This month’s Vendor Highlight is Wendy Grant, founder of Wenvia. I had a chance to sit down with Wendy and discuss her journey as an entrepreneur who started her business during the plight of the pandemic.
Hi Wendy, tell me a bit about your business?
Living within the confines of my home during the pandemic and juggling the demands of a full-time corporate job and homeschooling two young children, I was in search of an outlet to bring me joy, satisfaction, and purpose.
I have always been drawn to living a simple life and I am constantly fascinated by the power and beauty of nature.
Though I had started creating natural, handcrafted skincare products a little over 10 years ago, it wasn’t until early 2020 when I became obsessed with learning about natural skincare and the benefits it provides to our skin.
WENVIA products are handcrafted from natural, high-quality ingredient
s that are meticulously selected from vendors who source high-quality supplies that are plant-based and cruelty-free.
All products can be rooted to using natural ingredients, like plant-based oils and butters, essential oils, and natural colorants, so that you know exactly what goes into every product, and more importantly, onto your skin.
What made you want to start your own business?
Although I was making natural soaps and skincare products for personal use for several years, the pandemic provided me with an opportunity to immerse myself in learning more about the beneficial properties of natural ingredients in skincare. I wasn’t looking to start a business, but the demand grew beyond my expectations.
I taught myself and tested many different formulations for various skincare items and with the overwhelming positive feedback from family, friends and neighbors, my husband encouraged me to start my own business and offer this healthier alternative to skincare to others.
Having worked in the corporate world for over 2 decades, I hadn’t envisioned an entrepreneurial journey for myself. But now that I’ve had a flavor of what it all entails, there is a level of excitement that continues to drive my passion and motivation to keep pushing forward.
Being a relatively new business owner, what would you say are your biggest challenges and how do you manage them?
Time management is the biggest obstacle for me at the moment. From balancing a corporate job, to raising two young children, to growing a small business – finding the time to manage it all can get overwhelming.
What has really helped me is dedicating time on the weekend to re-calibrate and plan for the weeks ahead. Leveraging my calendar and dedicating blocks of time to various tasks has certainly assisted with the overwhelm.
As my business grows, I’d love to build a team of like minded partners to take on various tasks that I do today, which will then allow me to focus on other strategic aspects of the business.
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You mentioned running a company while also working a full-time job. What advice can you give others that are looking to do the same thing?
Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be intimidating. The thought of diving into something I knew very little about, was frightening – yet exciting at the same time.
The first advice I would give is don’t be afraid or discouraged to start. You don’t need to be 100% ready as there will always be an opportunity to change and evolve your business.
The second advice would be to take time to plan. Dedicate time to strategize your goals then break them up into smaller, manageable pieces and plan your time accordingly. Execution is just as important as the strategy.
And third, stay curious. Continue learning your craft and about the business side of things through books, podcasts, YouTube, other small business owners, etc.
You run a natural products brand; do you have any offerings that you are excited about and if so, how can customers purchase from you?
To prepare for the upcoming holiday season, I am offering an exclusive catalog of products and gift sets that isn’t available to the general public. The items featured in this Holiday Gift Guide includes a mix of my best-selling products, along with some new items.
You can access the holiday catalog using the button below.
Once you’ve reviewed all of the information:
1. Send an email to info@wenvia.com with your order with the subject line: 2022 Holiday Order
2. An invoice with your selections will be emailed to you. (Orders must be paid in full prior to starting production). Lead time will begin once invoice is paid in full.
BONUS: 10% OFF your order PLUS guaranteed delivery by December 1st , 2022, if you pre-order by September 30, 2022.
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