Young Entrepreneur Turns Skincare Struggle Into Thriving Business

For many Jamaicans, 2020 will forever be remembered as the year of unprecedented challenges and widespread uncertainty, marked by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For entrepreneur Shanice Dunbar, it was also the beginning of a journey that would transform her personal skincare struggle into a thriving business, driven by the need for natural effective products.

“The year of the pandemic, for many it was a year of setback but for me, it was a year of blessing,” Ms. Dunbar shares with JIS News.

It was the year that she decided to take the leap and launch her hair and skincare company, Gaia’s Holistic Treats, after being laid off from her job during the pandemic.

Ms. Dunbar tells JIS News that the shoots of the business had started to quietly take shape a few years earlier.

“I have been making products for years for myself because I have a skin condition called psoriasis. After doing research, I realised that a lot of the products that I was using were not healthy for my skin, so, I started researching, learning about natural products and how to make products for myself, for my hair and skin,” she explains.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition causing skin cells to build up rapidly, forming itchy, scaly, and painful patches.

Incidentally, Ms. Dunbar tells JIS News that in December 2019, she started making soaps consistently, building what would later become her starting inventory.

“Funny enough, I started making soaps every weekend. I was making like 10 batches of soaps every weekend and I had hundreds of soaps,” she notes.

“By the time May 2020 came, I had so many soaps that I could start my business. I started out with the soaps and my Fast Hair Growth Oil,” Ms. Dunbar says.

“So, after I got laid off, I went fully into business, and I never looked back,” she says.

Ms. Dunbar tells JIS News that her goal was not only to provide natural skincare solutions that worked but products that are just as luxurious as the well-known brands.

The name of the company itself reflects Ms. Dunbar’s philosophy and approach to wellness.

“Well, Gaia means mother earth, and the products are natural products. I think the name fits well and I try to take a holistic approach to all that I do. They’re also treats. The products are not just natural, but they’re delightful to look at. They smell good so it’s a natural treat,” she notes.

Ms. Dunbar tells JIS News that in the first month of launching her company she would just pack the soaps in her car and drive down to the country, hoping to make a sale.

“Wherever I go, I opened the back of my car and I just started selling soaps and I realised it was working,” she recalls.

From starting out with one soap, she now has 23 different types of soaps using ingredients such as charcoal, eucalyptus, turmeric, kojic acid, rose, clay, coffee among others.

The product line includes three different types of body scrubs, body oils, body creams, along with body lotions and anti-aging face serums.

Ms. Dunbar credits the Scientific Research Council (SRC) for assisting her in branching out into other products.

“After doing a course with them I was able to add new products because they had given me different formulations for a particular product and taught me how to do different types of shampoo for different hair types. So, that is something that I’m going to go all out with this year,” Ms. Dunbar says.

A standout product in Gaia’s Holistic Treats’ growing line of offerings is the Fast Hair Growth Oil.

“I’ve seen it work for me and so many of my customers. It has a combination of Jamaican and Indian herbs, which is really the magic behind the oil,” Ms. Dunbar shares, noting that people with alopecia have reported good results after using the oil.

Ms. Dunbar says her proudest moments are when she gets positive feedback from customers. “I realise that what I’m doing is making a difference,” she says.

Her commitment to product integrity is driven by lived experience and wanting to deliver high, consistent quality.

“I stick to my formula, which is why the products work because I have a personal experience. I’ve had skin issues… and I know first-hand what it feels like, because the health of your skin can also affect your confidence,” she points out.

Looking ahead, Ms. Dunbar has ambitious plans for Gaia’s Holistic Treats.

“I want to export and I also want to branch off in other products. There’s a line of products that I’m creating for women who go through pregnancy and the effects it may have on their skin,” she shares.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, she offers simple but powerful advice about allowing one’s passion to be their fuel.

“If you have a passion or if you believe in something, don’t give up on it the first time or the second time it doesn’t work. If you believe in it and you think that you have a good product, do your research, stay consistent, and try to learn from others who have done it before you,” she advices.

Gaia’s Holistic Treats can be found on social media.