Original Moxie is 4 years old but it’s this last year that has really taken the Ypsilanti-based business on a ride. A year ago it was a home-based business operating out of Rachel Blistein's basement. A steady rise in demand lead Original Moxie to find its own brick-and-mortar home in Depot Town last fall. A new partnership made that growth go even faster.
"In the last six months we have gone from opening a storefront to almost growing out of our space," Blistein says.
Original Moxie makes a full line of hair care products (shampoos, conditioners, stylers) for both straight and curly hair. All of its products are made of natural, organic products. All of its hair products are sulfate-free, paraben-free, artificial-fragrance-free, and cruelty-free. The idea is to enable its users to feel good about looking good.
Blistein started toying with the idea of making her own hair-care products a few years ago while she was working as a landscape architect. Blistein started working with a local stylist to develop the line and the next thing she knew she had a winner of a product on her hands …and a new career.
"Through a series of accidents it turned into a bunch of different products for different types of hair," Blistein says.
A few months ago Original Moxie was approached by Sephora, a French-based chain of cosmetics stores. One of the Sephora's employees had become a fan of Original Moxie. The next thing Blistein knew Original Moxie was a featured brand in the Sephora lineup. More business came with it.
"The growth just jumped exponentially," Blistein says.
Which has allowed Original Moxie to expand its staff. It hired its fourth employees recently and more additions are possible in the not-too-distant future.
Source: Rachel Blistein, founder & CEO of Original Moxie
Writer: Jon Zemke
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