Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanna Woods.
Shanna, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a dance artist by trade. I began making bath soaks for myself because being a dancer, the body tends to get sore after long days of rehearsals. One day, I decided to make some bath salts as gifts for master teachers at A.I.R. Dance Conference, a dance conference in Miami, Florida. My mentor, Michelle Murray, told me I need to be selling them instead of just giving them away. You know, to make a little extra money on the side. So, I did that. Anytime I performed at small events, I would bring bath salts and scrubs with me. Eventually people started DM’ing me asking how they could get more products. I didn’t have a website so I started an Etsy page, gave myself a name, and added whipped shea butter which I call Shea Butta Lovin. I started making Butta Lovin because my daughter has eczema. Doctors always recommended steroids but I’ve never been a big fan of stuff like that. I always went a more natural route, before I even knew what that was. After research, I cut dairy, meat, gluten out of her diet. Her skin started to even out beautifully. With Butta Lovin, her skin completely transformed. After the pandemic hit, my daughter, Lillian, had a really bad breakout. I made Butta Lovin for Eczema especially for her. Within 3 weeks her skin was just as bright and beautiful as her spirit again. It’s been 2 years now. I’ve learned so much about making products and we’re still growing. I started making products not only because a little extra money never hurt anybody, but because I truly believe in our mantra: Self-love day is every day. We don’t take enough time to really care and love ourselves. Why not start with one of the first things we do every day? Say, I love you with every application. Watch your inner being begins to glow. This thing we call beauty is really an inside job.
Has it been a smooth road?
Oh not at all. I still consider myself a baby in this game. When I opened the Esty shop, I was so happy to get 11 purchases! Then I was overwhelmed that I had 11 purchases. When I tell you almost nothing went right. Sheesh! Containers, ingredients to make the products, and labels were all late which made my deliveries late. It was a mess. I cried a few times. Ok. I cried a lot but I made it through. I’m just really glad people were patient with me.
I’m very particular about what goes into the products and what I put my products into. A lot of people would say to just put the products into a plastic jar because it’s cheaper. I didn’t like that idea. I actually hated it. I love glass because it’s reusable, durable, and looks better. This is where I learned to listen to my own thoughts because people will send you down a path you aren’t trying to be on. It was a challenge to find but I use amber glass and I love them!
Last, promoting myself online is a bit of a challenge for me. When I’m a vendor, I not only allow people to try the products, I give them a massage. I massage the products into their skin, tell them what’s in it, so they see how well the products absorb into their skin and how good they smell. I believe my customers really do the selling for me. I have to give them props! The love is real and genuine. Most of my clients know me as Shanna, the performing artist, the dancer. So, they start off just wanting to support. But when they actually try the products, I get all kinds of text messages, DMs, tagged posts, pictures, and videos of them hyping up the brand. I’m really grateful.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Lavish Lovin All Natural Products – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Lavish Lovin is a self-care product line. Love is the first ingredient. We specialize in products that help you scrub the stress of the day away so you can implant love into you mind, body, and spirit. I have my OG’s the OG Scrub which is made with coconut sugar, brown sugar, and essential oils. OG Bath Salts made with epsom salt, pink Himalayan sea salt, herbs and essential oils. Then I have my whipped butters: Shea Butta Lovin, Mango Butta Lovin (currently my top seller), and Cocoa Butta Lovin. What sets me apart from other brands is that all products are handmade by myself and my daughter. We pray, dance and sing while making every product. I refuse to make anything when in a bad mood. Also, I prefer to be personable. If anyone has a question or problem with my products, it’s me who handles and fixes it. Also, Butta Lovin melts like no other. Customers words, not mine. And it absorbs into the skin. So, you’re glowing not greasy. I’m most proud of my will to keep going honestly. I didn’t even realize it had been 2 years until a photo of my daughter with her hands deep in a bowl of OG Bath Salts popped up in my Facebook memories. I’m absolutely proud that my daughter is already thinking of businesses she wants to create. Now that, it doesn’t get any better than that!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’m going to start off by saying thee only thing I’m not a fan of in Atlanta is the traffic. I mean, who loves traffic anyway? Other than that, I love the diversity of Atlanta. You can literally do anything here. Party, eat any cuisine of your liking, but what I love most is the nature. I love being able to be out in nature. It’s our greatest gift. The water is my safe space. I can go sit next to a stream or lake and just feel completely at peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/LavishLovin
- Phone: (901)921-8923
- Email: swoods0912@gmail.com
- Instagram: shannalwoods
- Facebook: Shanna L Woods
Image Credit:
Headshot: JoV
Photos of Lillian, my daughter and her legs by me: Shanna L Woods
Product shots: Monhand Mathurin
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