Meet Tuula Hukkanen, CEO of Destiny Boutique in Oceanside, CA
I divorced in 2003 after being married for 13 years and staying home most of the time. Although I had an MBA in marketing with some art study background and I used to speak 6 languages, I found it impossible to find a decent job after the divorce. The divorce and the aftermath custody battle left me flat broke.
I accidentally came about an idea for my own company in 2006. I had eczema as a child, and suffered from rashes and severe dry skin all my life. Seems like every week I had a new break out that necessitated one or more strong prescriptions. While finding little relief from traditional medical treatments, I realized that immediately after the first shower with my homemade natural lavender soap, my skin was exceptionally soft. I researched everything I could about natural therapies and remedies, and in 2008, working closely with Ph. D chemist, was able to launch an all-natural body care line. Today my rashes are gone and I do not need to use any other lotions other than sun block.
In order to turn my life around, I focused on working hard on my business. Since I was not able to get a MBA level job, I made myself a CEO and started working for myself. Every morning I am up before 7 am and I work until late at night. This May, thanks to our increasing Internet sales and sales from a handful of retail health food stores, I was able to move the business from home to a 2,119 sf state-of-the art manufacturing facility. This month, we are in four local retail stores with the plans to expand to 20 health food stores by October.
Anyone can turn their life around by starting their own company. It helps if the business idea comes from the heart and if you feel that you can make a difference in this world. The money might not be there at first, however with persistence and careful financial planning, thing might fall in place. Not only I have found a way to provide for myself and my children, I have found a cure for my own life long skin problems as well as created products that help others.
More About Destiny Boutique
Destiny Boutique is one of the first companies in the United States to base our product line on fair-traded, certified organic argan oil from Morocco. Commonly referred to as “liquid gold,” argan oil contains more antioxidants that protect against free radicals, the main cause of cell damage and aging, than any other natural oil. Argan oil is a superstar in the beauty world that has a reputation for retarding skin aging and treating skin diseases.
Destiny Boutique is a green company and a Proud Signer of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics since 2007. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition of US health and environmental non-profit groups working to promote non-toxic personal care products. Since I used to be very a trusting and somewhat ignorant consumer, I have selected “read the label TM “ as our company trademark slogan to emphasis the importance of researching the ingredients of any cosmetic. Destiny Boutique is committed in making products that are as natural as possible and safe for the entire family. Our products receive excellent safety ratings from Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.
Fueled by eco passion, I hope that our decision to use recycled wildflower seed label paper that can be planted for wildflowers and other earth friendly business decisions in packaging and manufacturing will make Destiny Boutique part of a community that is more respectful, sustainable, and environmentally responsible.
Destiny Boutique, a woman owned business, was founded August 2007 by Tuula Hukkanen, a Finnish immigrant and a resident of California of 20 years.
For more information visit Destiny Boutique Today!
