Meet Ellice Darien, President of Darien Essentials and this weeks Woman in Business Interview
Tell us about your business
We handcraft natural Bath and body products that our consultants sell Our Customer s are looking for something natural to present to their friends and families, they are exploring or adding organic or more natural products to their pantries and refrigerators , we see that 97% of our customers are women 25 od over. We also Private label for high end Spas
Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place? It means above all control of my product that I introduce to my family and others it’s the networking and understanding that there is a sense of independence that I wanted to share by going from brick and mortar to direct sales.. I felt that only I could appreciate My hard work so I went into business
What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why? My Mother she worked as a nannie and had a small booth in the flea market after she retired she saved money and has owned three homes and luxury cars she became a citizen of this country all by common sense networking and saving ..
What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Getting our Products in Salamander Resort Touch Store, Hammock Beach resort and sharing a Mall with Tiffany, and Sachs
What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers? This is the Hardest Job you will ever Love so understand working for your self is harder..And please please please find a support system at home or outside of the home . this is a emotional rollercoaster
What has been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business? We network with small women owned business whether it the boutique the candy store or networks and our consultants are helping to spread the word
What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years? Listen to the customer they will help you in forming ideas and their needs our customers were naming our best selling soap even giving us ideas on scents when we had a store
Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other small business owners that have helped you run your business? Score was a start, indie beauty network if you’re a hand crafter and I find www.chiefinstilettos.org to be a good one
Do you have any new projects coming up (or have you just completed a big project ~ reached a milestone, etc.)? Our Biggest Project is our direct sales consultants we are getting together September 6th 2014 to launch that division we are calling it a Tee-Off since it is a small golf course and even though we have consultants we will forecast and recruit at that event it is open to the public all are invited you can look us up on eventbrite
What do you do for fun/relaxation? I Watch foreign melodramas with subtitles. I’m into Korea now it was Nigeria and Latino last few months
What is Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year? To have 100 consultants and a streamlined backoffice
You want to write a book on …. aging. I am writing a book called But That Was When My Name Was Enid, a patient of mine use to tell me stories of when she was younger and she ended each story with but that was when my name was enid ..you see when we see a elderly person we call them mrs smith we forget that when we are young we are called our first name , im putting all my little stories together from my elderly patients in a small book
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? Surround yourself with positive people and Network, network, network If its not your strength make it stronger
What’s the best way for our readers to connect with you?
Facebook.com/darien direct
Website: www.dariendirect.com twitter @darienessence Instagram
www.dariendirect.com
