Shop #BlackGirlMagic at Dough
February 15th, 2021
Aspire to Her and Dough have come together to celebrate Black women-owned businesses. Check out the shoppable collection here. Let's invest in Black women-owned businesses today and throughout the year.
2 Goats + 2 Acres
Tell me about your business.
2 Goats + 2 acres' mission is to make skincare products that everyone will feel comfortable using. Your skincare products should not come with a paragraph long list of ingredients. Tirzah, the creator, wanted to simplify skincare, which is why you will never find artificial ingredients, preservatives or harmful ingredients in our products.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
It's not a glamorous realization, but one of the things I wish I took more time to work out is a comprehensive COG (cost of goods) sheet. Knowing exactly the cost each item/ ingredient would have saved me a lot of time and money in the long run. While I'm getting better at the financial and bookkeeping side, I still have a lot to learn.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
It's very " fan girl" of me but I'm a huge fan of Joanna Gaines. She's a successful business woman, mother, and lives on a farm. What's not to love? I've really enjoyed reading her story and the journey she took to get where she is today.
AcARRE
Tell me about your business.
AcARRE™ is a natural prestige brand of multi-use bioactive beauty products for the beauty minimalist to age beautifully, based on modernized African and Pacific Islander ancestry elements delivering multi-level benefits, helping to re-balance the microbiome, for healthy scalp and skin.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
When I first started my career in the beauty industry I wish I knew someone already or had a mentor starting out in order to get the full scope of how things worked. However, I have spent my career learning every aspect of the ins and out of the beauty industry plus having great mentors along the way.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
Besides my mom and grandma 😉, one woman I aspire is Alicia Miletic who is the President & Founder of TAOS, Inc Technical Art of Science. She has ran her own successful business for the last 23 years, an amazing human being, great friend, great mentor, great sense of humor and well liked and respected by all. She is not afraid to help anyone and provide her expertise for others to excel. She is a true inspiration and one woman I would aspire to be.
ANOVÉ
Tell me about your business:
ANOVÉ® is an inclusive luxury skincare brand specializing in clean, plant-based formulas. All of our products are consciously crafted in Los Angeles and designed to be effective for all skin tones and types. We are also Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
I wish I’d made the decision to turn my passion into a business sooner. When I first started my “career” I assumed I needed a “real job” because that was the best way to put my degree to good use. I had already developed the first ANOVÉ® product, now known as The Perfecting Oil™, but I didn’t connect the dots that the demand for this product could be parlayed into a legit business. I spent years working in corporate settings, at start-ups and ultimately consulting before I decided to really go for it and create ANOVÉ®. I used to be really hard on myself about waiting so long but I do believe all of my traditional and consulting work experiences taught me lessons that have helped me avoid pitfalls with ANOVÉ®. Overall I wish I had felt confident enough to take a chance on myself and my dream sooner.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
I aspire to be more like my paternal grandmother in many ways. From my perspective she did a great job of not letting external circumstances or events impact how she showed up in the world or deter her from doing what she believed was right. I think about her most when I’m dealing with unpleasant situations (or simply when I’m frustrated and impatient) and I am inspired to respond in such a way that I maintain a level of dignity and grace.
Beloved Packs
Tell me about your business.
Beloved Packs are hot and cold therapy packs for natural pain and stress relief + reminder that you are dearly loved. A simple product with a simple message. After making these packs as gift in 2015, I received such positive feedback about the comfort these packs were providing, I decided to start a small business! Being able to encourage people in love with such a easy to use and effective product has been a joy.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
I wish I knew how much planning goes into running a business. I have learned the hard way to work on thinking ahead and preparing for seasonal changes and upcoming holidays!
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
I love this question - there are so many amazing women out there. If I had to chose one when thinking about my business, it would be Tabitha Brown. Oh my goodness, what a special woman. She expresses so much authentic love and joy for life and people.
Brooklyn Granola LLC
Tell me about your business.
It’s Nola is a Black Woman-owned limited liability vegan snack manufacturing company located in Brooklyn, New York. We see ourselves as reimagining granola for the 21st century, leaving the "gra" behind to welcome a new vision of granola in a compact snack bite. Hence “It’s Nola” is our name. We manufacture healthy and delicious small batches of granola balls, which are carefully infused with real nut and seed proteins (healthy fats), dried fruit and spices, and love. We strongly believe in ethically sourcing organic ingredients. We source organic, nonGMO, and our products feature nuts, seeds and dried fruit which are gluten-free thanks to Mother Nature. We’ve created better tasting and healthier organic, vegan snack options that bring value to our customers’ lives. "It's like nougat meets chewy!" Brooklyn Bold flavors include but are not limited to: Sassy Mango Masala, Luscious Cranberry Coconut and Dark Decadent Chewy Chocolate. Our product is low in fat, sugar, sodium and carbs. We're paving the way for more minority owned companies to grow by encouraging mentoring among community college students.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
Before becoming an entrepreneur, I wish I had known more people in the food industry. I wish I had had a mentor from the beginning. I think it would have saved me some money and provided me with better guidance in the food industry and business development. It's key to have a mentor especially someone who will make time for you.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
I aspire to be like Michelle Obama. She's dignified, intelligent, and is willing to get down in the trenches and take a stance based on her strong sense of morals and self-dignity. It is also her connection to young people that inspires me. She's genuine about her interest in their success and their development as people who will one day become leaders. Her integrity is a core value that resonates with me deeply.
Erin & Avery Studio Co.
Tell me about your business.
I make handcrafted natural candles for aromatherapy to assist with reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. The idea of making candles came from when my husband and I were finishing graduate school in 2019. We utilized candles a lot to get through many stressful nights. As I love to create, I looked at this as a new opportunity to help others create a positive home experience to promote mental health.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
Besides making candles, I am also a brand marketing professional. When starting my career I wish I knew that society's timeline doesn't have to dictate mine. Right out of college I got pregnant, I wasn't able to really get into my career right away like I initially planned because of this. Eventually I landed a job in marketing and 6 years later, with a full time job and 2 children I started graduate school. Everything will fall into place when it is meant to be.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
To be honest, I don't aspire to be like anyone. I believe we all have our own journey to walk and within those journeys we all have a unique purpose in life. I do admire many women though. One being Rihanna, I admire her entrepreneurial spirit. I love how she didn't let being a singer isolate her into one career, instead she used it to her advantage to create an empire.
KAZMALEJE
Tell me about your business
KAZMALEJE (cos-mol-o-gy) is company I started with my two sisters - LaTasha & LaTrice - to improve our customers' hair care and beauty regimens by creating innovative hair tools and accessories such as our KurlsPlus Detanglers. These patent-pending, 5-star customer rated hair tools are designed to minimize breakage, reduce detangling time all while being gentle on your hair and scalp. It’s like using your fingers to detangle, but better.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
I wish I knew to be flexible. The vision I had for myself going into my career looks nothing like my life today. I saw myself climbing the corporate ladder at a major ad agency. Even though my professional background has been essential to informing my path, I am now a business owner creating hair tools for textured hair. I love being able to leverage my creative problem-solving skills in new ways.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
I aspire to be like my wildest dreams. There is a vision I have in my mind of who she is and what her days are like, and each day I take steps to align with that vision and bring her to fruition (while remaining flexible).
Maddi & Joan
Tell me about your business.
Maddi and Joan was established in 2019 as a result of trying to connect with my creative side again after a divorce. I create urban boho home decor and accessories aimed to help women design a boho chic oasis in their homes. I love working with eco friendly materials like jute as well 100% recycled cotton cord; which can be found in some of our pieces. Maddi and Joan is currently a one woman show (with the occasional help from my daughter Maddi) all while also working full time and making it happen
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
That you don't have to and you can not do it alone. Finding a community of people who get it, understand what you're going through, and want to lift each other up is vital. Also not being afraid to invest in yourself and your business. I spent many days/hours at "Google and YouTube University" which can be useful but can only get you so far. In order to move forward in your business, you must invest in yourself and your business.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
For me it would be Rihanna. She has built a brand that at its core is all inclusive, modern , fresh, and seeks to make you feel good. Starting out at a musical artist, it didn't stop her from pivoting where she wanted her life to go and helped her create something new. Taking a chance when some might have said she was crazy or stick to what you know. Tapping into what people want and working along side strong women is part of her strength, something I truly admire.
MOLARÁ Brands
Tell me about your business.
At MOLARÁ Brands, we: (1) create buttery-soft t-shirts and sweatshirts with inspirational statements, (2) donate apparel to empower and cheer-on cancer patients and NICU babies, and (3) provide employment to artisans in Nigeria and local manufacturers in the U.S.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
Don't be scared to pursue the career path that delights you, but do so with an intentional and strategic mindset. You’ll be amazed that things will fall in place eventually.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
I’m inspired to be the best version of myself and live my best possible life, while empowering other women to do the same.
NaturalAnnie Essentials
Tell me about your business.
NaturalAnnie Essentials is a black woman owned and family operated lifestyle soy candle company based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. We create pure soy candles with a feel-good vibe! Fun and relatable, our natural candles fill your home and lift your mood with vibrant scents so that it feels like home.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
I own and operate a candle company while raising a now 6year old and 3year old. I wish I knew how much it REALLY takes to do both. Raising my family and business are both my babies and very demanding so the balance has been quite challenging, but weirdly i wouldn't trade it for a thing!
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
That woman would be Courtney Adeleye. I love how much a badass she is and how strategic she is with her business ventures. I aspire to be the Queen of the candle space creating multiple businesses to serve my community as she does with the Hair care industry.
nena
Tell me about your business.
nena is one piece of clothing that can turn to more than 10 different outfits. It’s great for traveling, it makes your life easier and you can be ready for anything.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?
That to get were you want to be requires planning and patience. That every effort, even the tiny ones matter and will pay off so they are needed. Education (in all ways) is a must and continuous work, the early you start education yourself the more capable you’ll be.
Who is one woman you aspire to be like?
Michelle Obama
What did you think? Let’s chat. Comment below!
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