Meet Robin Bouplon! Robin started working on her own natural skin care recipe back in 2014 as a way to battle a pregnancy induced rash. After spending a year perfecting her recipes, Robin’s Body Jam (RBJ) was born and since then, has become a girl’s best friend! You can’t enter a room in my house (or my car, or my purse) that doesn’t have her Go-To Balm, Lip Balm or Body Butter. After my girls often stole it from my bathroom, my girls they now have their own stash -I don’t share well :)  Read more below about Robin and this amazing business she’s grown! Then go to her website asap and stock up on all of these goodies. You won’t be sorry!

First off, tell us where we can find you!
You can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/robinsbodyjam and online at www.robinsbodyjam.com

What inspired you to start your business?
During my last pregnancy, I had a terrible skin rash that wouldn’t go away. I used all the lotions the doctors prescribed but quickly realized that the ingredients used to make those lotions caused inflammation + so I did some research and made my own!

What do you think sets you apart from everyone else?
Hands down, my recipe. Anyone can go on Pinterest and make their own body butter. But it took me a year of trial + error to create the perfect ratio of ingredients. And then a thick, non-greasy body butter that absorbs well was born! Most of ingredients can be used interchangeably in the kitchen! 

What is your background?
Marketing, advertising, sales, and stay-at-home mom life! 

What has been your biggest success?
Developing an original recipe that works. I'm so proud of that. It's all mine. 

What has been your biggest challenge?
Trying to find a way to keep business growing during warm weather. I don't use stabilizers or preservatives in my products so the heat can change the texture, which is the best part about it! So I have been working on expanding my line of balms, which can hold up in the heat thanks to the natural stabilizer - beeswax!!!

Describe a typical work day.
I actually still spend a lot of my time in "stay-at-home mom" mode during the week. I spend most of my time actually making my products on the weekend. The weekdays are for marketing, returning emails and phone calls, and organizing the orders I will bang out on the weekend.

What other small businesses inspire you?
Linda over at Bake For You. Linda is a self-taught baker. She doesn't even measure her ingredients, which is very unusual for a baker. I love her simple yet delicious approach to baking. Linda has had her share of setbacks, but business has grown and she is currently moving from her Delaware Ave location to a bigger space in Slingerlands!

What’s your best advice for someone looking to start their own business? 
You are allowed to change or adjust your vision anytime you want. Be open to advice, but ultimately do what is true to your beliefs and values.     

What is your favorite quote and why?
I read this book recently called, "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins. He has an incredible story, which led him to be a Navy Seal. In the book, he said, "no one is coming to save you" and it struck me so much that I wrote this quote down immediately. It serves as reminder that I am in control of my destiny and I shouldn't rely on others to make me happy.