Inspiring Lives with "Sk Optimum Organics" for Fashion Gxd Magazine
Written By Samantha Cee
Sk Optimum Organics, Also Known as Sharahya’s Kollection of Optimum Organics is an organic skin care line that offers a variety of Organic Sugar scrubs, Organic Cremes (moisturizers), Organic Facial Cleansers & Facial Exfoliants, & Vegan lip balms. Sk’s Goal is to make all of its customers feel good on the inside and out and we do so by providing all natural skin care products for people that gives them amazing results. We also have a skin care advice tab on the website that gives general skin care advice so that our customers can know which product is perfect for their skin type. Take a look at our exclusive interview with the rising brand.
Social Media Accounts
Instagram : @skoptimumorganics_FB : Facebook.com/skoptimumorganics
Blog : skoptimumorganics.com/skin-care-adviceWebsite: Skoptimumorganics.com
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How did the idea for your business come about?
SK Optimum Organics: My freshman year in college, which was last year, I worked as a marketing intern for a small business owner. While working for this small business owner, she was able to get booked for a very popular women’s expo as a vendor. The small business was based around organic loose leaf tea and as a sweetener at the event for samples, pure black sugar cane was used. While working at the table a fellow intern and I realized that the customers wanted the sugar more than the tea and together, we suggested that the small business owner add the sugar to her product list. A few days after that event, my fellow intern and I realized that we could really base a company around sugar and that would bring in customers. We obviously could not just sell sugar and expect to make profit, so we instead decided to produce sugar scrubs with organic sugars in them! We named the company SK sugar lovers because of the simple fact that we loved sugar and all of our signature items had sugar in them. A few months into the business we realized that we could be much more successful ending our partnership and becoming independent business owners. That is when Sk Sugar Lovers evolved into Sk Optimum Organics! The Sk stands for Sharahya’s Kollection and the optimum organics is a description of how superb my organic products are. As time went on with Sk sugar lovers I realized that I needed to come up with a name that more so included all of my products not just the sugar scrubs.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?
SK Optimum Organics: Everyone that has ever been directly involved with my business, hands on, has been friends or family. The support of friends and family has carried me along tremendously throughout my business. I have noticed that I bring customers in mostly from the way that I market my products in person and via social media.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : What three pieces of advice would you give to other children who want to become entrepreneurs?
SK Optimum Organics: 1. Don’t be afraid to take the risk and get out there and start a business based around what you love! ALl it takes is an idea, and from there you’d be surprised how far you will get. 2. NEVER GIVE UP. Most small business don’t see much revenue within the first 6-12 months, so do not be discouraged if you see little revenue in the beginning. With a little persistence, patience and hard work, you will begin to see revenue over time. 3. Utilize all Social Media platforms. Social Media can get small businesses very far in today’s society. Also use A LOT of common hashtags; you’d be surprised at how many people view common hashtags on social media posts. For example, I have an organic skin care line so I commonly use the hashtag #skincare when posting on all of my social media platforms because that gives people another way to find my business.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
SK Optimum Organics: Well, being that I am only a sophomore in college So far there is nothing that I would do differently as far as a career choice. Although I am classified as an entrepreneur, I am in school to be an international marketing consultant. I have a natural passion for marketing and promoting things, which is why marketing my business has given me the hands on experience that I will use throughout my future career.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur ?
SK Optimum Organics: 1. Organizational Skills 2. Managerial Skills 3. Public Speaking Skills
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
SK Optimum Organics: In the very beginning of my business I did not do a great job of tracking where all of the money from my brand was going. I can now say that I go out of my way to make sure all of my finances are mapped out and all of the money that I make from my business goes back into my business. I have also noticed that my product is more popular amongst some demographics versus others. There has been an event or two where my products has not sold as much as I would have hope, but that has just helped me learned what types of demographics will buy my product. From that experience I now can make the right decision on what events to book and what events to pass up.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How many hours do you work a day on average?
SK Optimum Organics: Since I am a full time college student I only work on my business for about 3 hours a day .
Fashion Gxd Magazine :Describe/outline your typical day?
SK Optimum Organics: On Monday's and Wednesday's I have 2 classes. A 10 am class and then a 3 pm class. After my 3 pm class I work on my business for about 3 hours, which consists of coming up with new marketing strategies, Editing my website, managing sales, and my social medias, managing inventory and finances. I spend the remainder of my time studying. On Tuesday and Thursday's I have 4 classes, one at 8 am, 9am , 12 pm,and then 2 pm. After my 2 pm class I work on my business for 3 hours then study for the remainder of the day. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays I work as a part time delivery driver for Gopuff for the entire day, except for weekends that I have events to vend at.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
SK Optimum Organics: So far it has not really affected my family life. I get a lot of support from my friends and family and am more than happy to occasionally give business advice to them.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What motivates you?
SK Optimum Organics: The idea of being successful motivates me. Personally I know that one day I want to make a change in the world, I am already trying to do so with my other business, Melanated Moguls. Melanated Moguls provides a platform for black owned business to have a place to network while vending and marketing their brands. I personally felt that by providing a platform for a specific group that it would give black business owners a comfortable place to network while vending and marketing their brands. In the future I plan on contributing to my community on a much larger scale when I am in the position to. The idea of being successful while making a change is what ignites my drive to advance on with both my my businesses.
Fashion Gxd Magazine: How do you generate new ideas?
SK Optimum Organics: To be honest, I would say that just by seeing and experiencing things on an everything basis helps me think of new ideas. I also go based off of what I think my customers would like from seeing how they reacted to similar things from the past.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
SK Optimum Organics: There have been some situations where I have put my last bit of money into my business. I see my business as an investment, so it did not bother me to put the last bit of money that I had into it. Luckily I was able to see it back but that is definitely a common sacrifice that will arise at some point. One also has to be very patient. When first starting up a business it takes a lot of patience and persistence because you will more than likely be putting out more money than taking it in. Sometimes comfortability also has to be sacrificed. Sometimes entrepreneurs will be put into a position where they are forced to step out of their comfortability zones and try new things in order to adapt to the current social norm.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : Where you see yourself and your business in 10 years? 20 years?
SK Optimum Organics: In 10 years I see myself with a few Sk stores in addition to my product being in some of the top stores in the market today. I also plan on publicly speaking out about my trials and tribulations as a young entrepreneur, to educate other young entrepreneurs on how to get started with making their dreams become a reality.
