Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Elias.
Hi Joy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Almost four years ago (July 22, 2018) my husband (Duane) and I (Joy) started COASTAL980. It had been on my mind for years but I never felt like it was the right time to start a business completely from scratch. In July 2018 I felt such a push from God every time I prayed about what was next for me. I wanted to do something I loved. We were in the thick of my Dad going through Pancreatic Cancer and trying to help my Mom with all that goes with that. It was in the middle of that season in my life that I felt an overwhelming sense of peace to start COASTAL980. I had dealt with skin sensitivity for years and had been making a lot of my own essential products from organic ingredients. The ones I was purchasing from health food stores were insanely priced and I knew if I was looking for affordable all-natural Skincare and Home goods then surely others were too. We started out with two products and I told God everything we do is in His hands. What I had read and was told as a new business owner was to give it three years before your business starts to grow. We were three months in and it was already more than I could handle. God blew up our business with all kinds of people looking for a better nontoxic way of life and they were loving our products. Even through the pandemic and so many trials that come along with that we have continued to grow our business far beyond our wildest dreams. My heart truly smiles every single time someone shares how one of our products has changed their life. The amount of customers I have seen clear up skin issues they have had for years using our products blows my mind in the best way possible. Currently, we have our website, festivals all over the Carolinas, and the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market where all of our products are sold. We have had the privilege to have a Charlotte, NC Airbnb as well as a Charleston area Airbnb outfit their beautiful locations with our products. We also have a retail store right here in Indian Land, SC as well as one in Staunton, Virginia carrying our All Natural Homegoods and Skincare. We have completely transformed the 2200 sq. ft of our home with COASTAL980 with personal furniture in storage and a production facility in its place.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would love to say that life as a business owner has been rainbows and butterflies but with any kind of success come trials and hard times. When Covid hit, I will admit I was worried. I remember crying while griping to God in my prayers one day. I know it sounds silly to complain to God but I was. I was almost done with my rant of whys and what the future hold when I was reminded of my own words ( pre covid ). ” God, I am going to take a huge leap of faith and start COASTAL980. I am going to work with all that is in me but you have to take it and grow it. Bring us the people we are meant to help along in this journey of nontoxic living. ” We have made some pretty amazing friendships along the way and met so many kind and wonderful people throughout the past almost four years. Honestly, I have a hard time remembering what daily life was before COASTAL980 was born.
As you know, we’re big fans of COASTAL980. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
COASTAL980 is an All Natural, Nontoxic Clean Living Company. We are a South Carolina based online Boutique offering safe, organic, high-quality products at an affordable price. We are proud to support Made in America companies and source all of our ingredients, to packaging & more from right here in the USA. When we say ” from scratch ” we mean just that. From designing, printing, and hand labeling each and every product we create to social media content and website editing we absolutely love the details in every aspect of our business. Every single recipe is our creation, each oil we infuse right here by hand with organic, USA-grown flowers and herbs and we could not be more proud to offer our organic, all-natural products to locals as well as to those all over the USA.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The most important lesson throughout this world of uncertainty over the past two years has been to wait. Patience is not a strong point for me. Waiting on ingredients or containers and even the little things due to the slowdowns in the manufacturing world has been a bit of a challenge. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to source ingredients like Beeswax and more from businesses right here in the Carolinas. Many trips have been taken in place of waiting on items to arrive in the mail and we are blessed to be able to work together with such a great community of local businesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: COASTAL980.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastal980/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/COASTAL980com
