continued handcrafting skincare. I did not realize how therapeutic working with my hands was. I would gift my sugar scrubs to friends, family, and colleagues. Beforere Mother’s Day 2019, a friend of mine who had tried my sugar scrubs encouraged me to start selling them for the upcoming holiday. I was reluctant at first, self conscious about what others would think. I ultimately decided to give it a shot and ended up selling my entire inventory. It was then that Matthew James Heart & Home was born. It felt organic to combine my love for self-care and my mission to commemorate Matt’s memory. Initially, I donated a portion of the proceeds from the business to a memorial scholarship at our high school. Eventually, as the business grew, I created a non-profit, the Matthew J. Ruiz Memorial Foundation, that makes grants to non-profits dedicated to helping those affected by addiction.

Over the last five years, Matthew James Heart & Home has grown from offering one sugar scrub (our signature French Vanilla sugar scrub) to over 10 scents of exfoliating scrubs, soothing bath salts, an entire line of at home spa products, candles, lip balms, and curated gifts. As we celebrate our five year celebration this year, I reflect upon how my brother’s strong presence in my heart gives me the wherewithal to run a business dedicated to loving yourself.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Absolutely not. At the time I started my business, I decided to make a change in my legal career. I was met with criticism for my choice and it made me question starting this business. BUT, the response to my business and message behind it spoke for itself. So many people on Long Island and across the nation can relate to Matt’s and my family’s experience. I find that unique about my business. We are not just another skincare company, we are our mantra – self care for a cause. When I am out in the community, I have met so many people who are in recovery or have lost a loved one to addiction who felt comfortable sharing their story because of our message; it is that connection to our story that keeps our customers coming back. This is exactly what I wanted out of this business. Our presence allows addiction to come out of the shadows and encourages healthy dialogue about our very human experiences. That is what keeps me going.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

We are a handmade skincare and self-care company. Our mantra is #selfcareforacause. Keeping true to our mission, we offer a variety of at home spa products like our signature exfoliating sugar and salt scrubs, soothing bath salts, candles, lip balms, and gifts. We want to make the at home spa experience accessible to all. What we are most proud of is our message commemorating my brother’s memory. In line with our philanthropic mission, we help fund our family’s memorial foundation which makes grants to non-profits assisting those touched by addiction.

How do you define success?

Happiness. If you are feeling happy in your business most days of the week, you are successful. Money will come when you are happy because you are operating with a clear mind and heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.matthewjameshearthome.com
• Instagram: @matthewjameshearthome
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthewjameshearthome/
• Other: TikTok @matthewjameshearthome