Roberta Perry of Farmingdale, NY on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Roberta Perry and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Roberta, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I am most definitely a wandering personality!

I love stopping to look, see, smell, and experience the world around me. I love taking the paths less traveled. I have always been this type of person; however, after losing my sister, I embrace every day with a greater curiosity and zest for life.

I’m living for both of us!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Roberta Perry of ScrubzBody Skin Care Products. Obviously, from the name, we make skincare; however, we like to think of ourselves as a customer service-based experience business that just happens to sell great sugar scrubs, lotions, balms, etc.

I started at my kitchen table in 2006, and in all the years since, I have never wavered from the commitment to create simple, natural skincare that makes your psyche feel as good as your skin.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents had a friend who was a guidance counselor at the local high school. Because we carpooled with them regularly, I saw both him and his wife, who was a teacher.

I was a challenging teen, to say the least, and definitely gave my parents a hard time. One night, this same couple was over at my house, and I heard my mom telling them that she was frustrated by something I had done. Without hesitation, the guidance counselor came to my defense and told my mom he saw great things in me and “not to worry about that one.”

I was stunned and happy, and I felt seen. It was a moment that happened 50 years ago, and I still remember it as if it were yesterday.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You got this.

When I was younger, I wanted to be “just like the other girls” and stand out for my outer appearance, not realizing that it was what’s inside that really counts. Slowly but surely, I made friends who mattered, and I moved away from wanting to be like others and instead loved being myself.

Then I started my business, and my imposter syndrome hit hard. Was I talented enough? Did I have the necessary skills in my field (then my field was corporate graphic design)?

And when I started ScrubzBody, I questioned my background in skincare education. Thankfully, it turned out that I was able to connect with clients in the first job, and that sustained me, and I learned what I needed to learn in the second job, so slowly my syndrome disappeared.

I would like to tell my younger self that although there will be growing pains for sure, I will succeed because I never gave up.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Without a doubt, they would say that my family and friends are the most important thing in my life. Being there for the people I love is at the top of any list, and at the end of the day, it’s all that really matters.

Everything else is fluff. Good fluff, of course, but fluff nonetheless.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I truly believe that, as much as they would miss our products, they would also miss the genuine love and affection I bring to each transaction. I am continually grateful and always humbled when people spend their money with us, so I let that gratitude flag fly with each transaction.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Melissa Gottlieb for the pic of me

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