Meet Marie Davis | Founder & CEO

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

Hi Marie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Life is about taking risk sometimes. If you don’t take the risk, how will you know what the outcome will be. In the back of your mind, you will always wonder “what if.” When starting a business, there are a lot of risks involved especially if you’re doing it alone. Some people will try to discourage you, but you must realize you’re not doing it for them. You have to tune out the negativity, and remember it’s about you and your family. For myself, it wasn’t easy. I took a big risk with Ria’s Beauty Collection. With past businesses, I’ve always had business partners. It was different this time, stepping out alone in the beginning. I had a limited budget starting out, and I worked with what I had, There were lots of uncertainties. I had to learn a lot on my own. There were lots of challenges involved: 1. Getting started. 2. Lack of confidence in the beginning. 3. Product development. 4. Keeping up with inventory. 5. Trying to do everything; wearing many hats. 6. Constantly overwhelmed. 7. Uncertain about funds for the ongoing operation of the business. 8. Obtaining customers 9. Fluctuation of the business. 10. Staying in business. 11. Stress. 12. Late nights. 13. Unexpected circumstances. 14. Relying on others; not a guarantee that they will be there for you. 15. Ready to give up. 16. Competition. 17. Overhead decision. Through it all, taking the risk has been the best decision ever. I’ve been in business 5 years thus far. I did it and I’m grateful. Knowing the outcome of the risk made it worthwhile. I couldn’t be happier.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Battling skin issues can be very depressing and stressful leading to self-esteem issues, lack of confidence, feeling unattractive, and relying on makeup for satisfaction. I’ve always experienced skin problems due to my sensitive skin. During my teenage years, I dealt with acne. Later in my adulthood, I started experiencing eczema during the winter months which caused my skin to look unsightly. When the eczema occurred and medications didn’t seem to work, I decided to go the natural route for healing. I began searching for products at various locations, After numerous unsuccessful attempts in locating products that benefited my skin, I decided to create my own products at the advice of my youngest daughter. This was the best advice ever. I knew that if I was experiencing difficulty in my search then others were going through the same thing also. In 2013, I started making my own products. Lots of learning, researching, and preparations were involved. I started developing handmade, natural, scented and unscented skincare and haircare products for myself. I began using the products on a daily basis and it worked. It’s great to be able to create a natural products that actually works without using chemicals. Soon others started inquiring about my products. When I first created the products, my intentions were not to sell the products. It was suppose to be for myself and family. Soon I began selling a few products at work. Others stated that I should start my own business, but at the time I didn’t have the confidence. I would often compare myself to others, and age also factored into my decision. I never would have thought that at age 55 that I would be making skincare and haircare products. I delayed the thought of starting a business for 2 years. Eventually, I finally gained the confidence to launch Ria’s Beauty Collection in 2015. Ria’s Beauty Collection specializes in skincare and haircare products for those experiencing difficulties with skin and hair issues. Our specialty is Ria’s Whipped Shea Butter (scented and unscented) which is a dual moisturizer for the skin and hair. It repairs the damage while restoring moisture to the skin and hair. It is a great skin moisturizer for various skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dry skin, acne, dark spots, and more. Also a great hair moisturizer for certain hair conditions (follicles, dry hair, dry scalp, hair growth, hair loss, hair styles, and more. All of our products are handmade, natural, unrefined, and made with the best quality ingredients for every of all skin types. My products are not just about me. It’s about the customers, because they play and important role too. They are the ones that keeps Ria’s Beauty Collection successful by their constant interest, interaction, and satisfaction. It gives me such joy to know that my customers are satisfied with our products and that they are benefiting from the products as well. It’s also rewarding to be able to observe my products at different retailers, online, demos, restocking, vending, and more. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been a learning experience. By believing in yourself, being patient, turning negatives into positives, staying focus, knowing what’s important in life, and what makes you happy, you can overcome any challenges that you may encounter. *Lessons learned along the way: 1. Everyone is not on the same level in business. 2. Better have a backup plan. 3. Be ready for the unexpected. 4. Do the best you can with what you have. 5. Delegate responsibilities. 6. You will not be successful overnight. 7. Listen to your customers. 8. Stay focus. 9. Don’t let age be a factor in starting a business. 10. Put your money back into your business or else you won’t have a business for long. 11. Don’t worry about the competition. 12. It’s not just about you, it’s also about the customers. 13. Don’t get overwhelmed. 14. If you have a full-time job, decrease your days or hours and utilize them toward your business to prevent getting overwhelmed. 15. Businesses vary depending on whether or not it’s your own business or if you’re selling to a retailer. Ria’s Beauty Collection’s goal is to be of service to our customers by providing nontoxic and healthy products at an affordable price that benefits and improves the appearance of our customers’ skin and hair issues. When it comes to developing our products, we believe in simplicity. We also believe that our customers should feel, look, and smell beautiful simultaneously with our scented butters and lotions. Ria’s Beauty Collection has been featured in Sevananda Natural Food Market, Atlanta, GA, Voyage ATL Magazine, Atlanta, GA, Queen City Magazine, Charlotte, NC, The Sacred Space Retreat, Atlanta, GA, Thynk Global, Miami, FL, and Word of Mom Radio.

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.
1. Sevananda Natural Food Market Co-op, Atlanta, GA and Atlanta Farmer’s Market, Atlanta, GA. 2. Slutty Vegan – Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant, Atlanta, GA, 3. Tourist Attractions. 4. National Center for Civil/Human Rights, Atlanta, GA. 5. Jazz/Blues entertainment.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout dedication to the team (Naomi, Arlene, Avnah, and Kenneth). Thanks for being a part of Ria’s Beauty Collection and being such a wonderful team, You’re always there when I need you the most, and I couldn’t have done it without you. I would also like to give recognition to my customers, retailers, supporters, mentors, influencers, publishers, interviewers, and more. You have made it possible for Ria’s Beauty Collection to continue to exist. Thank you for your support, Thank you Shout Out Atlanta for giving Ria’s Beauty Collection the opportunity to be interviewed with your magazine.

Website: https://www.riasbeautycollection.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riasbeautycollection1
Facebook: facebook.com/marie.davis.7315
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJFoTUKIBFs
Other: www.etsy.com www.amazon.com www.walmart.com