Today we’d like to introduce you to Rich Auntie Energy.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We’re Alexis Caldwell and Eboneé Woodfork, the founders of Rich Auntie Energy. We started our company at the beginning of the pandemic as a personal affirmation to remind ourselves to stand firm in who we are and be proud of being successful, single, childless women. As women of color, we know firsthand the pressures and expectations placed on us by society, and we wanted to create a space that allowed us and other women to break free from those constraints.
When we shared our affirmation with others, we quickly realized that there was a need for a community that celebrated and uplifted women of all ages and backgrounds, particularly those who are often overlooked in society. We believe that Rich Auntie Energy is a state of being that transcends age, relationship status, and wealth. It’s about embracing all that makes us unique and tapping into our inner wisdom, compassion, and strength.
We offer a space where women can connect, share their stories, and inspire one another to embrace their Rich Auntie Energy. We sell a variety of products, including apparel, drinkware, books, planners, and accessories, all designed to celebrate the unique qualities of aunties.
We’re thrilled to have built a community of women who are proud to embrace their Rich Auntie Energy. Our community includes aunties of all ages and backgrounds, as well as those who don’t have children or aren’t related by blood. We’re grateful to have created a space where women can be proud of all that makes them whole, and we’re excited to see where our journey takes us next.
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?
As we began our journey with Rich Auntie Energy, we faced several obstacles and challenges that tested our determination and resilience. One of the biggest challenges we faced was producing our items. In the beginning, we tried different methods but encountered issues with quality, pricing, and lead times. We had to constantly iterate and experiment until we found a reliable supplier that met our standards. It was a challenging and time-consuming process, but we knew we had to get it right in order to deliver a high-quality product to our customers.
Another challenge we faced was hosting our website on ecommerce platforms. We started on a platform that was user-friendly and affordable, but as our business began to expand, we quickly realized its limitations. The platform was not scalable enough to support our growing business needs and we encountered issues with site speed, security, and functionality. We knew we had to make a change to continue growing, but it was a daunting task to migrate to a new platform while still running the business. We had to learn new skills and spend countless hours researching, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure a smooth transition.
As you know, we’re big fans of Rich Auntie Energy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Executive Recruiting & Software Development are our respective professional careers. We are Black women born & raised on the Southside of Chicago. We both went to college & followed the path that was etched for us to have traditional success.
Our journeys weren’t easy as we don’t believe many black woman inherently have a life of ease but we are creating that life for ourselves. Rich Auntie Energy, RAE, has been a major stepping stone in our creating a life and journey of ease. RAE has been an affirmation of the life we’ve managed to manifest in spite of all that life has thrown our way. Alexis is a Black Woman in Tech. She is and continues to be the outlier to every rule that has ever been set about black women from the Southside of Chicago. Eboneé is a Black Woman in Executive Recruiting who uses her sociology background & lived experience to spread awareness about the lack of equity in the workplace for Black Women. The women of RAE continue to succeed and overcome in spite of because their journeys didn’t allow room for anything but success. Failure has never had a byline in our destiny.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Through these challenges, we learned some valuable lessons that have helped us grow and improve as business owners. One lesson was the importance of perseverance and determination. We had to keep pushing through the obstacles and not give up, even when it seemed impossible. We also learned the importance of research and testing. It was crucial for us to experiment with different methods and platforms in order to find the best fit for our business. We also learned the importance of seeking help and guidance when needed. We sought advice from mentors and experts in the industry, which helped us navigate some of the challenges more effectively. Finally, we learned the importance of being adaptable and flexible. We had to be willing to pivot and make changes when things weren’t working, and be open to new ideas and approaches. Overall, these lessons have helped us to become more resilient, innovative, and confident in our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://richauntieenergy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richauntieenergy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richauntieenergy/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/richauntienergy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYi35QH3HlGjazDZxobTbBw
Image Credits
Rich Auntie Energy, LLC
