Hello!
This week, I am writing about Wildflower Beauty by Jessica, a small business located in Winter Garden, Florida. A local shop that differentiates itself by creating natural, handmade bath, body, and skin products. They hand-make all their products so they know exactly what goes into them. As Jessica herself says, “What really makes us unique is that our products truly are 100% natural. Most ‘natural’ products aren’t 100% natural… there are still fragrances, preservatives, etc. A product doesn’t have to be 100% natural to be called natural, but we really are.”
A Personal Commitment
Wildflower Beauty was started by Jessica as an answer to a personal need. As one who has sensitivities and allergies herself, Jessica would spend a lot of money on products that claimed to be natural but, with further research, she realized that these products still had harsh chemicals in them.
Jessica then started making products for herself so that she would know exactly what they contained. She said, “I came to find that other people had this need as well, and only a few months later Wildflower Beauty by Jessica was born.” This came with a promise to their customers to never use harsh chemicals or preservatives, only natural and organic ingredients.
Jessica now gets to be creative with her products and fill a need. She does this by listening to her customers and evolving her product, all while never compromising on the mission of the company. As with any business, Jessica hopes that her business continues to grow, but she never wants to sacrifice quality to do so. “The most important thing is to have a positive impact around us.”
This positive impact can be seen through their partnerships with other local businesses as well as through their generous donations to local organizations.
One noteworthy example is her partnership with Axum Coffee, a local coffee shop. Jessica uses their coffee in certain products, and Axum Coffee sells her products at their Winter Garden location. “By partnering with others in our community, like Axum for example, we are keeping the purchasing as local as possible and supporting Winter Garden in a financial way too. Every little bit helps and we are always trying to find opportunities to partner up with local businesses.”
Jessica’s story is an awesome example of the commitment it takes to become an entrepreneur. She saw a need in her community and is doing her part to fill it.
What started out as a hobby turned into a full-time job and, as is often the case, this comes with benefits as well as some challenges along the way.
“It took me almost 3 years to quit my very amazing full-time job as a project manager at a college… with wonderful benefits, hours and salary. I gave that all up though to be genuinely happy, but it was a challenge and a scary jump I had to make. It’s also very hard to not only run the business just like other business owners, but personally MAKE my inventory as well. Plus, with a 9-month-old baby, my hours are maxed out. Trying to balance being a mom and the business is tough, but I did it exactly for that reason – to be able to have a family and be at home.”
Now she gets to do what she loves for a living. She also now has the ability to be active and involved with her family and the community around her. “It has been my life-long dream to own my own business, and I finally have that and all of the perks that come with it. Even those nights of working til 3am is worth it to me.”
Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
“The biggest thing is commitment. It is all or nothing, and if you aren’t 100% in then it will be much harder. You also must be willing to grow, take feedback and possible criticism without taking it personally. Anyone that is willing to give you feedback is actually helping you, and listening to those around you when it comes to feedback is important.”
She also advises that aspiring entrepreneurs will need to learn more than just their craft. There are many aspects to running a business that require time and patience. For Jessica, this was taxes and bookkeeping. “I am a creative person and learning about all of the licenses, taxes and things to file was a lot of learning.”
Through all of this, Jessica really embodies what it means to be an entrepreneur. She saw a need, learned how to make a product better, and partnered with the community to make her brand truly unique. Her own words say it best: “We really are different than the rest! Just read our ingredients.”
Thank you so much Jessica for your time and willingness to share your story!
If you would like to follow Jessica, her social media accounts are listed below.
Wildflower Beauty Facebook Page
Be sure to check out her site to find natural products that can be beneficial for you, too! Treat yourself to an all-natural spa day with her spa collection. Also, in mid-March she will be re-releasing donkey milk soap, a very rare product with incredible natural properties for your skin including natural retinol. Jessica partners with a local farmer who supplies the milk, ensuring freshness and it is exclusive to her shop in the area.
Previously this amazing product sold out online in only ten days! Follow Jessica to find out when this anti-aging gem will be released and shop her online store in the link below!
Link to Shop
You can also visit her shop in person at: 100 W Plant Street, Winter Garden Florida 34787
Thank you, everyone, for reading!
Remember to shop local and stay beautiful.
Have an amazing day!
-Amy
All photos are graciously taken from the Wildflower Beauty Instagram page or from Jessica’s online shop.
Indie Central Florida 
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