Liza Kassim:
The Purveyor Of Uncomplicated Organics
Mompreneurs We Love
Being a mother is hard enough for many women. Being a mom who is also an entrepreneur can be a whole other level of challenges. About Eve love talking to mompreneurs for we get a lot of inspirations and insights on handling challenges and balancing work and life. For second round of Mompreneurs We Love, we had a chat with Liza Kassim, founder of Minimaliz, a brand of plant-based natural skincare.
Eve Writes | 24 July 2019
About Eve is about supporting women, especially all the mumpreneurs out there.
For it is a balancing act like no other. to use an ‘overused’ word to describe a mumpreneur daily ‘multi-tasks’ – from a day job or running a home business that blends into taking care of spouse and children’s needs, and at some point in her life, perhaps her ageing and ailing parents. It's really little wonder many mum-preneurs felt that they barely have time for themselves.
So here is how we will celebrate these women.
Moving on, we will be running a regular series of introducing these ‘power-ladies’ and their work and we are open to you writing in to let us know of someone in your life (the everyday mum, business woman, social worker, etc) whose work deserves to be recognised and supported, both for their work and their commitment as a mompreneur.
Mompreneurs We Love
For the second feature of our series, we caught up with Liza Kassim, the founder of Minimaliz, a natural plant-based organic products ranging from skincare, hair care, and body care.
What is Minimaliz?
Minimaliz organic is a vegan natural skincare, haircare and bodycare.
It started when I stop working in corporate 4 years ago to spend more time with my kids. Explored essential oils for my kids and eventually use it for my skin. Due to my sinus, sensitive skin, busy working and aging, my skin took its toll. But I was never the type that's into beauty products, I just use anything that's available!
So, after a couple of years of trying and continuous research, I was able to formulate some recipes for my skin and my sisters. I have seven sisters, so it's great to try my recipes on hormonal skin, pigmented skin, dry skin, sensitive skin and the lists goes on. After some trials, our skin starts getting better and we started to introduce it to our friends. Hence in 2017, I've decided to make it into a small business. Within a year we acquired many new customers.
How many children do you have and how old are they?
I have 3 beautiful children - 17, 15, and 12. 2 elder boys and the youngest is a girl.
What's your average day like?
Currently, my day is full and hectic! I do not have any maid/helper so it can be quite havoc. After kids are off to school, I have that few hours to formulate and make my products, research for new ingredients, meetings/appointments, trying new recipes and finish up my work.
After 2pm my afternoon is full with kids, usually till 8pm.
It does sound hectic! So how do you find the balance between work, family, and me-time?
Not easy to find the balance with less help to be honest, but I would try to make sure I have a good breakfast, stretch (any light exercise), read (very important), and enjoy my alone time before I start my work.
To have that good one to one and a half hour (usually 7am-8.30am), induce calmness, clear and positive outlook on my day really helps. And I sleep early on most nights, around 10pm, cause I'm up at 5.30am everyday. Night time is a good time to wind down with my skincare ritual (the rose serum is really good!) that induces relaxation and calmness to my skin and overall feeling. It's very important to have a restful night so I can be at my best the whole day next day.
What do you think is your best lesson so far in being a mompreneur?
Best lesson for me is my kids respect me more. I keep telling my kids we learn everyday. Read. Learn. No age limit in learning, and I'm learning everyday.
They teach me about apps, social media (they laugh at me but they also say they are amazed when I managed😂), doing videos and help me packing, carry boxes of items. They are inspired with my dedication, passion and drive. And I share with them every little success that I achieved. It's very important, so they know the importance of hard work and dedication. Nothing comes easy.
They are quite involved in my trial and experimenting e.g. solutions to acne skin, hormonal teenage skin, magnesium therapy after their sports or stress day. Trying essential oils for studies, fever etc. It's really rewarding for me to have my kids so involved and supportive.
What's your biggest challenge in being a mompreneur?
My biggest challenge is to focus on work when my kids are not well, or when they require more attention and time from me like for instance helping them with their projects or school events. Because when I have only that 4-5 hours in the morning to get things done for my business, it's not easy. But we manage, so far.
How did you fund your business and how did you manage your day-to-day operations?
At the moment it's self-funding. I started very small, and because it was not meant for business at first, it didn't feel heavy. Bought some essential oils and carrier oils at first, followed by this and that to tweak it, so it was manageable. When family started offering to pay, then slowly I use the money to buy a bit more. And it continues like that till I noticed I have enough to order small batch of containers. And it continues till I have enough to explore further and further till now. All the sales that I received was put back in the business to grow.
My day to day operations, is thru my website. It's good to invest in a good online system. My mornings is usually on social media, trying out recipes, and packing for orders. I plan my day, by week. To do list is important!
Where do you work from?
Mostly from home. I do have a small office in Taman tun that I go few times a week. But I do a lot of experiments and trials at home. I prefer being alone or in a quiet place to focus my recipes. I plan to have a better office with serene environment by end 2020.
What is the biggest misconception you’ve had from others when they know you work from home?
Biggest misconception is that some people feel you are too small, and it's not a serious business.
But here's my suggestions - register with SSM, open a company bank acct, apply KKM and have a proper administration work. It will be ok.
What is your vision/dream for your family, business, and yourself?
My vision/dream has always been about helping people. So my dream and visions is to be able to stand tall next to an international brand one day. Since that my price range is in average, I want to slowly but surely to have my products available in pharmacies nationwide. I am happy when I give and share, thus whatever I do in my business is the same thing I do for myself. I believe that when people are happy with the results, they happily pray and dua you will do well. I used to have big dreams and vision. Not so much anymore now, hehehe. I prefer taking my time. Enjoy my journey.
As long as you are moving forward, that's an achievement. If you are tired, take a break, but don't quit. I just want my business to grow slowly with my kids and me. Taking a month or a year at a time is good for me now. I'm in no hurry. I want my business and me to take it's time for a different learning curve. I was doing marketing and internal relations for IT company for many years, so beauty and health line is still very new to me. I am learning and will always keep learning.
What would be your advice to other moms who want to start their business?
My advice is start small. Being a mother is already a full time job!
If you are not sure what business to do, start by with what you do everyday, with what you love. Start something that has a purpose for you. Something that makes your heart skip everytime you think of it.
And be prepared to learn. Research and learning is a major key in any business, especially small business that can't hire and spend. Ask, listen, read. People are inspired and willing to help and offer when they know you are willing to learn.
What would be your advice to other moms who want to start their business?
My advice is start small. Being a mother is already a full time job!
If you are not sure what business to do, start by with what you do everyday, with what you love. Start something that has a purpose for you. Something that makes your heart skip everytime you think of it.
And be prepared to learn. Research and learning is a major key in any business, especially small business that can't hire and spend. Ask, listen, read. People are inspired and willing to help and offer when they know you are willing to learn.
As long as you're moving forward, that's an achievement.
If you're tired, take a break.
But don't quit.
Some of Liza's products that we love - Tsubaki Beauty Oil, Face Double Cleansing set, and Rose Water.
We’re finding it awe-inspiring, hearing about how mums are turning their lives around and starting their own business from home. “Mumpreneurs” - Love or hate the title, the women out there who combine motherhood with running their own business deserve a truckload of respect, and then some more!
About Eve thought we’d say a big fat “hurrah!’ to the mums who are making it work for them. Excuse us while we pile a whole lotta love onto these butt-kicking ladies! Whether it’s creating and selling something that will help others, to running workshops or making things like jewellery, candles, organic skin care or children’s fashion; it’s so interesting finding out that it’s possible to create a thriving business while raising a family. And without losing your mind while you're at it!
Check out our piece on another mompreneur of 2 who runs Malaysia online parenting directory here.
