Meet Roberta Perry

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Roberta Perry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Roberta, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I did not realize that my imposter syndrome even had a name until I was about 3 years into my business. I was reading an article that described how I was feeling and boom there was the name.

And there was the validation.

And there were the tricks that helped me start working my way through it.

I broke down my reasons for feeling this way in the first place and realized that the number one reason was I never went to a professional skincare school to become an esthetician. I had created my formulas in my kitchen, not a lab somewhere. I looked at other formulators with a bit too much jealousy back then.

But, then I listed the things I had accomplished by creating these products and selling them repeatedly, growing year after year. I read through the reviews. I listened to the compliments. I felt my skin transform. Somehow, without the formal experience, I had done something right and continue to do so.

So then I knew in my heart and head that it just took time, perseverance, more time, more love, and even more perseverance, and then we became experts in our fields.

And we can share that knowledge without worrying that we don’t know what we are talking about.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

ScrubzBody is a self-care, self-love customer service business, but what we officially make are sugar scrubs and full-body lotions, balms, lip scrubs, facial oils, etc. Everything that can make your skin and soul feel special. It can be used from head to toe and everywhere in between.

ScrubzBody Skin Care was a kitchen-to-garage to storage unit-to-store type story. My skin was chapped and dry and when I created a scrub better than the ones I had been buying, my late sister, Michelle, helped me get the business off the ground. We sold at craft fairs and holiday shows and I did demos at any natural type store that would have me. I schlepped…a lot!

But then I went from being more of a wholesale business to being a retail store owner who loves the one-on-one customer experience. It was the best pivot and we never looked back. We grew twice from our first shop and then settled on Main Street, Farmingdale, a thriving Long Island, NY town.

We host “Make Your Own Scrubz” parties, as well as Sip and Scrubz nights and other events such as mediums.

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?

Everything I did before starting ScrubzBody led me here. My background in graphics means I design all our pieces and our website. I have saved thousands because I was able to create my brand image that way. My background in sales helped me talk to potential customers or clients. My background in being one-third of a failed startup business taught me as much about what not to do as what to do. I took all of this knowledge and used it to my advantage here.

Learning about free publicity from the failed business was another plus I brought into ScrubzBody. On a tight budget it is hard to get noticed, but when you are mentioned in publications, you shine as an expert and then you and your business gain credibility and sales.

I practice top-notch customer service. That is the single best ingredient found in any business recipe.

I was so lucky to have been mentored by so many and found business networks that helped me thrive. The best is the Indie Business Network, run by Donna Maria Coles. I found a home there. I found a group of people who helped my business grow. Through this group, I found my best business friends/masterminds. We call ourselves Chignon 7. (funny long story). This group of like-minded women, many of whom have businesses like mine and I sell some of their products, have helped me have a lifestyle brand, not just a brand.

When you are starting, give it time, love, effort, kindness to yourself, perseverance and more love. But have a game-plan and systems in place.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents showed me the yin/yang of things. My late dad was forever the optimist and my mom was always the pessimist. But they had a love and a balance and a sweetness that flowed over.

Because my mom was always so smart and can-do, I had a strong female figure in my life. She still shows me a stubborn tenacity that I hope to still have when I am her age.

Because my dad was so creative and good with his hands, I had fun developing photographs in the dark room and carving animals in the wood shop he had in our garage. My dad taught me how to do things like paint my house.

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