Today we’d like to introduce you to Marsha Campbell.
Hi Marsha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was introduced to waistbeads in September 2017. I purchased three strands as a birthday gift to myself. I just wanted them because I thought they were pretty. But the moment I put them on, I was transformed. They became a part of me. I was incomplete without them.
After having them break a few times, I really wanted to start making them myself, so I began to research the process. That “how-to” research brought me to learning about the history, usage, and meaning behind them. They aren’t just body adornments. They are worn as a celebration of womanhood, sexuality, femininity, fertility, healing, and spirituality. Creating waistbeads now feel like a divine calling. Since the birth of Rhoyal Beauty Beads in 2020, I have tied countless women at popup shops, in-home settings, and now at Stillwell’s Emporium in Stone Mountain Village. We laugh together, we cry together, we heal together.
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?
It has not always been a smooth road. The product testing and development was pretty costly. I had to test different thread types and beads to make sure they did not break easily, and the beads did not quickly fade. My earliest strands looked pretty but weren’t great quality, so I spent time and money replacing them. There was also a lot of self-doubt stepping into a community of creators that I knew very little about. It took some time to find my tribe and to build up the confidence to start tying individuals.
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?
I create waistbeads as a tool for mindfulness and to help women heal and discover their inner beauty, worth, and power. I also create other beaded body adornments, spiritual wellness instruments, and self-love digital products. I believe that we are all born with everything we need to become our highest selves; these tools just work together to assist along that journey.
I also host an Instagram Live show with two co-hosts on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM called Wine, Waistbeads and Networking where I educate about waistbeads and we welcome other growing businesses to highlight their business. We have become a very close-knit community that supports each other in everything that we do. We had our first meet-up in October and will be planning the next one for July 2023, which will be in my very own physical space!
My proudest moments occur during tying ceremonies when I assist women with letting go of emotional weight and assist them with setting intentions for their lives. There are many other waistbeads creators in the city, so I am always honored when I’m chosen. I provide more than a product; I provide an experience.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned along this journey is to stay consistent and encouraged by remembering my WHY. It is extremely easy to get discouraged when sales are slow, or events don’t go as planned. I have to constantly remind myself that this isn’t about me – it’s about the women I serve, the lives I help change. And most importantly, it’s not about the money. If it becomes more about the money than the service you provide, then you’re in the wrong business.
Pricing:
- Prices start at $15
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/rhoyalbeautybeads
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhoyalbeautybeads/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhoyalbeautybeads
Image Credits
CW Photography
