By: Kaliena Joy Bowen
Photos by: Lexie Newhouse
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute’s Marketing and Events Coordinator, Deniece Griffin, kicked off ENI’s first livestream co-curricular event due to the University’s decision to transition to distance learning earlier this month amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michelle Blue, Founder of The Journey with Blue, sat down with the CEO and Founder of The Honey Pot Company, Beatrice Dixon, to host ENI’s virtual event. Blue and Dixon focused on “Breaking Boundaries” as these women discussed how to adapt to the present business climate and gave student entrepreneurs insight into developing their companies.
Through her role as a freedom and fulfillment coach and talk show host, Blue helps young adults to live a fulfilling life and grow their businesses. Dixon proved to be nothing but full of passion as she shared her experiences with student entrepreneurs on creating The Honey Pot Company, the first plant-based feminine care product line.
Blue entered the interview by learning more about Dixon’s background and the challenges she faced as an entrepreneur. Having briefly battled with homelessness, she attributes much of her success to these past experiences.
The story of The Honey Pot Company started with Beatrice’s months-long struggle with a vaginal inflammation known as, bacterial vaginosis. She tried an endless number of products and medicine to get rid of the growth. In a dream, Dixon was visited by her great grandmother, who gave her the ingredients to help with bacterial vaginosis. With the knowledge she had from her previous occupations, she created a formula using those ingredients. Within five days of creating and using the solution, her bacterial vaginosis vanished.
From there, Dixon knew that she had to share this solution with others who struggle with vaginal inflammation. She began offering her solution for free to anyone interested in obtaining products to fight this condition many women face. These “customers” were giving positive feedback, and in 2012, Dixon started to sell her feminine care products via email while creating them out of her kitchen.
For six years, Beatrice Dixon did not take a salary and worked long hours to keep The Honey Pot Company operating. She shared that she needed to “put skin in the game, it creates practice.” Today, you can find her products in retailers like Target, Urban Outfitters, Whole Foods, and several others across the country.
With eight years of entrepreneurship under her belt, Dixon offered Georgia State entrepreneurs solid advice about getting started and establishing their brand by saying, “respect the fact that you don’t know.” She also noted as an entrepreneur, you cannot be ready for everything you face. There will be times where you are unaware of what to do.
Blue and Dixon exchanged their views on seeking investors, passion, facing obstacles, starting without a budget, and more. With the current economic situation, they both reiterated that entrepreneurs must adapt in closing; “Find purpose where you are planted” said Blue in relation to working with our present circumstances.
To watch the entire conversation, find it here on our YouTube Channel and subscribe.