Meet Rachel Pearson | Founder & CEO

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

Hi Rachel, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned running my business is to PERSEVERE and to remain flexible. If you’ve made a mistake, so long as it isn’t a mistake that is fatal to your business (usually the fatal mistake is financial mismanagement), then get creative and find a solution. It might not be the path you planned for or anticipated but if your business remains viable and opportunities continue to come your way then make it work until you can make it work how you want. Flexibility and perseverance are the most important things when it comes to running a business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started RachelMade in my kitchen after struggling to find natural skincare products that were safe and effective for my sensitive, eczema-prone skin. Making the products was fairly easy for me- I had done tons of research and I’ve always been good at cooking which lends perfectly to making skincare products. What didn’t come as easily was figuring out how in the world to sell my products to the public. It’s so funny for me to think back on how I thought because I knew I had a great product that the rest would just come next- delusions of people clamoring for my products swirled around my head. I found my way onto the craft show scene and have learned A LOT about selling, upselling, attitude, expectations, what shows to be at, and more. In the early days, I worked a part time job while growing this little business into something that could support both itself and me. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t quick. Again, perseverance is key. What sets me apart is my can-do attitude and my relentless nature. Short on money? Better get to cold calling potential wholesale customers or putting together a sales email blast. Had a bad event? Time to research events and find the best ones for my business. Lost my canopy and inventory to a bad storm? Time to invest in better weights and equipment for outdoor shows (and just understand that sometimes Mother Nature has you in her sites and taking your shop outside has natural consequences). Every day there will be a new struggle, but every day something gets easier, too. I want people to know that RachelMade is run exclusively by Rachel- there is no team, no shipping assistants, no production line- just me, a 1400 square foot office, a head full of dreams, and a heart set on making the absolute best products to share with others. It is my life’s privilege to run this business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I moved from Atlanta to Coastal Georgia 3 years ago, so I have a pretty magical slice of heaven that I call home these days. If my best friend was visiting, our first stop would be St. Simons Island for a little beach time and the best lunch around at Southern Soul Barbecue. Day 2 would be Jekyll Island, with margaritas, mexican food, and live music at Tortuga Jacks followed by a walk through nature trails and a visit to driftwood beach. We would have to get up early one day to take in a Sunrise at East Beach and then take a day trip to Savannah for shopping, a luncheon cruise on the Georgia Queen river boat, and of course the best dessert style cocktails at Jen and Friends. I am a nature girl and I love St. Simons and Jekyll so I could pass most of our time at the beach with a cooler of beverages, an umbrella, enjoying the good company and soaking up the relaxation that my coastal home has to offer.

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?
My shoutout goes to STRONGBOX WEST, a co-working facility in Atlanta, Georgia that offers flexible office options for a variety of small businesses. RachelMade absolutely would not be what it is today without Strongbox. I leased my first out of home offices there at affordable rates that included front desk service, conference room time for meetings, power, internet, coffee, and access to other small business owners who could offer support/camaraderie/services that helped my business grow and develop. The owner, Amy Hoover, is a wealth of small business knowledge and fosters a sense of community at Strongbox that you just won’t find elsewhere. I had 2 different offices there over a span of nearly 3 years. I consider Strongbox to be the incubator that helped hatch this business into the awesome entity it is today.

Website: www.rachelmadeproducts.com
Instagram: @rachelmadeproducts
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rachelmade-products-llc

Image Credits
Rachel Pearson