5 minute read
Launching The Tropical Duchess
Starting a business during Lockdown in 2020 wasn’t the easiest choice – but that’s the challenge Ashyra Bristol set herself when launching her vegan business start-up The Tropical Duchess. Ashyra sets out her stall for plans in 2021 to take The Tropical Duchess to the next level.
Setup
I have always wanted to set up and write my own blog. I can probably relate to many when setting out to achieve your goals having more time on their hands due to being furloughed during the pandemic. I started writing articles about my hobbies like travelling, fitness, beauty and fashion. I found myself learning and writing even more about beauty, skin, hair and nails and advice from around the world and different myths from various cultures and heritages. Being British with a Caribbean heritage is how the name came about for The Tropical Duchess.
The Next Stage
At the moment I’ve designed so many different products for skin care, hair care And nails. It’s all clean and Vegan. I really enjoy my monthly visits to Boots, Body Shop and Lush however there’s a gap in the market for clean and affordable beauty and cosmetics. My brand is more exotic and tropical than products you might find on the high street. My next step is to start networking on social media and launch my brand later this year. It’s a lot of work but I couldn’t be more excited.
Vegan Business Tribe
The Vegan Business Tribe is extremely uplifting and at times when your feeling a bit lost and maybe even slightly defeated, it encourages you to network with other start ups and exchange ideas and support. I’m sure there’s much more available with the VBT membership and I have yet to reap the many more benefits offered. I would recommend speaking to them especially if your in the early stages of setting up your business. It’s a kind and friendly light hearted atmosphere I accidentally stumbled upon the website about a year ago and I’m really glad I joined. I really needed the extra support when I started fundraising for The Tropical Duchess.
Funding
Fundraising, especially in the early stages is without a doubt the highest challenge for start up businesses. I’ve had to figure out what I’m doing, network with other businesses, figure out what’s happening. I would suggest finding a business partner and seeking advice before you get started . The information and guidance is out there and so preserver until you find yourself on the right path.
Success
I’m so passionate about my product because I spent a long time researching, designing and figuring out where the market gaps are, what digital beauty consumers look out for, what online o Lu brands will be setting out to achieve over the next few years, where will AI take us. Gather as much information as possible and write a really strong business plan. In order to succeed I’m looking to trial the correct style of marketing and figure out what potential customers will react to.
Barriers
At the moment the pandemic has affected all of us. It’s so important to spend that extra time on your self care and wellness. I try not to let it hold me back I still wake up in the morning and everyday look to achieve what is within my means and will take me one step closer to success. I have just as many hours in the day as Beyoncé. Recently I’ve been more confident to speak up for myself and challenge anyone that might attempt to tell me no, or question why I’m so passionate about having more money. That’s not why I set out in this business venture. My underlying goal is to step away from the office environment and have financial freedom.
Packaging & Design
The packaging and design is was so much fun to put together. I found an Italian design company on Instagram and we’ve meeting having regular meetings and working with a neon colour pallet. I’m so excited to bring this collection to light. I wanted the packaging to breath the brands image by being bold, peacock colours and refreshing. I could t have found a better design team to create the the theme and appearance of the packaging.
Blog
I love to travel and see the beauty in cultures from around the world. The one thing I always notice is how locals self care and what natural ingredients they use. Why in Hawaii is long black silky hair so cherished and why in the Caribbean is glistening skin such a thing? It’s purely because each culture sees beauty differently and various methods of self care is so fascinating to me. I write articles to create awareness and learn from women’s beauty secrets from all over the world.
Drive
What drives me at the moment is following my heart and searching for happiness. Developing my brand brings me happiness and makes me feel like I’m progressing in life, and everyday becoming a better person with all the values that come along with leading a healthy quality life. It’s family, self confidence, wisdom and so much more.
Optimism
What amazed me about the pandemic is how fluid the world has become. We are all ten times more aware of what is happening on the other side of the pond and are in a better position to support each other. The U.K. has so many leading values in our culture and society other countries can learn from and vice versa. For example gun violence, capital punishment and police brutality. As long as we are speaking out and creating awareness in a peaceful manor, positive change in the right direction will continue across the globe.
For more information, visit:
thetropicalduchess.com
www.facebook.com/thetropicalduchess
