Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nadia Doh, Co-Founder of Sweetwater Labs, located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We create a huge product line of highly effective 100% natural skincare and body/body products. Our customers are anyone who wants natural products that really work, feel & smell amazing and are tired of having a cabinet full of natural skincare that never lived up to their promise.
Tell us about yourself
When they say necessity is the mother of invention, they could be more right in my case. I have spent years having random reactions to my skincare products like rosacea + breakouts. I have always believed that nature has solutions to many ailments, but you just have to do your research, so I started deep diving into natural ingredients just for myself! Then I created products so well received by my friends + family and realized there are so many people just like me looking for natural products that deliver what they promise. Now I can honestly say our products are the only ones I use, and my skin problems and reactions are gone!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We get emails/texts/ feedback every day that our products have improved people's lives. I mean, it doesn't get any better than that..to know that your hard work, care, and all the effort have impacted people's lives. It is a beautiful feeling.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There is zero roadmap on how to create a successful business. So you have to be an excellent problem solver. Obstacles come up every single day and many at the same time. You must be your own internal coach daily and believe in yourself. Also, most importantly, you need a very solid team around you as well, of course. Realize you can't do everything and find people who can. Finding people who can also is a long hard journey, but if you look for something or someone, you will eventually find them or an alternative solution.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- The desire to have your own business is NOT enough for the business to succeed. You MUST have a viable product that people want, and your product has to be better than what's out there. Have high standards.
- Also VERY important is that you treat your customer like gold. Customer service MUST be a top priority.
- It will be much more work than you probably realize. And it will be hard work for a long time. So be prepared as I don't think people realize the amount of work/ thought it takes.
- I know you asked for three, but I think this is also really important...you need to be very, very resourceful when starting your own business.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I know this is said at nauseum but don't be afraid to fail. Failure is NOT a failure. It's just another data point on what not to do. Almost every successful entrepreneur failed at their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd business before they found their calling, so you have to trust your intuition on what makes sense which can take some time to fine-tune. The biggest step is just to start, as most people never do..so just start somehow, even if it's just a small step.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.sweetwaterlabsnyc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWLNYC/photos/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetwaterlabsnyc/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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