Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Lewis.
Morgan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The idea of Morgan Creates began in 2018 but didn’t actually start until 2020. I started by posting meals that I cooked on my personal Instagram and from there, I built an appetite and micro following of mostly friends and family (who I love so much for their continued support) who wanted more recipes. This was before the Instagram reels explosion. The support I received put a battery in my back to go big with food. So, I began my entrepreneurial journey by self-publishing my first cookbook. We started with the introduction of a cookbook for amateurs to help them build confidence in the kitchen. I used the money I saved from working and my credit cards to fund my book getting to print. I went all in from design to branding because I wanted to make it worthwhile for my readers and clients. Once we got to print, the business took a life of its own. Due to the pandemic and shutdowns, my company saw a need to help people prioritize their well-being. In knowing that, we created products centered around three pillars of well-being: nutrition, body, and mind. If you don’t prioritize self-care, you can’t show up as your best self. We show people how to show up for themselves. I’m the queen of cozy and I think I speak for most when I say life is already hard as it is so why not take care of yourself in the process?
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely NOT! I’ve learned that being an entrepreneur costs time and money. Quality is the most important thing to me and I knew that if I wanted to earn people’s business, I needed to sacrifice and make the investment so people can see the value. If you’re not willing to invest in yourself, why should anyone else want to? It takes money to make money and I’d say working capital is the biggest struggle especially when you’re funding everything 100%. As a new business, sometimes you don’t qualify for grants or other sources so you really have to get it by any means. So I work full-time, go to school full-time, and run my business full-time and these are the sacrifices they help the struggle. I’d also say, in the beginning, no one is friendly when it comes to sharing knowledge. I literally had to research everything myself and learn along the way which I get but then again, I don’t get because sharing knowledge doesn’t take away from other brands etc. But again, I get it. So, if you’re not proactive or one to take initiative, it might be hard for you to go the distance. Lastly, being the only full-time employee can be hard when you have competing priorities and maintaining a social life. I try to take it one day at a time but there are never enough hours in a day!
As you know, we’re big fans of Morgan Creates. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Morgan Creates, we are improving lifestyles at home and supporting overall well-being by aiding our clients in creating elevated sensory experiences through food, body care, and home products. Morgan Creates’ goal is to provide client satisfaction from the ingredients we use to the level of service we provide. All our products are made in small batches to allow for quality control, and we use premium and favor ingredients derived from nature when crafting our products. We are a small business, so we have greater personal connections with our clients and our products are customized. You won’t find the same scents and ingredients used in our products as big-name brands.
When creating recipes, we don’t use fancy equipment. We make sure that each recipe is accessible from any kitchen. In fact, our cooking show, Beyond the Plate (airing in 2023!!), uses a hot plate and small skillet to create dishes in 15 minutes using household ingredients. We filmed 7 episodes with 4 making the final cut and I’m so excited to bring a show that is fun and makes cooking less intimidating! We make cooking fun, delicious, cost-conscious, and accessible. You don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant to eat well, you can eat well from home.
You will also see and feel the difference using our products. Morgan Creates exists because the big brands don’t have as much flexibility with innovation and creativity. We listen to our clients and create products based on what they feedback to us. As a small business, we provide a level of care and detail that is unmatched by big brands. We know our clients very well and we listen to them. As a result, we add value to our client’s experience. Lastly, we are passionate about well-being and make sure we do everything we can to foster our clients in the spaces they call their own. We want to make sure our clients feel good holistically: mind, body, and soul.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is to not stress about things I can’t control. I’ve learned to put my best foot forward and learn from my mistakes. I’ve also learned to never forget the “why”. It’s important to ground myself in the “why” because it keeps me true to my mission and vision. Lastly, I always tell people to “jump off the porch”. You have to take a chance on yourself and not be afraid. Nothing is ever perfect and don’t let your idea of perfectionism stop you from ever making any headway or traction with your idea. Just jump in! I can’t spend my whole life waiting for a network to pick up a show for me so I created my own. The more you practice something, the better you’ll get so stop keeping those million-dollar ideas in your head and bring them to fruition!
Pricing:
- Cookbook $40
- Candles $20, $25, $30, $40
- Body Scrubs $25
- Body Oils $15
- Body Bars $12
Contact Info:
- Website: www.morgancreatesllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgancreate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morgancreatesllc
Image Credits
Photographers: Jordan Reyes Jabari Blackmond Morgan Lewis
