Name & role within the business:

Nia Baucke, Founder

Name of business:

Flora Lee Naturals

Industry:

Skin care/personal care

Brief description of the goods/services you provide:

Small batch, plant-based skincare products for dry, sensitive , and hyperpigmentation prone skin.

Location & markets you serve:

We ship and wholesale Nationwide with a high growth rate in the Midwest.  Our target customers are women aged 25-40 who commonly struggle with sensitive and hormonal skin and the subsequent post-inflammatory pigmentation that often follows.

Any notable achievements you are proud of (both personal & business):

Completed an engagement with Urban Outfitters.  Featured in Vanity Fair, Byrdie, Beauty Independent, and Organic Spa Magazine.  Recently completed Tower 28’s “Clean Beauty Summer School,” a selective educational accelerator program for promising clean beauty brands.  Finalist for ThirdLove’s “TL Effect.”

Is this your full-time job currently? If not, describe your current job and any tips/tricks on how you balance both:

In addition to this role, I currently work as a consultant in a part-time capacity.  This helps as we sustainably reinvest in the business as we scale.  I have found time blocking to be the most effective way to accomplish balance, along with enlisting help (we have an intern and utilize consultants and experts as needed)!

What drives your passion for this business?

My passion for skincare was driven by my own personal experiences struggling with sensitive and acne prone skin, along with the many natural skincare traditions passed down through the women in my family.  My passion for launching and running a personal care brand in the skincare space is also informed by the amazing disruptors of haircare (think Carol’s Daughter, Shea Moisture, Camille Rose Naturals), who met the needs of individuals who were often overlooked by big brands until recently.  My hope is to see more black-owned brands do this in the skincare space.  Our business responds closely to our community of customers, which creates a unique experience for them and drives innovative ideas for us.

Favorite small/local business you frequent:

Spruce Nail Shop

What are you most hoping to take away from this program?

I am most looking forward to developing meaningful connections that can help us prepare for expansion.  I also very much look forward to growing my personal network of like-minded, driven entrepreneurs.