Meet D’Anna Brown-Locklear | Owner/Founder of Earth & Envy®

We had the good fortune of connecting with D’Anna Brown-Locklear and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi D’Anna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Earth & Envy was started after what I would like to call a “discovery transition,” in my life. I began using natural salts during my bath to destress while in an abusive marriage. I was balancing trying to make an angry man happy, being a mother, and my job so I had a lot to deal with. Soaking while listening to Yolanda Adams (When You Believe) and Eric Thomas (etthehiphoppreacher) on repeat was my way of escaping from the pain that I was dealing with at the time. It was my first act of self-care.

I loved how it nourished my skin and how it helped exfoliate, heal, and soften scarred areas that I spent years feeling ashamed about. After that came the courage to step out on faith, fight back (literally), and escape that marriage. It was a tumultuous time but it shaped the person that I am now. It sounds weird to say but “salt” kind of changed my life. Taking that personal time was the one act of self-love, and self-care, to help give me the courage to fight back against everything and everyone that told me that I wasn’t good enough including myself. Because sometimes we’re our own worst enemies. When I found that level of love in myself, I wanted to share it and remind others that they are worthy of the same. Our motto is Love Yourself. Everyday. It’s a reminder that you are deserving of the best and greatest level of love.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Earth & Envy® is a bulk salt supply company that specializes in bath salts such as Dead Sea Salt, Himalayan Salt, magnesium flakes, and various other types of salt. We are located in North Carolina but we have started to expand our business partnerships into Atlanta, Georgia. What sets us apart is that we not only sell directly to consumers but makers and companies as well via wholesale. We partner directly with companies overseas to source the best salts. So if your company creates bath salts, we want to be your supply partner.

The start of the business was honestly tough, it took me 3 years to actually get it going, primarily due to a lack of confidence and using my most famous reason to procrastinate “I’m researching the business.” After the second year, I started to get my feet wet by selling a few products to my colleagues. In the beginning, though I had the support from those close to me I lacked the industry connections to sustain it. I had to learn a lot about sourcing my product, creating an online/offline presence, and staying organized as we grew and I had to learn it fast. Like…in 5 months due to the leeway, I gave myself financially once I left my job. It was not easy and I had to accept that being a manager, which was my previous occupation, and being a business owner were not the same things. I made up my mind that if I was going to make this a success I had to be willing to grow and surround myself with people that could teach me how to grow it. The best thing I did for myself was to invest in my education. I purchased courses on selling, online marketing, basic business accounting, etc. I became obsessed with learning everything I needed to know about the business and that included getting mentors to help me balance the day-to-day. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is to grow and use your tribe. Business is not a one-man show and you definitely need more than just you to build something that touches the world.

If I could share anything about our company it would be that we are real people, who value people. Earth & Envy® started with the mission of promoting self-love, and with every container of salt, our goal is to support you personally or in your business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a homebody and I express my love through cooking for my family. I believe some of the best moments happen right at the dinner table with those closest to you, or at least that’s the way I grew up. Dinnertime was my favorite and I loved eating the extras! I would definitely share that time with my best friend by inviting them over for dinner at my house. The next few stops would probably be a walk around the town of Charlotte. There is so much to see and experience such as the museums, the stadium, and the daily events. It’s a town that never gets boring. And I wouldn’t call it a trip without visiting my church Elevation.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love just to give God the credit for anything and everything that I have accomplished thus far. Without Him, I can do nothing. Next would be my entire family but in particular, my husband David, children, my wonderful parents,  just a few of my siblings (there’s a lot of us) who were my very first customers Minnie, Stefany, Loretha, Stevetta, Daniel, and my cousins Neesha and Louglener. Especially for all of the support they gave when I started out.

I also can’t forget about the support I received from my former colleagues at Amazon in Charlotte (CLT2). When I decided to step out on faith, start my company, and leave my management career I was so nervous. I learned so much from my team there, in fact, I often refer back now to the many things I learned while I was there like how to make my processes better, how to become a better leader, and taking a chance on wonderful ideas. There were just a handful of people there who made me feel like I could conquer the world when I left. So much so that I walked into those sales meetings and began closing orders the very first week in business. It was so rewarding. It helps to have a whole community that not only believes in the business idea but in you as well and that holds you accountable for going after what you say you’re going to do. I am truly thankful to everyone who has become a part of the Earth & Envy® story.

Website: earthandenvy.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/earthandenvy

Facebook: facebook.com/earthandenvy

Other: support@earthandenvy.com

Image Credits
Photographer: Robert Thompson