Roberta Perry suffered from dry and itchy skin since she was too busy as a working mother of three kids to do proper skincare. While she tried every exfoliant in the market, she found that none of them totally for her. She says she “literally felt like Goldilocks as [I] tried jar after jar,” that ranged from “inexpensive to ‘what are they kidding me’ prices.” While trying these products, Roberta saw they were either filled with artificial preservatives or coloring; they failed to live up to the hype; or their scents failed to give her that special pampered feeling.
So, Roberta Perry started Scrubzbody Skin Care Products in 2006. As a company, Scrubzbody has committed itself to all-natural products. Buyers can get exfoliants and other skincare products made with zero alcohol, artificial colors/preservatives, parabens, gluten, phthalates, and petro-chemicals. Scrubzbody also caters to buyers of all sizes, from retail to wholesale. The company also contributes regularly to six charities.
So far, Roberta Perry and Scrubzbody have also been featured on TV. The company was featured on the Season One finale of the Bravo TV show Sell It Like Serhant. On October 24, 2014, Roberta also appeared on the Dr. Oz show, where she talked about tea facials during the natural remedies segment. She went back on the show on February 29, 2016, on a food-related segment.
In 2016, Roberta Perry also received the 2016 Nassau County Legislature Trailblazer award as recognition for her contributions to charity. Roberta has also written a book titled “The Power of Free Publicity, Using HARO (Help a Reporter Out) to Build Relationships and Get Free Press Without a PR Firm,” published in 2016.
Check out more interviews with industry trailblazers here.
Jerome Knyszewski: What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Roberta Perry: Customer Service. Single handedly. I understand that people have choices. They can spend their money at many different skincare boutiques, drug stores, supermarkets and online stores. I have to give them a reason to come here. Having a great product is one thing. But making people feel special and welcome is what brings them back. It’s all about the experience and the joy you bring to their hearts and souls. It’s the solving of their skin care issues. It’s the listening. And then they buy and love what you offer. And then they bring friends and family.
Jerome Knyszewski: Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Roberta Perry: Remind yourself daily of your why. What was your purpose and reason for starting in the first place. And take breaks. And delegate. And take vacations or staycations where you do not answer any business calls or emails.
Jerome Knyszewski: None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
Roberta Perry: My late sister, Michelle. My lifelong friend, Wendy, who helped from the beginning and is now my production manager and all around sounding board. My hubby for doing my books and taxes and helping me get started in the first place. My amazing customers. My mentor, Donna Maria and all the Indies at Indie Business Network, most especially my mastermind besties who know who they are.
Jerome Knyszewski: Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of this interview. The Pandemic has changed many aspects of all of our lives. One of them is the fact that so many of us have gotten used to shopping almost exclusively online. Can you share a few examples of different ideas that eCommerce businesses are implementing to adapt to the new realities created by the Pandemic?
Roberta Perry: For me it was free shipping during the worst of it. That is something I never really do, so it was a big deal. I also included a free gift of Alegna soap, which was a perfect something extra to include in the box. I updated parts of my website, most especially the private label section, as my business began to pivot. I added a few sets and other special items. I added a few flows to my email marketing.
Jerome Knyszewski: Amazon, and even Walmart are going to exert pressure on all of retail for the foreseeable future. New Direct-To-Consumer companies based in China are emerging that offer prices that are much cheaper than US and European brands. What would you advise retail companies and eCommerce companies, for them to be successful in the face of such strong competition?
Roberta Perry: The humongous businesses will always be here. But, the middle companies are dying out. They can’t sustain the loss to the big boys. That leaves us, the small business owners. We get to offer what the big boys can’t… the ULTIMATE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE! It goes back to what I said before about treating customers so well that they come back and bring friends. That is what builds a sustainable business.
Jerome Knyszewski: What are the most common mistakes you have seen CEOs & founders make when they start an eCommerce business? What can be done to avoid those errors?
Roberta Perry: I think your website has got to reflect your audience. Don’t try to have it be something its not. I think not having professional or really well done photos is a big mistake. Make sure your customers feel seen and heard when they reach your site.
Jerome Knyszewski: In your experience, which aspect of running an eCommerce brand tends to be most underestimated? Can you explain or give an example?
Roberta Perry: Because I have both a brick and mortar store, as well as an online shop, I have to always keep them matching in feel, as I explained above. As I decorate the shop for Fall, for example, I need to swap out the photos on the home page and change the look of my site to match the season. This keeps the site fresh.
Jerome Knyszewski: You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Roberta Perry: I love making people smile and feel good about themselves. I would love that to be a movement!!
Jerome Knyszewski: How can our readers further follow you online?
Roberta Perry: You can follow me on social media: Facebook.com/scrubzbody; Instagram.com/scrubzbody; Youtube.com/scrubzbody; Twitter.com/scrubzbody; Pinterest.com/scrubzbody
Jerome Knyszewski: This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this!
