Liberty Road

written by Stacey Lindsay

Jennifer Archie's story is one of grit and guts. It's also about love and intuition. Armed with a microbiology degree from Howard University and years of experience working as an expert on mold, Jennifer had been searching in her robust career for newness and purpose.

All the while, she began developing a skin care cream for her daughter, who was suffering from severe eczema. As she whipped up concoctions of natural shea butter and coconut oil, Jennifer found that her natural butter worked for her daughter and the entire family. And that is how her business, Junie Bees Butta, was born. "It's amazing how this product came to be because it's all about a mother just trying to find a way to soothe her child," Jennifer says.

Here’s the catch: This story may sound easy but it was anything but—and that’s where the grit comes in. Jennifer always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but her path there was longer and windier than expected. But as her words here prove, ever the more inspiring.

Chatting with Jennifer Archie

Jennifer, you began mixing these oils for your daughter, who suffered from eczema. How did you know these would work?

I've used shea butter over the years. Shea butter is an amazing, magical product. Coconut oil is awesome, too. We use that in our hair, so the two together would work. I said there's nothing wrong with trying. I'm a busy bee. I'm a doer. So, I love to create things. So, this was a reason for me to do something else. I created this little formula for her, and as she got older, I would add sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera. Eventually, I had a great cocoa butter formula, mango butter, coconut oil, shea butter, and argan oil.

But before I knew it, her skin was amazing and clear. And my husband's: He had small dark spots on his back, and they just disappeared.

You began jarring this. When did you decide to take it out of the house?

I would give it to family and friends as gifts, and they loved it. Then, in 2018, my friend called and said, 'I need a holiday gift. Can I buy one of your butters?' And I was like, 'I'll give it to you, don't worry about it.' I put it in a nice bag. I wasn't selling it. And she said, 'No, I want to give you something for it.' We went back and forth, and she's like, she venomed me $25. I have the picture to this day because it's the most amazing thing.

So she sent me $25, then gave it to her friend. Then she came back, and she's like, my friend wants more. So I decided to make a jar and then maybe put a label on it. Of course, the overachiever that I am… I created my logo, put a label on it, and gave it to her. And then it just caught like wildfire. Before I knew it, I had a list of orders on my phone.

For those of us who may be thinking, I have a concoction I want to sell; how do you go from A to Z? Did you get legal protection or guidance?

I went to the South LA Chamber of Commerce, where they have these mentors for free. I talked to a woman who had been in the beauty business for a long time. She gave me some tips on where I can get it tested. She gave me tips on other forms of butter to use and good manufacturing practices. So, I started buying equipment to test my product and make sure that it was safe for my customers to use.

From there, I developed the website—and there it was.

You have your business chops. You worked in a family business. What did you bring to Junie Bees Buttas experience-wise?

I graduated from Howard. I was a microbiologist for about four years. I was a mold specialist, and I started getting sick constantly. And it just wasn't for me. I've always wanted to have my own business. I've always wanted to go into business. And I remember calling my dad in my sophomore year, and I said, 'Look, I don't think this biology thing is for me; I'm going to change my major to business.' And he called every doctor friend he could to get me to not change.

But yes, I knew that I wanted to go into business. I left being a microbiologist and started working for my father, a petroleum marketer who sells oil and fuel.

He's still in business to this day. I worked for him for 15 years and learned so many great things working with him. I left and started working for a nonprofit as an operations director, and I was only there for a year. It was terrible. I was trying to find purpose and have something of my own, and it wasn't working. And so it pushed me to sit down and figure out: You want to be an entrepreneur? What business are you going to start?

So I quit and gave my two week's notice. I didn't like working there. I had to find a job, so I started looking for a job, but on the side, I was trying to start a business for an idea I had, and that wasn't going well. I needed a lot of money to start it. So, as I focused on getting a job, my friend came asking for the butter. When she bought the butter, I just stuck with it. Junie Bees Butta fell in my lap. There was a demand for it. It took my time. People were buying my product. I made an Instagram account and got a trademark of my name. It all just felt good. I was in a place where I hadn't been in the wild. I felt like I had a purpose and freedom that I hadn't had in a while. And clarity.

So I've stuck with it. And I love doing what I do.

What would you say to somebody doing their own venture and finding herself stuck? What questions would you ask her?

I would ask her: How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Do you feel good about what you do? Is it a burden?

I usually tell people to write down the pros and cons of a venture or their business. If there are more pros than cons, stick with it. It's going to be tough. There are many weeks where I'm like, I'm not doing this anymore. This is the hardest I've ever worked in my life. It is tough. Being an entrepreneur is not for the weak. It is difficult. If you are doing something you're not motivated to do or it doesn't feed your soul, then don't do it. If you're in it just for the money, you won't last. It has to be about more than the money.

Did your age play a role in launching your business?

I have to say that I didn't even think about my age. I think a bit more now that I'm closer to 50. But I didn't think about it. I was so excited and so happy that this was happening. And finally, it was a time that I felt like I had a purpose. I felt free. And it's all rewarding. I have my own business and the freedom to do what I want. And it feels good.

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We pulled these tips from our original conversation with Jennifer and edited and condensed for clarity. To catch the full conversation, listen to the Liberty Road Podcast.