Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Christensen.
Tracy , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My career started as a Cosmetologist in 2003 where I worked for the Regis Corporation Smartstyle off and on for 14 years. I worked at multiple locations in Utah and Corpus Chrisit Texas both as a stylist amd manager. I left the working life when I had my first child where I became a stay-at-home mother for 7 years until both my children started attending school. At that time I and my then-husband of 24 years had separated and later divorced. After he moved away I tried working at a salon but when summer came I had a choice between putting my children into day care or trying to start my own business. I decided to start my own business to be able to provide and care for my children at the same time. We ended up losing our apartment and the car forcing us to abandon all our belongings including all my business items. We were in a homeless shelter for 90 days where I had no luck finding work and was not able to work on my business. I did have time to work on the books I am planning on publishing. After our stay at the shelter we had no option but to come to Savannah with my ex until I was able to find my own place. It has been a difficult time but I have been able to get my business back on its way. I am in the beginning stages of my business due to the life circumstances that paused my progress. In the past 3 months, I was able to go from nothing to a stock of over 150 plants for my nursery as well as prototypes for my other areas including jewelry making, an apothecary. I am taking items usually thrown in the trash and recycling them to other uses helping reduce waste as well as refurbishing items into new and improved beauties. In the pause, I was able to learn more about how to do things better to make my business succeed.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. I have been building my business on my own with no one helping. I have had to learn how to do it all. Figuring out how to get a business license, a domain, and building a website all with zero experience. Everything I have done I have had to teach myself. All the business set up to all the parts of the business I doing. I have been learning every step of the way. I want to make jewelry and I taught myself. I taught myself how to fix broken items. I’ve taught myself how to start and run a business. I have done all my advertising myself by word of mouth. My advertisement is myself. I wear and use what I make and I sell it all by myself. Everything has been done by me teaching myself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I use what I can to make what I can. I grow my garden to sell and use. I use the plants in medicine, in crafts, in my beauty items. I have a nursery, an apothecary, and I make jewelry. I take thrift or thrown-out items and refurbish them into unique items. I reuse plastics and cans we throw out every day to reduce waste. I make beauty products from natural ingredients along with everyday household products. My business is to use whatever we already have to help reduce waste and help others be able to provide for themselves better. I make videos of my adventures to help educate other on how to love the earth to enjoy and care for her.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
My business is going to be big. With what I am doing my business is going to expand all over. I will have the best quality and prices. I know how to get both and I know how to properly treat my employees amd run a business. My business will explode very quickly. I see my business becoming the one to take over. It will be the biggest because I know how to get it there.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquelymad13
- Twitter: https://x.com/uniquelymad13
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Uniquelymad13
- Other: https://pin.it/5lqdEew7Q
