Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Byrd.
Hi Vanessa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
First of all, as a woman, I love great smelling body creams, body butters, perfumes, anything that smells fantastic, but what I noticed through the years is that the products that were on the market is not good for your skin and filled with chemicals, so being a mother of two children, and working in the child care field I began to realize I wanted a different career path, so I figured the best way to figure out what you want to do is to invest into something that you love, and if I love skincare items, why don’t you take a small investment as I did and bought raw materials that I thought would be fantastic for my skin, and create your own line, and basically that’s how body butter by design was born, I remember taking my first batch of body butters to the school that I worked, and it was a big hit, and it was only improvements from there, all of my items are sustainably sourced and created with love.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
For me, I feel it has been smooth, and the reason why I feel like it has been smooth it’s because I love what I do, and when you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life, also I devoted a lot of time researching, studying, and experimenting which to me was to me was the most exciting and fun-filled part of this journey, and I also believe that wherever it is that you supposed to be, you will be there, and a lot of times it might not be the most popular way but it is your way, your journey for the people that are meant to support you and for the people that you are meant to service.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At this point in my life, my creative aspects are geared towards my natural skincare line, I’ve been a natural creative most of my life I used to draw and paint years ago I used to love to work with my hands early on in life which I knew then that I would be creating something for the greater good of mankind, LOL, but on a serious note I’m known for being quick with my creations and when I say quick I can pretty much look at a person and tell what they would like, or what they will need, and that is just a god-giving gift and that has blessed me immensely, especially with the people that I’ve met along the way.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’ve been here for 23 years, I’ve watched the city grow and evolve into a great place and great support system for my business, and also the only thing that I can say bad about Tampa is nothing, what is there not to love. Who wouldn’t want to be in a city that is striving to support small businesses that are local, for women in minorities as well, it only goes up from there.
Contact Info:
- Email: vbyrd28@yahoo.com
- Website: www.bodybuttersbydesign.com
- Instagram: @bodybuttersbydesign
- Facebook: Body butters by vanessa
