Today we’d like to introduce you to Elba Lomeli.
Elba, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
ELBA Vegan Cosmetics is inspired by my sister-in-law, who’s been part of my life since I was 12 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. I was right next to her when she received the news from her doctor and from that moment on I decided to do everything in my hands to support her through this journey.
While listening to all the side effects of the treatments were going to cause inside and outside her body, I made up my mind. I decided to create body nourishment & care products that are non-toxic and of the highest quality ingredients carefully chosen by me, to replenish, rejuvenate and awaken your skin’s natural radiance — all powered by plants!
Furthermore, ELBA Vegan Cosmetics is also inspired by world travel and a love for high-quality products. All ELBA Vegan Cosmetics products are produced in small batches and created on the principles of discovering your own beauty through natural products.
We are committed to produce the best products, and to promote clean, healthier living. We promote self-love and self-acceptance to be your own kind of beauty. Our commitment is simple: you’ll never have to choose between safe ingredients and beautiful, healthy skin.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting out was not difficult, with a small investment I started generating interest among family and friends. Now that I have set out to grow brand recognition and sales, the challenges are a lot more present. I have lived in the US for about six years now.
So, a lot of the relationships and connections I have a rather new. I use social media to reach out to get the word out! I have also participated in programs by the small business administration to engage with fellow entrepreneurs. Growth and brand recognition are definitely difficult in this highly competitive environment. Since there is so much competition, there is always a need to keep in balance the investments in branding versus having a healthy inventory Catching the consumer’s eye among the sea of brands is the first challenge, but once I have their attention and have an opportunity to try my products, I know they will love them. I made sure that my product photographs are eye catching and appeal to my existing customers and potential customers.
The other challenge when exploring retail points of sale is not knowing how to get into retail stores. It seems that without connections or direct recommendations, it is rather difficult. Finding the right opportunities and events to showcase my products is also a challenge and an investment that needs to be made wisely.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
ELBA Vegan Cosmetics specializes in clean skincare. My products are known for their quality and effectiveness. My products have a great appearance and give the appearance of being a more mature brand, not just in business for two years.
My skin care line is targeted to women that are looking for facial products that are vegan, natural, non-toxic, that are effective and are affordable. I have facial cleansers, facial moisturizers, and facial serums, as well as a lip balm, facial sunscreen, and facial toner.
One of the major benefits of my products is that my clients (particularly women) feel confident about their skin, regardless of whether or not they are wearing makeup.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I am primarily an online business, so location has not been a large factor yet. I have noticed that when participating in events, location can make a difference when it comes to outreach and sales.
The larger the city, the greater social media impact we will see. I will continue to explore the impact of location as I look to expand into actual retail points of sale, but this is still in an exploratory stage.
Pricing:
- Facial Cleanser: Activated Charcoal & Green Tea 6.0oz $26
- Facial Cleanser: Orange & Aloe Cleanser 6.7oz $29
- Facial Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid 1.7oz $30
- Regenerative Face Moisturizer 2.0oz $35
- Eye Corrector Serum 1oz $35
- Blue Green Algae Face Serum .5oz $30
- CC Serum with Vitamin C and Citrus Stem Cells 1oz $38
- Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum 2oz $35
- Vegan Lip Balm – Pomegranate $5
- Hand Made Coconut Verbena Soy Candle 3oz $10
- Natural Face Sunscreen 2oz $20
Contact Info:
- Website: elbacosmetics.com
- Email: elbavegancosmetics@gmail.com
- Instagram: @elba_vegancosmetics
- Facebook: @elbavegancosmetics
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