We were lucky to catch up with Shelly Marshall recently and have shared our conversation below.
Shelly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
Being a business owner is not always what it’s cracked up to be especially when you’re going through growing pains in the very beginning. We all start with wanting to grow something and makes money from it. A big component of growth is risk taking. I believe the thing that makes me move forward within my business structure is taking calculated risk. Without risk you won’t be able to see big gains and your biggest rewards. Also, with risk you see failures and things can go wrong along the way. But if you’re optimistic enough to look at the things that go wrong as curve balls that showed you a lesson and instructing you what to do next time then you will continually be profitable and grow.
One of the biggest risks I think I took with this new business was investing and going to a really big convention in Atlanta. “The Invest Fest” Festival is a business convention held in Atlanta GA. There are around 30,000 people in attendance. To book a booth you would have to invest at least 1500 just to have a spot and depending on the size of the booth it can go up to $30,000. I invested an initial $1500 to book a 10 by 10 booth to be at the festival for three days. I also had to think about the money that I was going to invest in the products that I needed to purchase to make more products for my clients. I had to also invest in advertising, I had to invest in marketing, and I had to especially invest in decor and furniture for my vendor space. I also had to think about the potential money I would lose from either not getting enough revenue once I’m at the convention and all the money that is associated with preparing for the convention, like flights accommodations and transportations for the duration of the convention. But I took a risk because I was going to be seen by approximately 30,000 people and these are people that were on not only from the East Coast but all over the United States. The potential to build a broader audience was higher than the risks involved. I also know that if I was able to gather clientele from all over the United States, they would know my name and I could possibly go to those different parts and advertise. I also got to see what people liked not only in the East Coast but all over America. Just by the diversity of people that were at the event. I get to interact with people from all walks of life and I got to collect data that told me what I can do going forward to garner more sales and interest from these people.
At the time I did not have all of the funds to make this happen, but I pushed myself to be able to acquire the money needed. I also made sure that I did everything I could to be best representation of me and my brand. Making sure that I put my best foot forward also gave out the energy that I was ready to get a certain level of clientele and to maintain a higher level of service and money. Taking a risk is sometimes a struggle because you do not know what you will get back from it. But if you can weigh your pros and cons and believe in yourself enough to go to that next level you will also be able to attain amazing things within your business.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Rushell Marshall, or just call me Shelly. My journey into holistic wellness and entrepreneurship was sparked by the challenges of the pandemic, which forced me to pivot from my travel-related businesses to a more rooted and fulfilling endeavor.
My background in marketing, has equipped me with the skills to not only create high-quality holistic products but also effectively promote and market them. My commitment to innovation, sustainability, and ethical sourcing is evident in every aspect of my company. Jupiter’s Moon has already gained a loyal customer base who appreciate our holistic, sustainable, and gender-inclusive approach to wellness. Many of our current customers are women aged 17-35 who have experienced the transformative benefits of our products. My clients are Individuals seeking holistic wellness and beauty products and eco-conscious consumers who prioritize sustainability. Those interested in alternative medicine, herbal remedies, Individuals interested in astrology, metaphysics, yoga, and alternative spirituality are usually my client base.
Jupiter’s Moon is a holistic wellness brand with a mission to promote supreme abundance, holistic well-being, and sustainability. Our products, ranging from skincare to spiritual tools, are crafted using all-natural ingredients, innovative science, and eco-conscious practices. We stand out in the market by offering anhydrous formulations, eliminating the need for harmful preservatives, and contributing to a greener society.
The reason why I started Jupiter’s Moon is because it was my purest form of love and creative expression at the time to not only my loved ones, family/friends but my community. I own several other businesses and when the pandemic happened in 2020 I was severely affected by this time because of my industry that I was in which was travel. I couldn’t move and or supply my customers with this amazing experience that I have been doing for over a decade because we couldn’t go anywhere. The only thing that was left for me to do is sit and do what naturally comes to me and that is create holistic high vibrational products that were healing to my family and friends. Especially around a time where health was a huge priority to everyone. I started making my holistic products in my kitchen and giving them to anyone that needed help not only with sickness or aches and pains but just helping them with their skin care routine daily. I started to notice more people requesting me to make these items and I noticed that not only did they look better and feel better externally but they looked and feel better internally, mentally and spiritually as well. They started telling me how much the product was helping their overall well-being and how much they felt abundance and beautiful while using these products. I know that 2020 was a hard time for everyone but this time really changed my life for the better because it made me stay in one place for a long time to take roots and to realize my natural gift of healing. I’m also a big advocate for innovative science and making sure that things are eco friendly to our ever changing environment. Jupiter’s Moon is not just a company it is a movement for people to live their best lives but to be also be spiritually and physically abundant. The growth that I have seen in the last year has completely blown my mind and I am dedicated to having everyone feel the way I and my customers feel every day while using these products.
What sets Jupiter’s Moon apart is our commitment to holistic wellness, sustainability, and spiritual enrichment. We fuse ancient herbal wisdom with modern consciousness to create a unique product line that stands out in the beauty and wellness industry. Our products are designed not just for physical enhancement but also for the holistic betterment of mind, body, and spirit. We seamlessly blend the old age practicality of herbal remedies with new age awareness, offering a comprehensive approach to wellness.This synergy distinguishes us from brands that focus solely on aesthetics or traditional medicine.At the core of our brand is the belief in spiritual integrity.We infuse our products with intention and high vibrations, going beyond the surface to nurture emotional and spiritual well-being.This deep connection with our customers sets us apart in an industry often driven solely by superficial results.Our revolutionary anhydrous face masks, concentrated and waterless, are a game-changer.Unlike typical water-based masks that can be loaded with synthetic preservatives, our anhydrous formulations require no preservatives.We are pioneers in crafting sustainable beauty products that prioritize eco-consciousness without compromising on quality.Inclusivity is in our DNA.We firmly believe that everyone can benefit from the natural healing properties we offer, transcending gender boundaries.Our dedication to pioneering science in the beauty industry demonstrates our commitment to pushing boundaries. We’re not just following trends; we’re setting them through groundbreaking research aimed at creating sustainable, high-quality products.In a market saturated with superficial beauty products, we stand out by providing a deeper, more meaningful connection between wellness, spirituality, and the environment. We offer clients not only exceptional skincare but a transformative journey towards inner and outer abundance. Jupiter’s Moon is a brand that cares not only about making you look good but also about making you feel good, promoting well-being from the inside out and that’s what I’m most proud of.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Acquiring new clientele is always a struggle especially in the beginning of business. What I have found that works for me is being “front facing” with all my clients. And I know this might seem impossible especially going forward but that is how I got started. I would go to a lot of marketplaces, outside vending ,flea markets and places that had a lot of vendor opportunities. I would interact with my customer base in person and have them touch feel and smell my products. They would also interact with me, understand my personalities, my morals and understand the embodiment of who I am and so they can understand truly what Jupiter moon is.
Another source of growing new clientele is definitely social media. This is somewhere that I show people how to use the products that I have made and for them to ask questions and to get updates on more products coming soon. I think it is very important to collect emails especially when you meet a new client in person. Fostering personal relationships that will make them feel tied into your brand and be loyalists.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to learn as a business owner was that I can’t do everything alone. Being that I am a self-proclaimed control freak and perfectionist I would believe that I know best. And I will say that generally speaking I do know what’s best for my company but that does not make me the right person to do all things. It is important as you grow within your business to delegate responsibilities. It’s also important for you to free up your time so you can do what it is needed to grow your company and leave smaller tasks to people or things that can effectively complete them. At first you might not be able to hire out or use a service to make your life easier but in time you will find ways to do this.
One of the things that I am amazing at is coming up with designs. Unfortunately, I was in a time where I was propping up two businesses at the same time and could not effectively create designs for all of my businesses and have them be at a high level. Even though I try to do this myself I end up being frustrated and overly stimulated and not being able to do other tasks. Once I realized that I could hire someone to do this for me that’s what I did. I built a relationship with that individual and love their work. Even though I didn’t create all of the designs I still appreciated and loved that someone else could understand what I needed and wanted and translate that. It’s important to grow within your business and when you grow, you’ll realize that you cannot do everything but making sure to give the right task to the right people is key!