Meet Leiaa Nain Morris | Owner, Worthy Woman Shop

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leiaa Nain Morris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leiaa Nain, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The concept behind Worthy Woman Shop has always been there, for at least a decade; however, when Covid-19 struck, I was like, “okay, Life is way too short to sit on your dreams because of fear of failure, or others’ opinions, the excuses, it’s time to MOVE forward. I have a purpose and I’m just sitting here wasting away!!” The push to do this, and do it now was so strong. So much was and is still happening every day in our world and I have always had the heart to help others and to inspire others. Aside from that, I had to really narrow down my niche and make it clear to my audience and potential customers what Worthy Woman Shop represents– I brainstormed, wrote everything down in a notebook, invested money, spent countless hours studying, took various trainings and zoom calls with mentors, coaches, the whole thing, to make sure that I got it right and clear. I still do those things periodically because it is important to always be open to change, to grow and evolve, especially in the business/entrepreneurship world.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Worthy Woman Shop is a business that encourages every woman. That inspires. It represents strength, resilience. It represents women making boss babe moves! Moms, wives, sisters, aunts, daughters, friends. It represents women who have been fighting and surviving. We promote women empowerment, self-care, and self-love through our products by way of positive words and affirmations. Each product we offer features a word, phrase or quote that carries positive weight behind it, which in turn serve as tangible reminders of who we are! Worthy. Loved. Blessed. Strong. Capable. Deserving. Always, Enough. I believe that what sets my business apart from others is the transparency, authenticity, and the mission behind it. More than anything, I truly want to see millions of women being impacted by our brand and inspired. We are working on doing so many things in the community including but not limited to donating toiletries and necessities to women and children, donating to domestic violence victims, and helping single mothers.
A big goal of mine this year is to create a scholarship for students in high school and in college. This will be for girls and young women who need the extra funds to build a better foundation for themselves through education.

Worthy Woman Shop is still growing. We are still in an early growth stage, but I am so thankful for the fast growth. We have reached five states (Minnesota, Georgia, Texas, California, Indiana) in a little over a month’s time and continue to get viewers from all over the nation, and from 17 other countries so far. We hope to begin shipping internationally very soon, as the desire for our products is being brought to our attention almost daily!

Was it easy? Hm, definitely not easy, but such a rewarding feeling after I did the work and officially launched! The most challenging part was believing that I could actually pull this off. Haha, it may seem silly, but I did a lot of soul searching and work internally over the past two years. I took the pain from being hurt by others, disappointed, and let down and I created something amazing from those awful experiences. In order to overcome all the doubts and fears, I had to get my mindset right. I started to practice gratitude for the small things, daily. I read positive books. Prayed harder than ever for strength and guidance. I talked to mentors. I created a journal and to this day, I read my affirmations and speak life into myself! I had to forgive and find my confidence again. I had to learn to not let others’ opinions of me, especially negative and condescending, break my character. I had to heal and I made up in my mind that I am going to be my BEST self going forward and uplift and encourage other women while doing so! Through the process, I released an ebook, “Remember You are Worthy- A Positive Mindset and Affirmation book for Women” that is also available on the WWS website.

Along the way, the biggest lesson for me, was, no matter what it looks like, seems like, when God gives you a dream, a purpose, you need to act on it! I promise you, if you do, everything is going to work in your favor and fall into place. Each of us is important and full of purpose, but many of us get caught up in the “what if’s?” …..but WHAT IF, IT DOES work out!?

At its core, WWS is relatable. We all know what pain feels like. We know what disappointment, rejection, small insecurities, hesitation, feels like. At some point in our lives we will experience a level of difficulty, unfamiliarity, loss, but we will also experience happy moments, joy, milestones, proud moments, utterly speechless events that elevate us to the next level in our lives.

I want the world to know that Worthy Woman Shop is an empire in the making. Everything that this brand stands for is a representation of Humankind, Women Empowerment, feminism, equality, inclusion, sisterhood, unity, and compassion. We build up other women. We support other women and we clap for them! As much as this business is an extension of me it is also a celebration of each and every woman in this world.

This business was birthed from pain… and from love. If I don’t accomplish anything else, I want to make sure that through my work, my honesty, and my compassion that I am continuously spreading the message to other women that they are enough. Always, enough and worthy of being loved. Worthy of being alive. Worthy of being here on this Earth.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One thing that I love about Birmingham, is that we have endless food choices! The first day I would take her to Retreat Day Spa not too far from the Summit. We would get deep tissue massages and facials with light lunch served, and afterward do some shopping at the Summit, followed by dinner at P.F. Changs or Village Tavern. The next day we would go to one of my favorite brunch spots, Another Broken Egg or Ruby Sunshine! During the rest of the week we would mix it up by going to a different themed restaurant each night. Right now, my favorite is Cayo-Coco, which is a Cuban restaurant downtown Birmingham. The presentation of plated entrees is exquisite. The food is equally delicious, and the vibe is really chill. It is a very unique restaurant! I would take her to the Hoover Preserve and several other areas with beautiful walking trails to exercise all the food off, haha!! Big Whiskey in Hoover has wonderful drinks, and a large menu selection. Michael’s restaurant is a Black owned spot right beside the Baron’s field! Highly recommend! The steak is melt-in-your-mouth level, deliciousness!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely! First I have to shout out my mom! When I came to her about starting Worthy Woman Shop, she listened, and I saw her face light up. When I finished and asked her what she thought, she told me that she was so proud of me and can’t wait to see everything come to life and grow! Secondly, my sisters have been amazing through the whole process. They’ve supported my business, taken photos, spread the word around their college campuses, and are so encouraging. A big part of why I do this, is for my family as well. A special thanks to my husband, Tyler, because he is the most loving, encouraging and supportive man. He believes that I can do anything!! My family means the world to me! I also have to shout out Cortney Fletcher and Carina Hatton who are both amazing ecommerce coaches! Lastly, my amazing girlfriends- Bri, Sarah, Katie, Alexa, who was my first customer and several other women who have genuinely been clapping and rooting for me since day one!

Website: www.worthywomanshop.com

Instagram: @worthywomanshop

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worthywomanshop/

Other: FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/298024482082151/ FB New Business page: https://www.facebook.com/worthywomanshop/

Image Credits
Providence Pics, LLC