Today we’d like to introduce you to Marquita Gill
Hi Marquita, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Marquita Gill and I am the Creative Lead and Founder of Empress Naturals LLC. I was born and raised on the island of Barbados in the West Indies. I moved to the United States (Miami, Florida) for tertiary education, and eventually became an English and Reading teacher. I moved to Houston, Texas in the summer of 2017 and while I do miss Miami at times, I am happy to embrace Houston as my home. My company’s journey stems from the huge influence of my maternal grandmother, Saint Elma Verstine Smith. Despite living in New York since the 70’s, she played an extremely active role in my upbringing. From weekly calls, and trips to Barbados and New York, my grandmother inculcated in us the importance of self-care and the power of natural remedies. With her thick Saint Joseph accent, she would teach my sisters and I how to use specific herbs, teas, juices etc. She was the only person in Brooklyn, NY I knew with a flourishing garden, and the only grandmother I knew with an active gym membership. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away in the summer of 2019. My older sister, who is our Creative Consultant and Wellness Counsellor, and I wanted to continue her legacy, thus leading to the launch of Empress Naturals LLC in August 2020. While Elma may not have taught us to make soap, all main ingredients and their benefits were introduced to us by her. Empress Naturals is both a manifestation of grief and a celebration for the woman who forever lives in our hearts. Just like she did with us, Takara and I aim to help you build royalty through self-care.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wish I could say that launching and managing Empress Naturals has been easy! First off, my sister and I drafted and tested everything in the heat of COVID. Takara lives in Barbados, while I am in Houston, so meeting virtually has been our only option. Emotionally and mentally, whenever I make products, I cannot help but wish my grandmother was on the phone or there in person making them with me. I can easily hear her voice delegating and picture her smile and face of approval. Elma had a very entrepreneurial spirit, so I know she would have been excited for Empress Naturals. Moreover, balancing my teacher, business and personal lives has been a bit of a challenge. Discipline and following the same advice we give to the Imperial Tribe has been essential. Another obstacle is getting exposure to expand our client base, especially during a pandemic. Neither of us have a background in business, so this is extremely new territory; which can be scary. We’ve had decades of knowledge with various West Indian ingredients thanks to Elma, but not many people may know their existence or benefits. That is why we are very open and real about being our own proof; showing the public how we use our own products daily and the results that come from natural skin care.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Empress Naturals is a Black, West Indian & female-owned company, providing affordable access to natural skin care with key ingredients from Caribbean culture. We are focused on building community through ancestral stories and networking. There are four main pillars which drive Empress Naturals: ACCESS: Empress Naturals brings wellness to your door through curated products at affordable prices. We create and sell products for busy like-minded millennial women (Empresses) and men (Emperors) who cherish their bodies and want to nourish and flourish in self-care. REPRESENTATION: We are Black. We are Caribbean. We are plant-powered millennials. Everything is 100% in-house product tested. We are our own proof. Although we are sisters with shared DNA, no skin is the same, especially for men and women of Caribbean descent. We are descendants of many different cultures; therefore we have different skin needs, and we are here to teach and empower- so come learn! NATURAL/HOLISTIC CARE: Everything we make, produce, and sell is vegetarian-friendly, Non-HMO, and from Mother Earth. We are powered by plants and herbs we grew up on in the Caribbean. We know, acknowledge, and celebrate the power of the all-natural solution. COMMUNITY: The older we get, the more we realize that despite being made up of different islands, we are ONE TRIBE. We want the world to see and understand the beauty in our region. Our social media platforms are all about building awareness and connecting the Caribbean Diaspora and beyond. Come hangout with us and learn how to build your best self with us.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think what might be most surprising is that everything is in-house and female-driven. While my sister and I collaborate on most things, I am responsible for the recipes for our butters, soaks, scrubs etc. Takara creates ALL of our soap recipes completely from scratch; I think it is extremely beautiful how creative her mind is when it comes to such a meticulous process. Takara never misses; she always finds the perfect combination and ratio of oils, botanicals and essential ingredients. One of my undergraduate degrees is in Photography, so it has been fun to shoot all of our products and videos, while our Brand Manager, Breeya Harrison, curates it all (she’s definitely a life saver!). Another interesting fact is that the names of all of our products directly tie back to something specific about the Caribbean or West Indian women who have impacted us.
Pricing:
- Body Butters- $18
- Oils- $7.00 & Up
- Scrubs- $10 & up
- Masks- $8
Contact Info:
- Email: empressnaturalsllc@gmail.com
- Website: www.empressnaturals.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/empressnaturalsllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpressNaturalsLLC
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/empressnatural_
Image Credits
Close Up & Product Shots: Marquita Gill
Logo: Breeya Harrison
