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Welcome to the Personality Spotlight, Maya! We're thrilled
that your all-encompassing store, The Cherry Mango, is a part
of both the ANB Website and ANB Mall! Please tell us about
yourself and how you became the woman that you are today.
I have
a rather different background. My mother is originally from
Japan and my father from Croatia (former Yugoslavia), and I
was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, but raised in East Texas. Since
I was very young, I was exposed to different countries,
cultures, foods, and ways of life, for which I am very
thankful.
In college, I continued my adventures and spent time
studying in Mexico, Spain, and France, learning the languages
and about their cultures. Though I studied in different
places, I got a BA in English and a BA in Spanish from The
University of Texas at Arlington. After that, I went on to
study law at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. I
graduated from there and passed the bar in 2003.
From there, I practiced law for less than a year before
I got involved in developing and selling risk management
products. I created and patented several models of floor
safety signs that you currently see in the largest retail
stores in the country. I traveled a lot to China where the
signs were produced and imported in to the United States.
While I enjoyed the experience, I ran into a lot of what I
found to be greedy, dirty business, and I was also involved in
long, expensive litigation that was draining in every way. It
was a difficult road, and after five years I realized I
absolutely had come to dislike the atmosphere in which I was
doing business. Making a long story short, I am still in the
process of un-entangling myself from that world and hope to
soon have all of that completely behind me.
I moved back to my hometown of Tyler, Texas to start on
a new path that is cleaner, greener, and surrounded by good
energy and karma.
Before we discuss your amazing all-in-one store, I'd like to
find out from you how you began your path into the green world
of health and beauty. Who were your influences and what were
your inspirations when it came to opening your online store?
There are several
amazing people, combined with my experiences in my last
business that started me on my path to green living and
natural health and beauty.
The Cherry Mango is the antithesis of my previous
business and a result of the many things I learned and
witnessed. I wanted to start a business that was based on GOOD
things and moving away all the negativity I had seen. Also, I
saw first hand the result of contamination and pollution in
China, where you often could not see the sky from the smog.
Sometimes the pollution was so thick you could not see the end
of the runway from the plane. There were areas in the country
where children grow up not knowing what it is like to see a
sun and blue sky in the mornings.
Also, I saw first hand how greed was taking over and
all our production was going overseas. Everything was made in
China or other countries. I could import container loads of
cheap product with a couple phone calls and the import taxes
coming in were so low (0-7%), I realized that American
businesses had no chance. I looked into exporting American
products to China, but found the process so expensive and
difficult and the Chinese taxes so high, it was a task beyond
a small business person’s capabilities. This was a huge
incentive to try to support quality American businesses.
My next big inspiration was a friend of mine I had met
while studying in Mexico. He is from Paris, France and a few
years ago started an organic skin care line called Ainy,
created from fairly traded ingredients. (his story here:
http://en.ainy.fr/html/fondateur)
He invited me to go to the Natural Beauty Expo in Paris in
2008 where he was launching his new line. I took him up on the
invitation and not only did I get to see him win an Award for
favorite new product line, I saw many European companies
showing natural and organic beauty products. This was my first
exposure to natural and organic beauty and really learning
about it. I learned that the European Union bans over 1,100
ingredients from their beauty products that are present in
American products that we in the United States buy every day.
In the United States, I learned that only 11 of those 1,100
ingredients are banned. This fact alone started my path to
researching and learning more about natural products and
ingredients.
My next inspiration was my friend Shilpi Jain, creator
of a newly launched line called SkinVeda. She is a Cosmetic
Chemist with in depth knowledge of Ayurveda and the healing
powers of natural ingredients based in Indian culture. She
introduced me to amazing ingredients like Neem that saved my
skin when I was having horrible breakouts! I truly appreciated
her taking the time to educate me in natural skin care and the
power of natural ingredients. While I have used her handmade
skincare for the last couple years, she just got her creations
together to sell publicly and it will be available on The
Cherry Mango within the next couple weeks.
Although I realize it is such a small and probably
insignificant effort, I started The Cherry Mango to support
clean products made by American businesses like Shilpi’s and
the many others on my site. As we cannot get all ingredients
from the United States, I also support American businesses
that use Fairly Traded ingredients that essentially are
purchased at fair rates that do not exploit cheap overseas
labor and environments.
Your store is filled with all-natural beauty products of every
type, health supplements & ointments, baby & children care,
and even pet products. I have really enjoyed visiting and
seeing the wonderful one-stop shopping opportunities to be had
at The Cherry Mango! First of all, how did you come to the
decision of opening your store? What was the process of
opening it like? And how has it been to operate?
I really just dove
into the store. The Cherry Mango is more a project based in
principle than profit. While that is probably not the most
advisable way to go into a business, this time I just wanted
to do what felt right.
Opening the store was not an easy task and it is still
and ongoing process. It’s also a process I couldn’t do without
having my friend Marloe Colombo join in the project. While I
do the research, find the products and handle website, Marloe
takes care of the daily operations like stock, filling orders,
and customer service. She is the reason the store is able to
operate.
What most people don’t know about opening a store like
this is that it is a long, uphill battle that you don’t expect
to make profit on for quite some time. It is truly a labor of
love. I still do contract legal work to make ends meet and
keep building the store. While many people do appreciate
natural products and ethical purchasing, it is much smaller
group that is harder to reach. That makes this type of
business a harder climb.
Interestingly enough, I think the one thing I would do
differently IS the name of the store. At time time, I thought
the name to be quirky and fun, but the more I developed the
store and concept, the more I realized it doesn’t speak the
core of the store’s values and purpose: to sell quality
natural products supporting AMERICAN business, greener living,
and fair trade.
The slow growth can be discouraging, but at the same
time, expected. I plan on keep moving forward in the hopes
that enough people out there care about greener living and
buying quality American products.
You have so many different products that I'm sure it's
difficult to narrow down to just a few to discuss, but... what
are your favorites and which ones have been the most popular?
My favorite skin care line is Skin Veda, which I have been
waiting anxiously to get onto the store! Because her extensive
education and experience in skin care formulation, Shilpi was
able to create a line of natural skin care with natural
ingredients proved by extensive research that have the texture
and feel of the most expensive skin care. Many times, you
sacrifice texture in natural skin care lines, but SkinVeda
gives you the luxury you want, with the natural ingredients
and results you need.
My other favorite line is The Honey Guy. I just love
these products. The packaging and graphics are very basic, but
that is to be expected as it’s made by an East Texas
beekeeper. The healing abilities of his Water Blocker creams
are something of local legend. I love finds like this. He
sells a little booth at the first Monday fair in Canton,
Texas. Not a place you expect to find the finest in natural
products. He raises his own bees, harvests the wax, and make
it into the richest skin care products I’ve ever tried. The
creams are very thick and rich, but will heal and protect your
skin like nothing else. The lip balm to is just great. I carry
it in my purse at all times!
Another great line that I really wish more people would
find out about it ACURE. It is made from fabulous natural and
organic ingredients, beautifully formulated, and REASONABLY
priced. This is another business based in principals and
quality. They offer all types of face care and body products.
Really, another diamond in the rough.
I like how you've categorized your products by types as well
as by manufacturer. It makes it very easy to not only find the
products that you're looking for, but to find new and
interesting manufacturers. You have many that I have never
heard of. What was your process in finding each manufacturer
and what is your criteria for your manufacturers as well as
products?
There
are many criteria and I try to find as many points as possible
in each manufacturer. The beauty products have to be American
companies that preferably also try to use Fairly Traded
ingredients. I try my best to support indie small businesses
that have great products too. That is why many are from the
Texas area. I hope to start adding more and more around the
country as the business grows.
Of course, the products have to be made from natural
ingredients. If it wouldn’t pass in a Whole Foods Store, I
won’t sell it.
My goal is really to provide shoppers a selection of
unique products that you can’t find in mega stores. I think
our shopping experience has become too cookie cutter with the
majority of the market dominated by the same few brands. We
have lost the beauty and excitement of local variety. That is
what I am trying to achieve and will continue to expand upon.
What is your favorite part about owning and operating your
store?
My favorite part of
the store is finding small businesses and seeing the people
out there who care about making quality products. I love
finding unique products made by unique people that you can’t
find walking into any typical store. I also really enjoy
learning more about how much nature has to offer!
If you have a piece of advice for someone that wants to open
their own all-natural beauty business, what would that be?
Don’t expect to
make a profit anytime soon. Have a backup plan and way to make
ends meet until your business can really bloom and become
stable. Educate as many people as you can to the benefits of
using natural products, because that is your biggest
challenge. Most people don’t know anything about natural
products!
What do you like to do for fun when you're not working?
I am a total dog
person; I have four! When I am not working, I am out either
training or playing with my dogs. (I also believe in natural
care for pets!) I go to a lot of events with my local
obedience club with my Papillon Riyo, and my German Shepherd
Lizzie. Whenever I can, I like to go hit the trails with my
Shepherd and just enjoy the day out in nature! I also try to
keep up with all of it blogging on my blog (MyFourDogs.com).
Please make sure to visit:
The Cherry Mango
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