Senior Citizen Opens Brick & Mortar
In a remarkable journey of determination, Pearlie Miller, the proud owner of Stays All Day Shea Fragrance Body Butter, has taken the leap from operating pop-up shops to opening her own brick-and-mortar store in North Hollywood, California. After two years and over 500 cycles of hard labor, Pearlie and her son, Khalil, saved enough money to make this dream a reality. Their goal was to test the waters of the marketplace by showcasing the benefits of organic and natural body butter to a broad audience, extending beyond just one demographic.
The Skin Butter Store specializes primarily in Shea Butter and offers six different varieties of body butters, all derived from the nut of the shea fruit which grows on shea trees in Western Africa. The shea butter sourced from Ghana is among the most widely distributed in the United States. While many Black individuals are familiar with shea butter, Pearlie discovered that others from diverse backgrounds had only seen the term on various products but lacked an understanding of its natural benefits. By interacting with over 15,000 people and sharing samples, she found that many were unaware of shea butter’s soothing properties, especially for conditions like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, or dermatitis.
The Skin Butter Store doesn’t just stop at body butters. They also provide a range of natural soaps, including the highly-rated BLACK SOAP, natural deodorants, toothpaste, and raw sea moss, among other offerings. Pearlie is always on the lookout for new natural products that she and Khalil use regularly, contributing to their repeat business from loyal customers eager to explore their fragrance offerings.
Today’s shea butter can be not only natural and unrefined but also organic. The trend toward organic products gained traction about 20-30 years ago, and since shea trees take roughly 20-30 years to produce fruit and can live up to 200-300 years, the process is both time-consuming and sustainable. African women have perfected the art of grinding shea nuts into an oil, which is then cooled into a rich, ivory-colored cream.
Body butters function similarly to traditional butter; they can melt with heat and sunlight but transform into smooth cream when cooled. Whipping the butter results in a light, airy texture that is wonderfully hydrating, perfect for soothing dry, ashy skin for both young and old alike. In essence, they provide natural moisture for skin and hair.
What truly sets The Skin Butter Store apart is not just Pearlie’s inspiring venture as a senior citizen entrepreneur, but the fact that they manufacture their body butters right in-store, allowing for custom orders to be created within approximately 15 minutes.
Adding a unique twist, The Skin Butter Store infuses their products with designer-inspired fragrances that mimic high-end brands like Chanel, Dior, Creed, and Dolce & Gabbana. This gives shoppers a joyful and aromatic experience while sampling from over 77 scent options, including an array of essential oils. While many designer fragrances can cost a small fortune, a jar of their high-end fragrance-infused body butter ranges from $30 to $50, depending on the selected fragrance oil. For purists, there’s also an option to enjoy the unadulterated magic of pure shea butter.
Pearlie, also known as Pearl Jr, draws inspiration from her 60s upbringing and embarked on this incredible journey without a mentor to guide her. As a vibrant Black woman in her 60s, she embodies the essence of entrepreneurship, achieving one of her ultimate goals of owning a retail store. With her eyes set on future expansion, Pearlie looks forward to opening The Skin Butter Store #2 one day.
