SMALL TOWN FAMOUS Meet Hollybeth Anderson

You may have seen HollyBeth Anderson walking her best four-legged friend Beau around downtown Clayton. Walking Beau gives this Clayton Shop owner a chance to stretch her legs and get some fresh air. She has a vibrant smile and a bounce in her step, both a reflection of her dynamic personality. She is in a good place in her life. Having put demanding schedules and deadlines behind her, it’s good to finally be doing work that she loves and is very good at. I feel sure that she can do just about anything she sets her mind to. To understand why I think she is “small town famous” you need some background, so I had the pleasure of sitting to chat with HollyBeth, in her studio, for this article.

Every member of HollyBeth’s family dating back to the 1700s has been born in the state of Georgia. HollyBeth is one of only two born outside of the state on her Mother’s side of the family. Her parents were living in El Paso, Texas when she was born. Her father was a Military pilot from Arkansas. The family moved around due to her father’s career. Her Great-Grandfather Echols planted the first peach tree on what is now Jaemor Farms. HollyBeth grew up in Habersham County where she spent a lot of time with her grandmother. It was on walks that she taught HollyBeth about the curative nature and medicinal uses of Georgia’s native plants. She values all that she learned and the time that her grandmother invested in her.

HollyBeth attended Brenau Academy for her last three years of high school. She graduated with honors and moved on to Georgia State University in Atlanta where she earned a BA in Spanish/Marketing. After graduating Georgia State she moved to Spain and then to Mexico. She taught English to students in Mexico. She met and married while there, but it was not meant to be. After her divorce she moved to France, where she attended L’Universite de la Sorbonne earning her Post Graduate Degree. After earning her degree she was hired as Assistant Director for Lorraine Development Corporation. After being promoted to work for the French Foreign Minister of Trade in the United States and France, she paved the way for Fortune 500 American companies to relocate to France. Included in this was a satellite campus of Georgia Tech that opened in Metz, France. HollyBeth went on to work for Cartier as Director of Business Development for Latin America.

In 1994 HollyBeth founded HB International, Inc. She acted as an advisor to international companies to increase and create clients’ global presence by either serving as a representative in country or by developing a strategic marketing and business plan for their entry into markets around the world. She established an impressive list of clients and traveled extensively. Even today she is called on to consult with businesses. If you can imagine this in her first 50 years she has visited 50 countries and ran 14 marathons!

Returning to Atlanta in 1997, HollyBeth was hired as Vice President International of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She was elected to the board of directors for the French-American

Chamber of Commerce (Atlanta Chapter). Her business knowledge and engaging nature made her a perfect fit for this position. She worked with the MACOC for eight years. Then HollyBeth worked for a University Foundation in Costa Rica. She is fluent in three languages (a polyglot), I found it interesting that only 13% of the World population can make this claim. I knew that she was exceptional when I met her.

HollyBeth’s parents divorced when she was young, being an only child she knew that when the time came to care for her aging parents she would do just that. Caring for her mother first and later her father, she stayed by their side until each passed away. She remembers being told when she was living in Spain that the one skincare product every woman should use was eye cream. She never forgot that and in her travels she tried every eye cream imaginable. She knew the results she wanted the product to produce but hadn’t found exactly what she hoped for. So, she created it herself. Thus the birth of HollyBeth Organics. Literally in her kitchen she formulated an eye cream that checked all of the boxes. Living in Decatur at the time she grew the business until she needed a location outside of her four walls to meet the demand. HollyBeth Organics is an effective line of refreshing USDA-certified-organic products for face, body, hair and home. Each product is handmade in small, artisanal batches. With a line that now includes 22 award winning products, HollyBeth Organics guarantees that every product is certified organic and cruelty-free. The company is dedicated to making the earth a better place and to provide women of all ages a luxury skincare line that promotes wellness from the outside in. Skincare that both nurtures the skin and uplifts the soul. Her skincare line has been featured in 20+ national magazines including Vogue, Forbes ,Real Simple, Marie Claire, REDBOOK, InStyle and Southern Living, just to name a few.

HollyBeth had fond memories of visiting Clayton with her father many times. Sometimes passing through and other times to spend time in Rabun. She knew in her heart that she wanted to make our town her home. In 2015 she and Beau found a home and moved to the mountains. She opened her shop a couple years later. She would love to sit down with you and introduce her products, make recommendations and discuss your skincare needs. You will find HollyBeth to be welcoming and easy to talk with. You will want to take Beau home with you and you’ll love her products.

I use many HollyBeth Organics products. Among my favorites are the Rose Geranium Face Moisturizer, the Grits & Honey Scrub, her Hair and Body Silk and of course the eye cream! You can visit her studio at 54 N Church Street in Clayton, Georgia or you may shop online at www.hollybethorganics.com or you’ll find her products at Isadora Popper on Main Street. I know that you will truly enjoy exploring HollyBeth’s products and I hope one day you will have the pleasure of making her acquaintance. While she has been famous for many things in her life, here she is famous for her skin care line, her winning smile and that gorgeous dog!