❤ Spotlight on our packaging

I realized there is no possible way to be prepared for every aspect of running my own business. It’s impossible, and recognizing that fact alone was probably one of the biggest stepping stones to growing West Indian Skincare. For example, though I feel my education has helped to prepare me for running a business; being knowledgeable in formulation science and chemistry knowledge,  pharmacology, toxicology, microbiology along with finance and accounting, marketing, communication, leadership and management along with sensory training, perfumery and fragrance creation.  I still didn't know anything about packaging engineering.

That’s when I decided to hire a design consultant firm. And while outside consultants can be irreplaceable to a business, they can also be a disaster waiting to happen — not to mention a big waste of money, which I hardly have to waste.

But I forged ahead and hired a firm to take my brand off the ground. My hired consultant said he had a vast amount of resources and connections with other professionals and he immediately reached out to a subcontractor to help us package our newest product. Being an everyday consumable product -Soap. I knew the engineering needed a professional’s eye — or so I thought.

We created an assessment of what the job would require, including what was to be accomplished week by week.  After spending several hours and many days in meetings, pretty soon, I discovered that he the consultant  and subcontractor didn't understand my packaging vision, much less my company’s vision. Riled up and full of emotions, I reached a stage where I couldn't sleep. I knew had to take this product and packaging into my own hands, and I was not going to let this man — or anything else, for that matter — get in the way of bringing this product to life and fulfilling my dreams.

After many months of reading many articles and studies, and embarking on an on going researching program I taught myself the basics of packaging. I then set forward and created sketches on paper first, then made a stop to Trincity Mall, where I purchased cardboard and other types of paper as I was determined to get a draft of the soap packaging I had in mind. I sat for hours on end cutting and folding paper until I came up with a box that I constructed using the art of origami.  Of course, I knew I didn't want anything like what others were using as I had to maintain that ‘difference’. Packaging to me, is more than just a protective shell around my products. It must grab the customer’s attention, communicate the product features, represents the brand and must aid in deciding whether the customer buys the product or not. 

In the end, I am very content with the outcome of our NoKa'Oi Beauty Soap box (pictured). It took a long time to become a reality but I DID IT!

Next, came alot of running up and down and lots of telephone calls trying to copyright my box draft ( I'm sure you know why I needed to include this.. it can be said in one word -copycats!) :)

But all in all, my experience with this ‘consultant’ wasn't too much of a good one, but what I was given was the invaluable belief that I could make it in the business world and that I could create the company and brand I am envisioning. On the other side of the coin, I learned a lot of lessons, for better or for worse. I wouldn't change any part of this experience, because the lessons learned were invaluable for my journey as an entrepreneur.

❤Leigh