Today we’d like to introduce you to Marquita Gill.
Hi Marquita, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our grandmother, Saint Elma Verstine Smith, passed away in the summer of 2019. She was a crucial part of our upbringing, teaching us powerful herbs and plants from our West Indian culture; so we wanted to do something to grieve and honor her. Thus, my sister and I created Empress Naturals.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
We decided to launch a business in the heat of a pandemic, so it definitely wasn’t easy! On top of that, my sister lives in Barbados, and I am in Houston, so we relied heavily on “Soap Sundays” via WhatsApp video calls, etc. Actually, everything had to be virtual due to COVID; I even had to open a business account virtually to get started. We also put a lot of work into sourcing specific ingredients for all of our products. However, thanks to technology, we conquered and launched successfully.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
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. What sets us apart is our birth story, being authentically Caribbean, and launching this business out of passion and not greed. We aim to provide access to hygiene and encourage our Empresses and Emperors to indulge in affordable self-care. Our products are also named after either aspects of our Caribbean culture or West Indian women who have shaped us.
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 hang out with us and learn how to build your best self with us.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
All you need to do is contact us! We are always open to in-person and virtual collaborations, advice to grow our business, and financial support by shopping with us.
Pricing:
- Butters- $18
- Soaps- $7 and up
- Oils- $10 and up
- Soaks- $12
- Bath Gels- $10
Contact Info:
- Website: www.empressnaturals.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/empressnaturalsllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpressNaturalsLLC
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/empressnatural_
Image Credits
Marquita Gill
Breeya Harrison
