Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Chagoya Cadena.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
As toddlers, my children always loved bathtime. The start of my business began with the creation of bath bombs for them to enjoy. It took several months of trial and error and accounting for the humidity here in South Texas. Another important influence is my oldest child, who was born with sensitive skin and has struggled with eczema since she was a baby. Topical steroids and over-the-counter lotions never fully alleviated the irritation, so I knew we needed to provide moisture without further drying her skin. From there, the creation of our body butter was born, and like the bath bombs, formulating the body butter took almost a year to create what it is today. Over the last few years, we have also gone through business name changes and product packaging. However, safe quality is the priority, and our ingredients remain paraben, sulfate, and phthalate-free. In the summer of 2021, we began attending local farmers’ markets to establish ourselves within the community. In 2022, we became Go Texan Certified, and along with our retail capacity, at the end of 2023, we will have locally available products at The Texas Gourmet Pantry in Boerne, TX. Most recently, in 2024, we have been featured in British Vogue’s winter campaigns. We are also featured in several other campaigns, including Tatler, Vanity Fair UK, and Glamour UK.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the struggles to date has been sourcing materials and supplies. Because I founded this business during the height of COVID-19, supply chains were affected globally. This meant that what was once available in one quarter was often out of stock the next. We must find the next best alternative if we run short on certain supplies, such as jars or vessels. In this aspect, not having the continuity of suppliers or being able to rely on that relationship leads to bumps in the road because it delays production and our ability to deliver our products to customers. It also impacts costs, shipping, and handling times, hindering our capacity to maintain product recognition when we undergo packaging changes.
Let’s switch gears and talk about your work. What should we know?
Necessity being the mother of invention and being a mama myself; my company was born out of necessity to alleviate the irritation my oldest daughter experienced with sensitive skin, namely eczema. The goal has always been to promote self-love and care, which goes hand in hand with the importance of body and home care. My goal has never been focused on anti-aging, which sets us apart from others and the industry standard. The motivation behind our goal centers on keeping this safe for all ages because our brand originates with my oldest daughter. Often, the lotions and creams we bought at the larger stores seemed to help initially, but we always found ourselves washing whatever we had just rubbed on right back off because her skin would become irritated and red. This cycle went on for years.
Additionally, because I am also a psychologist and my background is in mental health, the focus is on both loving yourself and practicing self-care. I feel it important to provide quality ingredients in our products and the accessibility in knowing the people behind this business care about you and what you are putting on your skin and bringing into your home. All of our products are free from sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. It does matter to me that our customers walk away happy with their purchase, which is how I came up with our slogan: shop clean, feel confident, and live happily. Since beginning this venture in 2020, the goal has been to increase our reach and help many who struggle with sensitive skin. While we continue to grow in refining and advancing our processes, it always brings great joy when we receive positive feedback from customers who have found relief in using our products. Currently, we offer body care items, including our layered formula body butter with shea and cocoa butter. We continue to provide our bubbling bath bombs that will leave your skin feeling hydrated and will not stain your tub. For anyone who prefers an aromatherapy experience in their shower instead, we hand-press shower steamers that invigorate and awaken the senses. We offer handmade foaming hand soap made from olive oil. Our collections also extend into home fragrance products as well.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the important lessons so far in this journey is never to take anything personally. Everything is a learning experience, whether positive or negative, good or bad; it all serves to teach something. Some days might not go as well as others or a quarter might be more challenging than another, but time is always passing, and learning to navigate those uncertainties determines the next quarter’s success and so on. We are employed as long as our customers accept our brand and products. In other words, this business venture would be merely a hobby if it weren’t for the love and support of our customers. Another equally important lesson is listening. Learn to listen to your customers and keep an open mind about which avenues work better for your business.
Pricing:
- $7 – 2 oz Shea and Cocoa Body Butter
- $7 – 10 oz Olive Oil Foaming Hand Soap
- $12 – 4 Pack Shower Steamers
- $20 – Apricot Coconut Wax Wood Wick Candles
- $30 – Reed Diffusers
Contact Info:
- Website: jennanicole.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennanicole/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjennanicole/
Image Credits
Business headshot photo credit of @rethlyn.photography
