Olivia's Heritage as been hard at work creating new products, working new events, offering skin care services and launching a new website. As part of "Olivia's Heritage" initiative to reach out to the people we connect with, we thought we'd share more about our founder … Nancy Welsh.
1.) Tell us about yourself , where did you grow up? Interest? Music? Family?
I am lucky number 7! I am the last born of 7 children. I grew up in Rowland Heights,CA. I'm first generation born in U.S. from an immigrant family that migrated from El Salvador. I have a wide range of music everything from "Willie Colon" to "Tupac." And my newfound musical Crush would be "El Santa De Cecilia." I have three beautiful children 20 year old son, 14 year old daughter and 8 year old son all my children are extremely different. My husband, Tom Welsh, is truly my better half and keeps me balanced.
2.) Where do you get your entrepreneurial spirit ?
I come from a long line of female entrepreneurs. My great-grandmother, my grandmother, my mother & now myself. This is legacy I wish to leave my daughter.
3.) What motivated you to start a skincare company ?
My motivation for starting "Olivia's Heritage" has been my children. Especially, my daughter Giselle that is allergic to most cosmetics on the market. We have never been able to shop freely at any store or makeup counter without scrutinizing the ingredients. Giselle is highly allergic to most preservatives and fragrances found in commercially made products.
4.) What’s been your experience growing a skincare company?
Working farmers market and pop-up shops allows us the opportunity to really get to know & connect with our customers. We strive to bring quality cosmetics to people in more places at affordable price.
5.) Why The Name “Olivia’s Heritage?”
Olivia is my great-grandmother. Olivia became a widow at 33 years old and had three daughters. She had a limited education, but a very strong work ethic and the ability to innovate like no other. Olivia started her business by hand crafting cheese, mustard, mayonnaise and even chocolate. She had successfully paid for private school and college for her three daughters and even paid for the schooling of her grandchildren. Olivia was able to produce two plastic surgeons, a social worker, and an attorney from her small little business. The legacy that my great-grandmother left behind has been of hard work and innovation. All my family has inherited her entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to innovate. Thus the reason I named by skin care company "Olivia's Heritage."
6.) What drives you ?
My biggest driver is sharing our knowledge of the clean beauty industry and sharing information about the ingredients used in commercially made products. We really believe that clean natural organic living is a necessity not a luxury.
7.) What’s your mission with “Olivia’s Heritage?”
To provide clean natural and organic skin care at affordable price.
8.) Who is your audience?
People that are looking to live a healthy clean lifestyle. People that are conscious of the toxins in commercially made products and are looking for quality organic alternatives.
9.) What do you want your audience to know about “Olivia’s Heritage?”
That are soaps are palm oil free. We only use fair trade environmentally safe raw ingredients. We try to avoid plastic as much as possible and use eco-friendly and minimal waste packaging.
10.) What trends do you see in the skincare industry?
The biggest sign that we see is that customers are truly paying attention to the ingredients and seeking out natural organic products.
11.) What is “Olivia’s Heritage” doing about making skin care accessible?
We attending farmers markets and pop-up shops are a priority for us. This is the best way to get our product out to to the masses at a affordable price. You will find "Olivia's Heritage" pop-up shops from Downey all the way to Sherman Oaks.
12.) What’s an easy morning skin care routine your can share?
I call myself a three-step kind of girl. If I can't do it in the shower I most likely won't do it. That is why I love our tea tree lavender soap. It is great at removing dirt and bacteria from skin. I wash my face with the soap in the shower every morning then step out and spritz my face with a toner. My favorite is "Vitamin C Toner" and then I lather on the "Shelter Moisturizer" with zinc oxide that blocks the sun it serves as two purposes to moisturize my skin and to shelter me from the Sun.
13.) Tell us about “Olivia’s Heritage” products… What makes them unique?
We use organic plant-based ingredients to nurture and heal the skin. We focus not only on healthy skin care but on minimal waste and eco-friendly packaging. We really believe that going back to basics is healthier and better for us and the planet. Convenience and quick is not always healthier or better we need to take the time and make the effort to do things right.
14.) If a young child asked for your advice on business, what would it be?
I would tell them to start a business that they're passionate about because being self-employed is hard work; almost overwhelming. So when that moment comes that you feel like you want to give up, your passion & mission will keep you going.
