Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalani Wheeler.
Hi Kalani, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated from Tennessee State University in December of 2017, I moved back to my hometown Detroit, MI after my graduation without a clue of what I was going to do next. My major was Film & Production so Detroit was not the smartest move for me but I also did not feel comfortable moving to Los Angeles with no real game plan. I knew that I wanted to be financially stable and I always knew I would be a business owner. After my graduation, I worked at several different places. Red lobster, a machine operated plant, and back to waitressing at a local bar. I was very depressed and unmotivated so I moved back to Nashville, TN October of 2018. I moved back with only my clothes and my first months of rent. I had to start from scratch honestly! I did not have any furniture and spent the first month sleeping on my floor until I could afford to get an air mattress and then eventually a real bed. I landed a job at Postmates Inc. and it was my first real job, it paid great with excellent benefits, however, I knew this job was just a stepping stone that I needed to stack my money up.
One night, I was at my desk and become frustrated because my eczema started to flare up on my hands. I asked my colleague did she have any lotion and she said she had shea butter. I remember saying, “yessss that’s exactly what I need.” When she handed it to me I noticed that it was a whipped consistency. I had never seen or felt whipped shea butter before and was really impressed. I tried to find the woman from NYC that made it but then I thought, “I can probably make this myself.” From that day forward I researched for two months straight on how to make the perfect whipped shea butter. I launched Glo n’ Go Body Shop in May 2019. I started off selling them to my co-workers in the office. That’s how it all started.
Today I am back in Detroit and I am a full time entrepreneur. Glo n’ Go has a location where I fully operate out of and prepare online orders. Starting this holiday season customers will be able to place an order online and come pick it up the same day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It can be a little challenging at times but still rewarding. I am the C.E.O, the social media manager, the photographer, graphic designer, etc. However, I stay consistent and my business continues to grow and that’s the main goal for me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I make organic homemade products, and I specialize in making whipped shea butter. I eventually added different products to my line as well. I’m proud of the fact that everything I make is from scratch. It’s my little recipes that can make a difference on someone else. That is what I am most proud of.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is spending my summers at day camp and cheerleading. I feel like those two things kept me active, grounded, and consistent. Which helps me in my everyday life choices today. Especially business wise I would have to say.
Contact Info:
- Email: glongobodybutter@gmail.com
- Website: www.glongobodyshop.com
- Instagram: @glongobodyshop
- Facebook: @Glo N’ Go Body Shop Official
- Twitter: @glongobodyshop
