One of the many, many things we love about our Indie members is our family-owned businesses. Whether you work alongside your husband or your wife, sister or brother, your kids or your cousins—we are in constant awe of our powerhouse Indie fams. This month, we want to share some of our black-owned family businesses with you!
For these four businesses, entrepreneurship is a family affair. You’ll love to see how each member plays a vital role and how they come together to create something special of their very own. Read on—we promise you’ll feel right at home!
1. Roses Natural (Texas)
Maker: Roseline Okoro
Roseline Okoro’s business started on a cherished family tradition. Her childhood is filled with memories of her dad making natural soaps with plant-based ingredients—so handmade, eco-friendly home and skincare products are basically part of her DNA. She hoped to replicate the practice when moving from Nigeria to the U.S.
Unfortunately, Roseline found it challenging to find the type of green-friendly and rejuvenating products she was used to. Instead of giving up, she turned the burden into a business!
Combining her passion for all-natural ingredients and rich legacy of recipes with her B.S. in Pharmaceutical Science, she started Roses Natural. On the weekends, her husband and kids aged 5, 8, and 12 all pitch in to carry on this treasured legacy as a family unit.
Shop their website or follow along on Instagram!
2. 4 Corners Love Candles (Florida)
Maker: Lisa Quow
Stop by the Orange Park Mall, and you'll come across all five members of the 4 Corners Love Candles family hard at work! Owner Lisa is at the creative helm while her husband serves as a business investor and trusted consultant.
Shop from their luxe collection, and you might get a product handcrafted by one of the kids—daughter Aliyah, 11, heads up wax melts, while son Tony, 14, takes the lead on body butters. Even her youngest son, Aden, helps keep things in tip-top shape by pitching in on maintenance tasks.
Shop online, or if you're in the Orange Park, Florida area, swing by their booth to say hi!
Join the fun on Instagram or head on over to their website to check out the complete collection!
3. Ahh-Land Woman Herbals (New Jersey)
Maker: Gloria Brown
This mother-daughter super duo is the engine behind Ahh-Land Woman Herbals. Mom Gloria is the owner and chief maker, while Nikita handles inventory, product testing, product labeling, and more. Come across Ahh-Land Woman Herbals at a vendor event, and you'll always find this powerhouse entrepreneur family side-by-side.
“Nikita is an excellent salesperson, and the customers love her,” says Gloria. “I couldn't do it without her. She is always encouraging me and telling customers how great the products are. Who could ask for more!”
Check out the full line here, or follow their journey on Instagram!
4. Urban Essence (Pennsylvania)
Maker: Theresa Peoples
A family that works together, stays together! Just ask the couple-preneurs behind Urban Essence, a husband-wife team who have been in business for almost 20 years. After her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, she and her husband wanted to build a way for her to continue creating. So together, Theresa and Timothy have been busy handcrafting bath and body products like soap, lotions, shower gels, body butters, and more.
If you want to revamp your entire bathroom with handmade products—you can do it all through Urban Essence. “We love going to farmers’ markets and craft fairs,” says Theresa. “We get to meet so many nice people, and make life-long friends. That's the best part about it.”
Check out Urban Essence on Instagram or pick up your new favorite self-care essentials at their website!
Questions for discussion and sharing
Do you love a family-owned business just as much as we do? Check out our post on candle and skincare businesses that bring treasured family traditions to life!
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