We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Derr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
Currently I’m reading books regarding my finances and how to save and invest. I recently read The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich By David Bach ( Dollar Tree find) it was very inspiring and an easy quick read with simple rules that can guide anyone to start saving. Saving and improving my finances is very important to me and can be overwhelming since I’m not totally sure how to go about it when you have limited funds.
This book gave me a guideline and tools to get started. I love that it wasn’t a get rich quick scheme. I’ll call it a simple blueprint to financial freedom. . The Latte Factor is a method Mr. Bach believes in it basically is telling you to find things(Starbucks) you may spend your money on frequently and eliminating that so you can at least save $5.00 a day. It takes discipline to follow his plan, but like he said,” do changes in your life gradually, it will become second nature to you then things will get better”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a little girl, I was always in to body products, i.e., lotions, perfumes, face cleanser, etc. (I was always messing in my mom and grandmothers cabinets). But, from birth, I’ve had sensitive skin and always had to be mindful of what was being put on my skin. I was not the baby that smelled like Johnson & Johnson or Baby Magic. I smelled pure without scent, all products had to be fragrance free or dye-free (clothes and all). As I got older, I would say, ” I wish I could find a products that I could use on my skin that had scent to it”. Now, yes I do spray perfumes on my clothes but I can’t apply scented products directly on my skin. So, I began to research things that are not harsh on your skin, that are good for sensitive skin. I found products like olive oil, grape seed oil, coconut oil, honey and different sugars are good for your skin and have a great benefit as well. So one day, I mixed brown sugar, honey and coconut oil and started scrubbing and exfoliating my skin and I immediately seen a difference. From that day, I just started trying different mixtures, trying them out on me first and I had no negative effects. And so, All Natural Sugar Scrubs by KD was born. “Kay-Made” I just have to be transparent for a minute, my main obstacle has been myself and believing that I may not have what it takes to start this business and that it won’t be successful. I’ve talked myself out of it for years, but on November 12, 2017, I said, ” You will never know unless you take the chance and step out of the known and go in to the unknown”. Now that I have moved out of my own way, things have started to kick-off more. I’ve vended at 3 different events since December and that has allowed me to spread the word about my “All Natural Sugar Scrub by KD”. No, it has not been easy at all, but with my drive, determination and dedication, I truly believe within the next couple of years, my product could be in stores. (who knows right). Sky’s the limit!!! Mission Statement: “To ensure that each product provides a soothing and satisfying experience one SUGAR SCRUB at a time.” All Natural Sugar Scrubs by KD focuses on providing self-care. The skin is our largest organ AND what we put on our skin is so important. My sugar scrubs are homemade a.k.a. Kay-Made with all natural products, products that we cook and bake with (added bonus you can lick your fingers when your done scrubbing). Some of my products have essential oils infused that add a therapeutic and restorative experience. Each product is gentle on your skin, they exfoliate and moisturize as well. My scrubs are for men and women and make great gifts for all occasions. Self-care = Self-Love My products are an experience AND I’m proud to offer this experience to my SCRUBISTAS.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I’m a home body so I would schedule a couple outings here and there. A spa (Jeju), check out a couple vegan restaurants around Atlanta. We would go to some parks to walk and chat (Roswell Mill, Stone Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain). Depends if any concerts are going on that week and we could check out a concert. I love music. I love trying different things so we would see what Atlanta was offering at that time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I just give thanks to each person I see going after there goals and making things happen. Just seeing people starting businesses inspires me to want to continue and strive. Just seeing them makes me feel like I can do this as well.

Website: kderr31@gmail.com
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kderr31

Image Credits
Paisley Eye Photography