From large-scale conglomerates to backyard-run businesses, no bottom lines were spared from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In the U.S. alone, a USC study projects that COVID-19-related losses will amount to about $900 billion in the worst-case scenario. As the threat of transmission continues to loom over the short-term prospects of many businesses, entrepreneurs are left grasping at straws, thinking of ways they can ‘take advantage’ of the situation to still turn a profit at the end of the day. Some businesses jacked up their prices. Some laid-off workers. Some made a complete pivot and started selling face masks and other pandemic essentials, no matter how irrelevant these things are to their original ventures.
An Unpopular Opinion
While it’s understandable that business owners are keen on recouping whatever losses they may have sustained from the economic downturn, the owners of skincare company Lulu’s Holistics are urging their fellow business people to look at things from a different perspective. For Janet Frederick and Deannee Santiago, the mother-daughter duo behind the all-natural skincare brand, this is hardly the time for businesses to think about how they can take advantage of the situation. After all, business owners are expected to have contingency plans for unexpected situations like this. Meanwhile, consumers are dealt even worse cards as they experience job losses, or a significant pay cut at least, while prices of goods continue skyrocketing out of reach.
“We noticed many companies took the time to take advantage of these troubled times by selling masks and raising the price on hand sanitizer, and we don’t think that’s fair,” says Deannee. So instead of thinking about how they can earn some extra money, Lulu’s Holistics extended a helping hand to their customers. “We gave out free masks with every order we shipped out during the shortage, as well as free hand sanitizer. We also gave away free benefit shots, like ginger shots and sea moss, to help people rid their bodies of mucus,” Deannee explains. As quick as they were to decide to be on the right side of history, their business was blessed with more profits in return. Of course, it helps that Lulu’s Holistics has always endeavored to provide products that are actually essential to the needs of their target customers.
Focusing on the Essentials
Most of the products available in Lulu’s catalog today were developed by Janet for her personal use. She would spend hours in the kitchen making all-natural and paraben-free soaps, scrubs, body butters, and the like while her daughter Deannee watched. Unknown to Janet, her daughter was already getting inspired by her commitment to make her own skincare products and posted some of her creations on Instagram. Needless to say, a lot of people took interest, and suddenly they had a business to run.
Their skincare line has since developed to include turmeric soaps and scrubs that ease acne, eczema, psoriasis, and the like. With such products, it’s no longer surprising that Lulu’s Holistics business has remained relevant (and lucrative, of course) throughout the pandemic.“The pandemic increased our product demand, and we are very lucky to have grown more during this pandemic. This allowed us to help the community instead of taking advantage during their hardship,” says Deannee. To find out more about Lulu’s Holistics, you can visit their website or check them out on Instagram at @lulusholisticskincare.
Presented by: DN News Desk
