We recently connected with Jennifer Hicks and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
I practice mindful meditation and the 4-7 8 breathing technique as a form of self-care. I have been practicing mindful meditation for the past few years, and I found that mindful meditation works to slow down my thoughts, especially when I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed. The 4-7 8 breathing technique involves breathing in for 4 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds. This breathing pattern aims to reduce anxiety. This practice has not only helped me to absorb the day more fully but has allowed me the opportunity to stay present and to be able to focus.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The Heartwarming Story Behind the Name Olijé Skincare
The brand name Olijé holds a special significance to me as it is a tribute to my deceased parents, Otis and Lillie Sykes. The name is a breakdown of the first initials of our names – “O” for Otis, “li” for Lillie and “jé” for Jennifer. My father was an entrepreneur and passed the values of hard work, ethics, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit to his children.
As someone who has suffered from eczema and dermatitis, I am proud to have created a line of natural and organic skincare products that have helped heal my skin and keep it healthy. One of the products that launched my business concept is the Eczema Butter, which has kept my eczema and dermatitis under control since 2015.
I enjoy creating handmade products for my skincare line because it is my passion. In addition to the Eczema Butter, my product range includes items for the hair, body, hands, and feet.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most important qualities that have been important on this journey are the ability to remain motivated, stay organized, and be open to learning new things. Owning a small business is difficult to say the least, being motivated during the slow periods is very important as there will be times when sales are slow, and having the ability to stay focused and motivated is key to being able to continue.
The advice I would share to anyone who is new in their journey is to surround themselves with positive people and be open to learning new things and obtain a mentor.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Yes, I have challenges with marketing, one challenge is not having enough resources to carry out a marketing plan. This includes budgetary constraints that make it difficult to hire a marketing team, not having access to the right tools and technologies, or simply not having enough manpower to execute a marketing plan. Another challenge that I face is not being sure about what are the right ways to market my business. Currently, I use social media and Square marketing. With so many different marketing channels and strategies to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones are the best fit for my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.olijebodycare.com
- Instagram: olijebodycare
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olijebodycare
- Linkedin: Olije Body Care
