• Login
    • Join
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Formulary
    • Exclusives
    • Top Companies
    • Raw Materials
    • End-User
    • Packaging
    • Directories
    • Events
    • Jobs
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Formulary
  • Exclusives
  • Top Companies
  • Raw Materials
  • End-User
  • Packaging
  • Directories
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Current / Back Issues
    Features
    Columns
    Editorial
    Digital Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Our Team
    Editorial Guidelines
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    Top Features
    ACI Is Front & Center During the Pandemic

    Sun Care Market Set to Rebound in 2021 as Travel Returns

    Making Up for Lost Time

    All’s Well with Wellness

    Help for Indies
    Online Exclusives
    Association News
    Breaking News
    Financial News
    Industry News
    International
    Marketing News
    New Products
    News Front
    Packaging News
    Patents
    Personnel
    Regulations
    Snapshots
    Top News
    Live From Shows
    Top News
    Cococare Appoints First Woman President

    Ross Highlights Triple Shaft Mixers

    Arm & Hammer Unveils Foot Wipes

    Batiste Rolls Out Wonder Woman Dry Shampoo

    Erno Laszlo Taps Carina Lau as Global Spokesperson
    Blog
    Online Exclusives
    Infographics
    Podcasts
    Whitepapers
    Videos
    Expert's Opinion
    HappiTV
    eBook
    Surveys
    International Top 30 Report
    Top 50 Report
    Top Companies
    45. Dermalogica

    46. Dermalogica

    26. Edgewell

    28. Markwins International

    34. Gojo
    Actives
    Functional Ingredients
    Pigments
    Polymers
    Preservatives
    Surfactants

    American Crew Expands Hair Care Range

    The Fragrance Foundation Celebrates Fragrance Day

    China To End Animal Testing for Imported 'Ordinary' Cosmetics

    Inolex Appoints VP Marketing

    Croda International Acquires Alban Muller
    Air Care/Environmental Fragrance
    AP/Deo
    Color Cosmetics
    Disinfectants
    Fine Fragrance
    Hair Care
    Household Cleaning
    I&I Marketplace
    Laundry Care
    Oral Care
    OTC/Medicated
    Packaging
    Personal Cleansers
    Skin Care
    Sun Care
    Testing

    Cococare Appoints First Woman President

    Arm & Hammer Unveils Foot Wipes

    American Crew Expands Hair Care Range

    Erno Laszlo Taps Carina Lau as Global Spokesperson

    Guerlain Supports Women, Bees
    Lab Equipment
    Mixing
    Packaging
    Testing

    Ross Highlights Triple Shaft Mixers

    Sustainable Cosmetics Summit is Online in June

    A Tube Ready for Prime Time

    Ecovia's Sustainable Cleaning Products Summit Goes Online (March 23-25)

    Burt’s Bees Outlines New Sustainability Goals
    Contract Manufacturing / Private Label Directory
    Buyer's Guide
    Add New Company
    Corporate Profiles
    International Buyers Guide Companies
    Siltech Corporation

    Resolute Oil

    BotanicalsPlus

    Vantage Specialty Ingredients

    Ashland
    Live From Shows
    Meetings
    Webinars
    Snapshots
    • Magazine
      • Current / Back Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Digital Edition
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • Breaking News
    • Formulary
    • Directories
      • Buyer's Guide
      • Contract Manufacturing / Private Label Directory
      • Corporate Profiles
      • Add Your Company
    • Raw Materials
      • Actives
      • Functional Ingredients
      • Pigments
      • Polymers
      • Preservatives
      • Surfactants
    • End-User
      • Air Care/Environmental Fragrance
      • AP/Deo
      • Color Cosmetics
      • Disinfectants
      • Fine Fragrance
      • Hair Care
      • Household Cleaning
      • I&I Marketplace
      • Laundry Care
      • Oral Care
      • OTC/Medicated
      • Packaging
      • Personal Cleansers
      • Skin Care
      • Sun Care
      • Testing
    • Packaging
      • Lab Equipment
      • Mixing
      • Packaging
      • Testing
    • Top Companies
      • International Top 30 Report
      • Top 50 Report
    • Online Exclusives
    • Experts Opinion
    • Slideshows
    • HappiTV
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • eBook
    • Infographics
    • Blog
    • Whitepapers
    • Surveys
      • R & D Salary Survey
      • Sales & Marketing Salary Survey
    • Job Banks
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live from show Events
      • Webinars
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Indie Inc

    All Eyes on I+I Botanicals

    Co-Founder Selam Kelati shares the story behind her growing naturals brand.

    All Eyes on  I+I Botanicals
    A face serum from I+I Botanicals
    All Eyes on  I+I Botanicals
    Selam Kelati
    Related CONTENT
    • Avon Launches Vegan Skin Care Line
    • Are Chemists the Rock Stars of Beauty?
    • What To Expect…
    • Scotch Porter Expands at Walmart
    • More Hand Sanitizers Stopped at the Border
    Happi Staff08.03.20
    Tell us about the “aha” moment when you decided to launch I+I Botanicals?  
    My East African culture is amazingly rich in herbs and natural plants which I have incorporated into my daily life, especially for hair and skin care, for as long as I can remember. When I was introduced to CBD products, it was like a light bulb went off. There was an immediate excitement in combining CBD with the natural ingredients I grew up using. The rest was history! As Oprah Winfrey says, you can’t have an Aha! moment unless you already knew it.
     
    Did your friends and family think you were crazy?
    Absolutely!!!  You know in this society you’re taught to have a stable job, and steady income as anything outside of that is too much of a risk. I stepped out on faith and chose to be called crazy, to take a risk, believe in my vision and convince others to believe in it too.

    What has been the hardest part of getting your brand off the ground?
    Starting a business is hard, period. But time and money were definitely the hardest part. We recognized early on that it would take us twice as long and cost twice as much as we had planned. Getting the word out about our brand and products has been the hardest part. Everyone who tries it loves it…but it’s getting it into their hands the first time that is the challenging part.

    Has there been an “easy” part to getting your band off the ground?
    The partnership and working on an authentic brand were the easiest part. Choosing the right partner is essential. My partner Jennifer Culpepper and I naturally complement each other. We have opposite skill sets yet we are always cross-training and learning from each other. The I+I brand is built on authenticity and effectiveness. As a result, I+I products have received great reviews from leading beauty bloggers and magazines which is starting to spread awareness of our brand.

    What is your brand’s hero product?
    Choosing the “hero” product feels a bit like choosing your favorite child! It’s really a tie between our Face Serum and Dry Oil. We have customers who rave about both of these products and even ask for larger bottle sizes.

    How do you address NPD?
    We regularly look for inspiration and are always experimenting on developing new products. As a brand we focus on sustainability and all-natural, responsibly-sourced ingredients to create a lineup of products that is suitable for all skin types and addresses some of our biggest skin care issues. Although we focus on all-natural ingredients, it is important that we work with a certified lab and a chemist to make sure the quality stays consistent.

    What do you see as the biggest challenge that lies ahead?
    Everything has come with a learning curve! We are so grateful for the friends and mentors who have helped us along the way. We’ve had so much good fortune in getting to this point. But, as we’re planning to scale and grow, we’ll need to seek investors and partners to help us get to the next level. We have a clear vision for our business, and we’ve built a great brand with products that have produced positive results with our clients. While the current climate has taught us to modify some aspects of our business, like diversifying suppliers/vendors, we remain focused and always learn from others in our industry. Researching and seeking guidance from experts in the areas we feel challenged is part of our next steps. 

    INDIE TO INDIE 
    Alice Kim, founder of Hanalei, asks:
    What has been your proudest moment as an entrepreneur?

    My absolute proudest moment was getting three nominations from Indie Beauty Best in the show-2019. I+I got nominated for Best Body Moisturizer, the Best Bath Product and for the Best Brand. The nomination came only six months after launching I+I. This made us not only feel so proud, it gave us so much encouragement to keep on going.”   — Selam Kelati
    Related Searches
    • Skin Care
    • Hair Care
    • Functional Ingredients
    • Actives
    Related Knowledge Center
    • Hair Care
    • Skin Care
    • Actives
    Suggested For You
    Avon Launches Vegan Skin Care Line Avon Launches Vegan Skin Care Line
    Are Chemists the Rock Stars of Beauty? Are Chemists the Rock Stars of Beauty?
    What To Expect… What To Expect…
    Scotch Porter Expands at Walmart Scotch Porter Expands at Walmart
    More Hand Sanitizers Stopped at the Border More Hand Sanitizers Stopped at the Border
    Skin Inc Completes New Round of Investment Skin Inc Completes New Round of Investment
    Cantu Beauty Reveals Cantu Beauty Reveals 'Elevate' Winners
    Praan Naturals Unveils Rosewood Essential Oil Praan Naturals Unveils Rosewood Essential Oil
    Ecover Recalls Detergent in UK Ecover Recalls Detergent in UK
    Eraclea Debuts Skin Care Range Eraclea Debuts Skin Care Range
    cbdMD Enters Beauty Space cbdMD Enters Beauty Space
    Lucky Luna Lucky Luna
    Indie To Indie Indie To Indie
    Logo Design Trends for 2021 & Beyond Logo Design Trends for 2021 & Beyond
    Sustainability Is at the Core of Recovery Sustainability Is at the Core of Recovery

    Related Indie Inc

    • Actives | Functional Ingredients | Skin Care
      In Pursuit of Perfection

      In Pursuit of Perfection

      Park Perfection, a family-run operation, is determined to grow beyond its first product, a 2-in-1 eye treatment.
      Christine Esposito, Managing Editor 03.02.21

    • Actives | Color Cosmetics | Functional Ingredients | Pigments | Skin Care
      Negocio Familiar

      Negocio Familiar

      As a child she finished her homework in the warehouse while her parents wrapped up work. Today, Bettina Mercado is growing her family’s long-standing beauty bus
      Happi Staff 01.06.21

    • Functional Ingredients | Skin Care
      In the Beginning…

      In the Beginning…

      Sara and Ben Jensen are at the very start of their journey with Hugh & Grace.
      Happi Staff 12.02.20


    • Actives | Skin Care
      A Family Affair

      A Family Affair

      Elizabeth Grant traces its start to 1940s England, when a bomb blast severely injured the founder’s face.
      Happi Staff 11.05.20

    • Functional Ingredients | Hair Care | Skin Care
      Making Your Mark

      Making Your Mark

      ...
      Christine Esposito 10.06.20

    • Functional Ingredients | Skin Care
      Head Chef

      Head Chef

      Gourmet Body Pastries Founder Melanie Mitchell crafts decadent skin care products using food-based ingredients.
      Christine Esposito, Managing Editor 09.03.20


    • Actives | Skin Care
      Out of Lab and  into the World

      Out of Lab and into the World

      Shuting Hu’s goal is to translate complex science—and create great products—for everyday consumers with her brand Acaderma.
      Happi Staff 05.01.20

    • Actives | Functional Ingredients | Hair Care | Personal Cleansers | Skin Care
      Risk & Reward

      Risk & Reward

      ...
      Christine Esposito, Managing Editor 03.02.20

    • Functional Ingredients | Household Cleaning | Polymers | Surfactants
      Rebels with a Cause

      Rebels with a Cause

      Rebel Green, a Certified B Corporation and women-owned company, seeks to change people’s home care habits for good.
      Christine Esposito, Managing Editor 02.17.20


    • Skin Care
      Nurse Made

      Nurse Made

      This established indie delivers when it comes to skin care.
      01.03.20

    • Functional Ingredients | Personal Cleansers | Surfactants
      Body of Work

      Body of Work

      Overcoming the odds, Gerald Crosby founded his own personal care company.
      09.02.19

    • Functional Ingredients | Household Cleaning

      A Better Mousetrap

      A device to mix surface cleaning products at home is ready for launch on Kickstarter.
      06.03.19


    • Actives | Skin Care

      Eighth Wonder

      In a short period of time, luxury skin care line Eighth Day has made its way from its founder’s cosmetic surgery practice to Neiman Marcus.
      04.01.19

    • Actives | Sun Care

      Surf’s Up

      Indie sun care company Raw Elements is all about protecting skin and the environment with sunscreens that are good for both.
      03.04.19

    • Skin Care

      Labor of Love

      Having tested more than 300 skin care lines, a licensed esthetician creates a brand she would want to use on her own skin—and sell to her clients.
      02.01.19

    Trending
    • Sunscreen On The Spot
    • L'Oréal Appoints Two To Executive Committee
    • BASF Achieves Palm Oil Commitment For 2020
    • Avon Launches Vegan Skin Care Line
    • Formulating Liquid Laundry Detergents
    Breaking News
    • Cococare Appoints First Woman President
    • Ross Highlights Triple Shaft Mixers
    • Arm & Hammer Unveils Foot Wipes
    • Batiste Rolls Out Wonder Woman Dry Shampoo
    • Erno Laszlo Taps Carina Lau as Global Spokesperson
    View Breaking News >
    CURRENT ISSUE

    March 2021

    • ACI Is Front & Center During the Pandemic
    • Rise… Then Shine
    • Making Up for Lost Time
    • All’s Well with Wellness
    • View More >

    Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
    You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Contact Us

    follow us

    Subscribe
    Nutraceuticals World

    Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

    Diets High In Fructose Could Cause Immune System Damage
    Nestlé Acquires Premium Water Brand Essentia
    Kaneka Probiotics Announces Launch of L. plantarum DR7
    Coatings World

    Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

    Sherwin-Williams Announces Resignation of President, COO
    Ashland Completes Expansion, Relocation of Viatel Bioresorbable Polymers Manufacturing Facility
    Evonik Receives Sustainability Award from EcoVadis
    Medical Product Outsourcing

    Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

    FDA OKs First OTC Home Molecular COVID-19 Test
    FDA Approves Second Sight's Argus 2s Retinal Prosthesis
    Cross Border Venture Financing Rose in Final Quarter of 2020
    Contract Pharma

    Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

    Sharp Appoints EU Qualified Person
    Baxter Biopharma Solutions Enters Sterile Manufacturing Agreement for Novavax’ COVID-19 Vaccine
    Metrics Contract Services Completes Russian Regulatory Inspection
    Beauty Packaging

    Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

    It's International Women's Day—But What Does That Mean?
    e.l.f. Cosmetics and Chipotle Collaborate on Burrito-Inspired Makeup Collection
    Weekly Recap: Sephora Expansion, Ulta Partners with Loop, International Women’s Day & More
    Happi

    Latest Breaking News From Happi

    Cococare Appoints First Woman President
    Ross Highlights Triple Shaft Mixers
    Arm & Hammer Unveils Foot Wipes
    Ink World

    Latest Breaking News From Ink World

    Capital Printing Invests in 2nd Komori Press
    Arna Marketing Adds Canon’s ProStream, VarioPRINT iX Production Inkjet Presses
    Massilly North America Adds Koenig & Bauer MetalStar 3 Metal Decorating Press
    Label & Narrow Web

    Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

    Xeikon details upcoming Xeikon Café TV seminars
    Resource Label Group acquires New England Label
    UV+EB-cured products rated 'easier to recycle'
    Nonwovens Industry

    Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

    Arm & Hammer Launches Foot Wipes
    Kimberly-Clark Names Chief Research and Development Officer
    FPInnovations Develops Biodegradable Mask
    Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Australia Clears Conformis' iTotal PS Knee Replacement System
    Colfax Decides to Divide Its Businesses
    Stryker Corp.'s 2020 Sales Slip 3.6 Percent
    Printed Electronics Now

    Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

    Comercial Kywi Improves Customer Service, Front-Store Operations with Zebra Mobile Solution
    Global Smart Glass Market to Register 6.8% CAGR Between 2021-28: Grand View Research
    Wearable Patch Market to Reach $27.8 Billion by 2027: Allied Market Research

    Copyright © 2021 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

    AD BLOCKER DETECTED

    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
    Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


    FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login