Today we’d like to introduce you to Isis Taylor.
Isis, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story begins with a personal search to improve my own health. When I turned 50, I started having seasonal allergies, which I’d never had before and I didn’t really know what to do. I started taking over-the-counter decongestant medications – all of the major brand names – and nothing worked for me. I started doing some research, and being a vegan, I wanted to find something more natural and found Irish sea moss. When I started taking it, within a couple of weeks, I saw a huge difference. My sinus issues were resolved, I had no more congestion, and I just felt overall great.
I started making the gel for myself and my immediate family – my husband, my daughters, and my mom. And then my sister-in-laws began asking, “Hey, sis, can you make me a jar?” Naturally, families talk, so next, my nieces began asking, “Hey, auntie, can you make me a jar?” My youngest daughter one day said, “Hey my friends would like a jar, but you really ought to start selling this. I know you could sell this.” So, that’s what I started doing.
I have always been a proponent for homeopathic remedies and found great value benefits in Irish sea moss and sea moss gel, so when I saw friends on social media asking about health tips and a natural decongestant, I would point them to that direction. Then one day, one of my Facebook friends asked, “Hey, Isis, where do you get that [sea moss gel]?” And I said, “From me! I make it and sell it!” I was surprised by my own response because I’d never sold anything to someone I had to ship to. In that moment, The Gel Goddess was born. I truly believe the Holy Spirit had me step out on faith that day. I told my oldest daughter about my sale, and she immediately came down to assist. We brainstormed a name for the company and because I am named after Isis, the Egyptian goddess of love, fertility, health, and well-being, we wanted to incorporate that. What better name could we have come up with than The Gel Goddess? Because that’s exactly who I am and what my company is about.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I liken the journey in creating The Gel Goddess to being on a roller coaster. There are ups and downs, and every day The Gel Goddess – both myself and my team – goes through a plethora of emotions from elated to down in the dumps. So even though we’ve had several ups and downs on the roller coaster, it’s still an enjoyable ride. I have an awesome support system surrounding me. My family has been a tremendous support and dedicated resource. The Gel Goddess could not exist without the support, expertise and commitment of my husband, Eli and my daughters, Jessica and Monica!
Neither I nor my daughter, who I call the COO, have a degree in marketing, business, nor finance. Having no degrees or backgrounds in these areas has definitely made it challenging but we are learning as we go and it has been an awesome journey to be on. I know that my business is being led by God and I’ve had a host of both blessings and lessons. I am a registered nurse who has been taking care of people for 25+ years, so while I have no business background, I know that this is allowing me an opportunity to care for a broader community through holistic means. I am comfortable and confident that my team and I are putting out an awesome product for our customers, who we lovingly call our Waives. You always hear the expression, “You have to love what you do and do what you love” and I love sea moss gel and I’m doing it!
Launching a business during this Covid19 pandemic has the biggest challenge of not being able to get out and meet the people. I know this is an unfortunate obstacle that many small businesses have had to overcome, and this is where my faith takes centerstage. While I would love to go to pop-ups and outdoor festivals, we are pretty much 100% virtual right now. I currently provide a free local, contactless delivery in the metro Atlanta and middle Georgia area, and that does allow us to meet many of our Waives, even if we’re in masks and gloves when we do. It’s our way of trying to overcome this obstacle while maintaining social distancing and gaining some level of contact with our customers.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Gel Goddess – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Gel Goddess specializes in providing a holistic healing product for our Waives. We pride ourselves on the ability to provide our customers with a premium quality sea moss gel that is both odorless and tasteless, which makes it versatile enough to mix with a wide variety of everyday drinks and dishes without altering their taste. That way my customers can truly try to incorporate into their diets two to three times daily for optimized health benefits. I’ve put it in the cheese sauce for a vegan mac and cheese. It doesn’t alter the taste, but it makes sure that you’re still getting those 92 minerals that your body needs. I’ve put it in soup, such as a vegan chicken gnocchi soup. I’ve also put it in smoothies, hot teas and coffee, oatmeal and grits. It can also be used in other health and wellness products, such as a hydrating facial.
Paracelsus, a Swiss physician of the 16th Century said, “All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in nature, the challenge of science is to find it.” Following a plant-based lifestyle, I pay more attention to nature. Sea moss in general is great because it’s loaded with nutrients that are vital to the human body. Exactly 92 of the bodies’ 102 minerals are naturally found in sea moss, for example calcium, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamins C, B, and D. These properties along with others, provide antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral protection. This is exactly what we need to maintain our health and wellness, especially in the time of the coronavirus. Sea moss gel is really a superfood that I feel has been untapped in African American culture; it’s long been known and used within the Caribbean culture.
I’m most proud of being able to provide a premium sea moss gel product to people for healing and strength for whatever is ailing them. Irish sea moss is something that God has given us access to in this Earth and He has given me the opportunity to change that from the raw form to a gel that people can use for some type of healing. We have a Wavie who has chronic health issues who says that after she started using our sea moss gel, she has felt better than she has in the past couple of years. She’s had increased energy and been able to live a fuller life and that’s what I wanted The Gel Goddess to be able to do – to provide people with a premium product so that God’s healing power could touch them.
I’m also proud that this is a family run company and each of my family members has given their time, energy, and expertise to the launch of The Gel Goddess. I wouldn’t have been able to do this alone. The Gel Goddess is a team effort and I have a fantastic team behind me. I’d like to give a shout out to my husband, Eli, my eldest daughter, Jessica, my youngest, Monica, and my mom, Bobbie. She named me Isis, 50+ years ago, Isis who is in Egyptian mythology the goddess of love, fertility, and health, and I feel as though now I am truly coming into that name and that purpose.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As many children prepare to return to school, I plan to launch Sea Moss and Elderberry Gummies to help the community boost the immune systems of our youth. We are planning to launch a Sea Moss with Elderberry supplement for adults as well. In the fourth quarter of this year, I plan to participate in a few virtual Black business expos. By 2021, we are planning to launch a line of sea moss related merchandise. Long term, I would love to see The Gel Goddess in stores, readily available for anybody and everybody.
Pricing:
- Purple Wave Sea Moss Gel: 8oz- $15.99 16oz- $30.99
- OG Sea Moss Gel: 8oz- $10.99 16oz- $20.99
- Sea Moss + Elderberry Gummies: 1 pack of 60 gummies – $20.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thegelgoddess.com
- Email: thegelgoddess@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thegelgoddess/
- Facebook: facebook.com/thegelgoddess
- Twitter: twitter.com/thegelgoddess
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