"E-tailer Spotlight" - Reviyve

E-tailer Spotlight Questionnaire – by Michelle Howard/Reviyve LLC

Michelle has a monthly product give away on Reviyve. You may go on her site at www.deadseastorebyrv.com/sweepstakes to enter. This month's give away is a bottle of their Day/Night Mineral Plumping Anti-Wrinkle Cream along with a sample pack. Winners are announced on the 15th of every month. Please go by visit Michelle, look over the products she offers, enter her product give away and if you have the time, please leave a comment for Michelle on our blog.

Michelle is a full of energy and a real go-getter. She is an inspiration to others, as she believes you can attain anything you want. Read her interview, gain insight into the woman behind Reviyve and see what a dynamo she really is.



Tell us a little about yourself and/or your business.

My name is Michelle and I reside in Westchester County, NY with my husband and my 3 children (1 is actually 21 years old) from a previous marriage. I work full time out of my home and run my business part time (after my day job hours). In my spare time I enjoy reading, writing, watching movies and attending church. My business, Reviyve LLC is primarily an e-commerce business offering personal care products on several websites, including natural skin care products and stress relief & alternative health products. My husband manages a gourmet coffee site. It is our belief that people should consume products that are close to natural as possible more often than not. In addition to our product sales, we do our best to provide quality relevant information to help people on our websites (i.e. stress management tips and techniques on our stress relief site)


How or why did you start your business?

My husband and I started our business for two reasons. One, we want to be financially independent. Second and the most important reason is because of our children. While we are thankful for our day jobs, it is not our desire to work for someone else for the rest of our lives. I have a special needs child Christopher. Christopher is diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. I want to ensure that my children, especially Christopher is adequately provided for should God forbid I am unable to do so. I don’t want the government to have to be responsible for being his caregiver. Christopher is the biggest reason I work so hard every day to move my business forward.

What kind of products do you carry or make?

Our natural skin care site predominantly offers a handcrafted line of Dead Sea Mineral Products, Blended Naturals (facial, bath, body, organic and anti-wrinkle), including specially assembled gift sets and gift baskets. We also offer a handcrafted line of 100% soy wax aromatherapy candles. In the near future, we will be offering Kathy Ireland’s NEW line of Dead Sea Cosmetics, Essentials which is also paraben free. KI Essentials is soon to be released and we are excited to add this product line to our collection.

Our stress relief site offers aromatherapy, magnetic therapy, personal massage, sleep help & Chi health products. We also recently became independent distributors of Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential OilsTM. This is a excellent therapeutic addition to our line of aromatherapy products.

Our gourmet coffee site offers Origins, decaffeinated, flavored and organic coffee products and gift baskets.


Do you carry handmade products? Do you make them yourself?

My skin care product line, Blended Naturals and my aromatherapy candles are both handmade. I do not manufacture my products but I am keenly aware of the ingredients put into them. I have specialty handcrafters who handle the manufacturing process for me. My job is to design all of my own labels, & packaging, as well as design my websites and market my products. I also have four blogs that I write in regularly so this does not leave me time to manufacture anything. Now, if God gives us an additional 8 hours a day, perhaps I can work something out.:)


What’s your favorite product to make or create?

Since I don’t craft my own products, I will say this. My favorites are the Brown Sugar Scrub & Combination Mask and the Organic Sugar Scrub. The Brown Sugar Scrub/Mask is also formulated with Dead Sea Minerals and does wonders for the skin. The body sugar scrub is customizable with an essential oil. Aside from the fact that I just loooove sugar, I love how silky smooth it leaves the skin.


Do you have a storefront, sell strictly on-line or both?

I sell primarily online but I also sell products offline via tradeshows, fairs, fundraisers and spa parties throughout the year.

Please list any websites and email addresses.

Natural Skin Care & Dead Sea Products:

www.deadseastorebyrv.com
email: info@deadseastorebyrv.com

Stress Relief & Alternative Health Products:
www.stressreliefbyrv.com
email: info@stressreliefbyrv.com

Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential OilsTM : https://www.youngliving.com/signup/custType.faces (Must use distributor # 1066504 to purchase as a wholesale or retail customer)

Premium Gourmet Coffee:
www.premiumcoffeebyrv.com
email: info@premiumcoffeebyrv.com


Do you sell on Etsy, Ebay, Fuzzb or Made It Myself? If you do, please list a link to your store.

No, we only sell on our own sites


Do you have a MySpace or Face Book? If you do, please list the link to your page.

Yes, www.myspace.com/reviyve


Do you Twitter? What is the url to your page?

Who doesn’t?! www.twitter.com/reviyve


Do you have a blog? Please list a link to your blog.

Yes, 4:

1. Fresh Radiant Skin: www.deadseastorebyrv.blogspot.com
(blog was recently approved to participate as a member of Total Beauty & is listed in the Blogs We ♥ Love section)

2. To Stress or Not To Stress: www.stressreliefbyrv.blogspot.com

3. Stress Helper: www.stresshelper.wordpress.com
4. Work at Home: www.10steps2success.blogspot.com

Do you work at another job?

Yes, I work Monday-Friday at a large financial firm in Manhattan - NYC


What or who inspires you?

My inspiration comes from two sources: My children and the Lord Jesus Christ. When I sometimes feel discouraged, I think about why I’m doing all of this and then I look to God for wisdom and strength to continue on.


Do you have a favorite quote or saying?

Yes, 2 actually. My company’s motto is “Care for You because there’s Only One You.” And “You’re not a human doing. You’re a human being. If you don’t like your schedule, change it. You made it and you can change it.” By Joyce Meyer


What advice would you offer to someone starting their own business?

I would say don’t just do something to make money. Be passionate about what you are doing. You can’t effectively market/sell something you don’t have an intimate relationship with, at least not for any good length of time before “looking like” a fake. Also, I advise anyone starting their own business to count the cost before starting. I don’t just mean the monetary cost either. Count the cost of how much you will need to give up to work and to educate yourself. Then once you’ve decided it’s a go, make sure to do a business plan, even if it’s a long running draft. You need something to keep you focused and on track. Lastly, hook up with others who have done and are doing what you want to do. Entrepreneur.com is an excellent site to get help and free advice from. They even offer a business plan template among other great tips, tools and empowering information. The business people on that site are also very willing to offer any help and insight they can at no charge. This site is one in which you can carry on in-depth conversations to get help with your business.