Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatum Neely.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tatum. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
A Naturaleza’s Apothecary is a black-owned, holistic and organic business that promotes the essence of natural beauty, and overall well-being. This business is merely an extension of my holistic lifestyle journey that I chose to embark on at the age of seventeen, which was right after I graduated from high school. I wanted to go into a new beginning, college, refreshed, revitalized, and renewed. The way I decided I should go about that was to change my lifestyle.
To be honest, in the beginning, I didn’t know where to start (not surprising). But I knew that in order to be successful, I needed to start small and continue to make progressions along the way. With that being said, I deeply emerged myself in research, to the point where I would just be up all night reading/learning how I could incorporate what I was reading on the screen and in the books into my life. I was loving every single minute of it and I knew that this was the way I wanted to live my life, so I made the permanent change.
It wasn’t until after I graduated college that I was compelled to start sharing my journey with others. I wanted to motivate others to start taking accountability for their health and want to make their journey to a healthier lifestyle a top priority. The only platforms I had and used at that time was Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I would share holistic practices/remedies, health and wellness facts, natural skin and hair care recipes, the importance of self-care, etc. I received an unexpected amount of feedback, which led me to start a holistic lifestyle and wellness blog, Natural Proverbz.
Natural Proverbz is a reflection of me, my beliefs, hobbies, interests, and values. Everything I share always has spiritual, emotional, physical health and overall well-being in mind. My blog’s top priority is to feed your soul. Natural Proverbz was built on the basis of a Greek phrase, “Meraki.” This is a word that modern Greeks often use to describe something with soul, creativity, or love — when you put “something of yourself” into what you’re doing, whatever it may be. It was also built on the basis of holistic living. Holistic health takes into consideration the whole person — body, mind, spirit, and emotions — in the quest for optimal health and wellness.
With everything I was sharing on my blog, I found that I had the most passion for the natural beauty portion. I connected to natural beauty the most because my Grandmother and Great Aunts planted that seed in me early as a child. I watched them tend to their own garden, and make products from what they grew in that garden. My mother would even keep aloe vera plants in the yard and would use it on me and my sisters daily. I didn’t understand it fully then, but I’m so very thankful for it now and my business wouldn’t be as fulfilling as it is if it weren’t for them. I loved sharing my natural hair, and skin journey. The results I was seeing with making and using my own natural beauty products was mind-blowing. Since I was sharing it all, others were starting to see it too, and that’s when I began getting a large number of inquiries.
Fast forwarding to 2017, I launched Beau Naturals, which is now A Naturaleza’s Apothecary.
Has it been a smooth road?
This journey has not always been a smooth one, it still isn’t honestly. A lot of the struggles I faced along the way was from the judgment from others, it caused me to become so emotionally tired. I believe I struggled with that the most because I didn’t see how something so positive could bring me so much negativity. Even though I was so emotionally drained, I knew I had to keep going.
Ironically, the dark place I was in during that time helped me bloom. I slowly but surely learned that I would never be satisfied if I was always looking to others for validity. I had to learn that their opinions didn’t matter. The only reason I was affected was that I was giving their opinions meaning by inviting those projections into my space. I was busy doubting myself while the majority of those people were intimidated by my potential. The moment I successfully changed my response by paying it no attention at all, I became more powerful.
I built up an aura around me of only peace, happiness, and positivity and now not one soul can disrupt that. I am cultivated with purpose and will not be distracted by comparison.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
A Naturaleza’s Apothecary is a holistic skin and hair care line that caters to ALL skin and hair types. I handcraft every single product in small batches with ethical, fair trade ingredients, and most importantly, love. This brand was launched so everyone could have the opportunity to shop affordable products that work. We can all grow long, beautiful, healthy hair and have beautiful complexions.
My philosophy for this brand is that Mother Nature provides us with all the natural beautifying herbs, roots and plants we need, and beauty is truly derived from nature. I have an affinity for nourishing the body, skin, and hair naturally and have been a witness to the healing properties and miracles that nature possesses.
What I’m most proud of with my brand is that I am able to help others see and appreciate their natural beauty. Being able to provide others with the results they desired is a reward in itself. Since this is a small business, I am able to build close relationships with everyone who has supported my brand. So, not only do I have customers, I have a family.
I am also able to spread knowledge onto others and encourage them to not only take care of their outer beauty but their inner selves as well. I’m not only promoting natural beauty, but overall well-being as well, and that is what sets this brand apart from others.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Houston is a great place for a business like mine because the city is so diverse. You can reach so many people.
Houston is filled with so many like-minded and entrepreneurial individuals so you are presented with networking opportunities almost everywhere. The best thing about it is, the majority of them are also willing to help. I have made a lot of connections and I am super thankful that I had that opportunity to do so.
Pricing:
- No individual item in my shop is over $30
Contact Info:
- Website: naturalezasapothecary.com
- Instagram: @naturalezasapothecary
- Facebook: facebook.com/naturalezasapothecary
- Twitter: twitter.com/ntrlzapothecary
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/earthtotatum/a-naturalezas-apothecary-holistic-hair-skin-care/
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