Keeping it Non-Toxic with Prim and Pure Creator Kelli Jackson
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (from Greenly Guide)
1)
Like a lot of moms, I know you mentioned becoming very aware of
toxins and chemicals after you had children - what was it that finally inspired
you to take action to create Prim and Pure?
After
dealing with my own endocrine health issues and working with some other natural
product companies, I started blogging and working with some groups in my
community. Over the past few years, the amount of growth in the industry has
been astonishing and I’ve loved watching so many new products and companies
come to the market giving consumers more choices. There are so many great green
beauty brands now, however; I struggled to find clean products at reasonable
price points for parents and children, so that’s when I set the wheels in
motion to start my own line.
2)
Having just launched in November 2016, can you share a little
about Prim and Pure as a company and what someone can expect from your
products?
When I decided to start my own line, I laid out what was most
important to me. Those things ended up being safety, affordability and social
impact. There are many products I could push to market but the quality or
integrity of ingredients aren’t there. There are other products I would love to
offer but right now, I can’t source them at affordable enough prices I’d want
for my customers. Lastly, I want to make an impact….. that’s why I work as hard
as I do. If I wanted to make more money, I’d take my MBA and go back to my
corporate 9-5 job….. but now what’s more important to me is my kids and
following my passion, and Prim and Pure has been that outlet to help spread
awareness and offer safer alternatives.
3)
Do you have a favorite product in the line? What was the
first product you created?
Great question. Funny enough the first product I worked on was
the one that actually tested my patience and aggravated me the most! Nail
Polish is a tricky product. There are dozens of companies now making 5 Free, 7
Free, etc. type polishes which leads consumers to assume it must be a safe
product and stop looking further to see what else is really in the polish
besides just what it’s free of – when you take out something, you have to
replace it with something else. I was determined to offer a water-based polish
that also didn’t require the use of polish removers which are also known to
contain many harmful chemicals.
Water based polishes consist of 75% or more of water, and trying
to get a water base to act like a paint and form a hard film that’s going to
last for a period of time on top of a porous nail surface can be challenging.
Hence, not many main stream companies are attempting these formulas because it’s
expensive and they don’t perform as long as their conventional counterparts.
Nitrocellulose resins are the most commonly used because they are really cheap
to formulate with. Prim and Pure polishes are 5 Free and also without
nitrocellulose, glycol ethers, biphenyl A, acetates, acetone, alcohol, FD&C
colors….. and instead we use a water and fruit and veggie base. They truly are
odorless, and if you have a polish that gives off odor – you need to ask
yourself what ingredient that might be!
That being said, the manufacturing process for the polishes
ended up delaying my launch and frustrated the heck out of me because I was so
excited to get going, but I’m so glad I waited because they came out beautiful!
I’m excited to offer more colors as the business grows and I can invest in more
inventory.
4)
Are there any items that you think Moms would want to borrow
from their daughter's stash of Prim and Pure products?
Yes! I’ve had many moms coming back to purchase lip glosses,
perfumes and eye shadows for themselves! The lip glosses for sure right now
have been a huge hit! The shades are really beautiful and they wear very well
while also being very nourishing for your lips! Hard to find many green beauty
products under $10 with clean ingredients, but like I said that was one of my
goals!
5)
How do you stay motivated as a mom and a business owner?
Pure and simple…. Passion! Sure some days are hard, and I get
frustrated when my kids are storming through my office while I’m packing
orders, but I’ve been getting better about finding the balance that works for
all of us as a family. My motivation comes from my kids, my customers, and the
constant feedback I get about how much I’ve helped a person or their family get
their health back just by creating awareness about our surroundings. When you
know you’re making a difference, even just the smallest bit….. that’s all the
motivation you need to keep going, no matter how hard it gets or how high that
stack of bills grow.
6)
What are your favorite ways to relax after a long day?
My guilty pleasure is wine! No shame, it keeps me sane! I find
my balance through healthy and clean eating J
7)
I loved reading on your website about your passion for giving
back - for every sale made, Prim and Pure donates to various children's causes
- can you talk a little about some of these organizations that you have worked
with so far?
Right now, I’ve been working with a lot of local events and
causes – whether its donating product for various events or raising money for a
specific cause or sick child in need. My customer base has been mostly local,
but as the brand grows and the business becomes profitable, I am looking
forward to working with larger organizations and programs to make an even
bigger impact while also continuing to support my local community as well.
8)
What has been the best part about your journey to open Prim and
Pure? What has been the hardest?
The best part is making a difference and seeing the delight on
all the kids faces playing with and enjoying my products. When customers send
me their photos of their little ones, my heart melts inside each time – seeing
all the fun they are having and also knowing they aren’t burdening their bodies
with harmful chemicals.
The hardest has definitely been the back end…. as with any
entrepreneur the ideas come easy for me, but the expense and execution have
proven challenging. My husband sold something very important to him to raise
enough funds for me to purchase my first batch of inventory to get launched,
and it was scary for me to take that risk and leap. I hope to pay him back one
day…… I have the passion to succeed so I will keep grinding!
9)
Can you share with us any exciting future plans for your brand?
I have so many great ideas, I just need to continue to grow the
brand so that I can continue to execute future lines and products. The process
to just get one product ready from start the finish is a lot more challenging
than it seems. Prim and Pure was never intended to be a lines just for girls or
moms….. but that was what I launched with. I have plans to create fun products
for boys as well! Stay tuned and follow us for future exciting updates!
