Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Miller.
Hi Dana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have an Industrial Design Degree from Cal State University, Northridge. After graduating, I was working my design job along with my second job as an assistant art teacher for an after-school program. During this time, my older Sister asked me to do an experiment with soap after receiving some tips from her dermatologist that would hopefully help her eczema. I am the youngest in my family and the one who loves experiments, being creative and working with my hands, so I was excited about the challenge. I did a bit of research and knew that I wanted to make a soap with herbs and essential oils vs. the dyes and synthetic aromas that my Sister was typically allergic to. I presented it to my Sister and she was able to use it without any eczema flair-ups, which was surprising to her especially since she had not been able to use any skin products with vibrant, beautiful aromas for most of her life due to skin sensitivities. We realized that the difference with my soap was that the ingredients were natural. I also noticed that when I used my own handmade soap, I no longer had the asthma attacks that I didn’t even realize were brought on by commercial soap fragrances. I knew then that I wanted to create more and do more research on chemical-free body care not only to help more people with sensitive skin and lungs but also as a way to help infuse a bit of wellness and happiness into people’s day.
I remember how happy my Sister was to finally use beautiful products that helped her feel physically and emotionally better after using them. Witnessing this made me so happy as well. I got laid off from my design job, kept the teaching job and started making and selling small batches of soap and other body care products that I loved using myself. My Father kept pointing out that I had a business and I kept fighting it for at least five years until I was so busy that I had to quit my teaching job so that I can continue this so-called “business” that my Father insisted I had. I began doing farmer’s markets and street festivals all over Los Angeles and hired sales reps in several different states. I eventually began traveling to wholesale trade shows and spa trade shows, hoping to get my products noticed. I did two seasons of trunk shows at the then-famous Henri Bendel department store in New York City. I opened a department in the Prentemp Tokyo Japan department store, sold to several stores in Tokyo, was carried regionally in 12 Wholefoods markets along with other high-end grocery stores, spas and gift shops. I finally got a website up and running, started to do fundraisers for large non-profits all over Los Angeles County and stumbled into doing custom soap amenities for boutique hotels and wellness retreats and this is what my team and I spend the majority of our time on now. The fundraisers are such a wonderful way to give back and help worthy causes. The custom amenities allow me to tap into my creativity and design products specific to my client and their customer and create really special branded collections.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think any venture you truly have passion for is a smooth one. The beauty of the journey are all of the obstacles and challenges that we face and overcome. I was very early in the game of vegan and natural body care products that had real therapeutic aromatherapy and skin benefits. This is all I knew how to do and it was difficult at first finding the customer who also understood the products and how special they were…….not just another bar of soap. Sometimes it has been challenging to get the larger accounts due to us growing mainly via word of mouth. I do not use celebrity endorsements, big-name magazines, name-dropping, etc. to gain status and recognition. Although we have several celebrities who use our products on a regular basis and high-end hotels that carry our soap in their guest rooms, I like our customers to buy from us because of pure personal interest in our products.
We’ve been impressed with Herban Body Care, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We specialize in creating essential oil-infused body, face and home care products that elevate the mind, body and soul during daily personal wellness regimens. Our products are vegan, handmade, plant-based and actually work while smelling absolutely amazing. Our aromas and product textures are quite phenomenal. I personally created all of the formulas and aroma blends for wellness.
I am known mostly for my amazing, nutrient-rich, humectant soap formula that has a creamy coconut butter lather that smells fantastic while using it and leaves your skin moisturized after use. I am most proud of the history that we have built and the experiences of opening stores and pop-ups, as well as working with non-profit organizations to help raise funds by selling my soap that helps people’s skin and moods……quite a creative way of doing business.
What sets Herban Body Care and me apart from others is the integrity behind the products. When our customers use Herban Body Care, they can tell that we worked hard on our in-house formulations and appreciate the products deliver results the natural way. Everyone needs a little bit of joy and happiness infused into some part of their day. I believe that Herban has a way of delivering that during a shower, a quick bath, in traffic while moisturizing the hands without shae butter moisturizer, while doing laundry with our laundry soap, etc. What also sets us apart is the fact that we make plant-based products that are packed in 98% plastic-free packaging and are constantly striving for that last 2%!
What matters most to you?
Spreading joy and elevating lives is most important to me. Even if it is just for a moment in a shower, or on a plane before landing, or in bed resting for the night or before a yoga practice, etc. All of us spend enough time around negativity, experience physical and emotional pain, deal with fear and anxiety and more. The therapy tools I provide are tools that can be used daily during regular skincare and wellness regimens to elevate the body, mind and soul. It is so rewarding to hear and witness the immediate positive change in someone’s face, demeanor, voice and attitude when they smell and experience Herban Body Care. My customers and clients allow moments of their life to be infused with aromatherapy and skin-nurturing wellness. This brings me joy, encourages me to spread more joy…….and the cycle repeats!
Pricing:
- Plant Bar body soap is $11 each or 3 for $28
- Whipped Body moisturizer is $42
- Shea butter moisture balm is $18
- Salted Butter moisture scrub is $39
- Lip Therapy is $13
Contact Info:
- Website: www.herban.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/herbanbodycare
- Facebook: facebook.com/herban.inc
- Other: www.shopherban.com
Image Credits
Suzie Kim, Tiffany Miller, Bozhidar Nedyalkov
