Nina Franqui-Hollomon & Bootie Buttah Balms and Oils.
We are very pleased to introduce Nina Franqui-Hollomon, owner of BootieButtah, LLC, a successful distributor of all-natural butters, balms and oils that leave you with “Baby Bottom Soft Skin.” In business since 2016 and based in Inglewood, CA, Nina shares with us her unique story and her tips for success in this highly-competitive industry.
In a few sentences, this is what my business does:
BootieButtah partners with small independent vendors who practice and respect the integrity of organic, raw ingredients. We offer wildcrafted, unrefined butters, balms, oils. in small, mindfully unmasked and transparent ingredients.
My typical work environment is:
A home office, with a mad scientist vibe, while creating self-care botanicals in my kitchen.
The training or education that is required for my type of business is:
Mine has been a Holistic journey. I've attended many courses at NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy) Conferences. I have also followed NAHA webinars, and I am currently continuing my education. I have also spent time in holistic healing environments. I am pursuing certification which I plan to complete by the end of this year, but which was delayed due to the pandemic.
To me, being part of the gig economy means:
Post-Covid, if you are blessed to have a "gig" who's not gigging? It has taught me to roll with the river. I worked for 12 years as a director for a non-profit before this that builds Affordable Housing for the chronically un-housed. We provided wrap-around social, financial and mental health services. I have seen the havoc that underserved populations endure. BootieButtah was created out of the need to bring options to those who could not access affordable holistic options in my community. I wanted to bring some comfort and non-toxic options because there are so few out there.
The benefits of my type of work are:
I am able to create formulations to bring some ease and stress relief to people of color. The ability to use botanicals in their most raw form, gives me hope, and show me how to empower others. I am passionate about implementing natural tools vs. the synthetic solutions typical in this industry.
The difficulties I encountered starting a business were:
It was difficult having to be a jack of all trades. It is also important to find mentors that are sincere and offer honest feedback without crushing your dreams. You need to have tough skin and a can-do work ethic!
The way I use/leverage social media is:
My business model is sensory; it involves the senses, so outdoor venues are my niche. When Covid-19 came, we had to quickly pivot to an e-commerce platform. At first, Instagram, Facebook, and even TicTok were a challenge to master. However, I found that engaging people with funny but educational sessions online was what worked for us.
Integrating technology into my business is:
We have had to be innovative and ask for help from those who are IT experts ans well as seeking assistance from other influencers online. The input of younger consumers, asking them what they enjoy about our message, was critical. Our demographic is typically 35-50 year olds, so bridging that gap is always difficult. All our customers are pretty tech-savvy, so we have relied on their invaluable feedback.
"Making it" and success in the gig economy to me means:
Making mistakes and the ability to recover and learn from them, is making it! Ultimately, it is being able to take the necessary steps to keep your dreams alive while learning your craft.
The way I balance work and personal time is:
I take impromptu trips out to nature. Even a serendipitous walk in fresh air has been mental health for me.
The pandemic impacted my business by:
The company initially began as a home-based business developing wild crafted products like body wash, sugar scrubs, hair and body balms, soaps, and botanical body oil. After being accepted in the local farmers markets and pop-up community markets, we were well on our way.
But when everything locked down, we had to totally change our approach to survive. In March of 2020 BootieButtah e-commerce increased capability via grass roots marketing, word of mouth and partnering with influencers.
Interestingly, this was in tandem with rising consumer concerns about health. Toxic chemical additives became a very real concern during this unprecedented time in history as well as the racial awakening that occurred. I would say that these social changes propelled our message and helped our business grow, but it required a fast pivot to a new production and selling model.
The way that diversity impacts my business is:
Perhaps I can best answer this with this inspirational quote:
“It is here where we encourage innovative change. While change might seem hard, especially related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is not impossible; it requires strong change agents (a village) and YOU! We encourage you and your village to be the change you want to see. This tool has: resources, discussion, and expert interactions that will aid you in your change management journey. Go ahead, explore, innovate, and continue to build the change you want to see.”
- Shatomi Luster-Edward, Ed.D., First Edition DEI Fellow
My belief is that we need to be a party of "one" and stop waiting for saviors... It is up to us, in our circles of influence, to break down doors! We should no longer wait for them to open before us. If the door is closed, then bust through the drywall.
The future of my business and/or the gig economy is:
In the next few years, I expect to continue our mission of "environmental awareness" regarding the hazards caused by synthetic chemicals in body care products. I want to provide our consumers with green consciousness and give them sound botanical choices, especially those in urban underserved areas.
One piece of useful advice I would give to others is:
Falling may hurt you, but never trying may kill your soul, dreams and purpose!
For more information and to contact Nina, you can reach her at:
Website: BootieButtah.com
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Email: BootieButtah@gmail.com
