It is a common misconception that when you start a business, you have to be equipped with a corresponding degree pertaining to the field of your business as well as an insane amount of cash to officially start it and keep it running. But for some, a small push is all they need to start a stream of possibilities.
Tyffanie Short is a Filipino single mom who only had one weapon when she started her business – her desire to provide for her son. That desire was all she needed, to push against all the odds and finally start her business with just 37,500 pesos and no college degree.
Tyff to her close circle, opens up in an interview with Preview about her life before One Earth Organics, and how the journey was putting it the way it is today.
Whether she wanted it or not, her life turned around and went full steam ahead when she gave birth to a son at 18.
“I was not able to finish my fourth year in highschool. And when I had a son, I already had to work, so it was full steam ahead from there.”
Her first instinct was to take on numerous jobs. Despite not having a degree, she went on and applied to different jobs until she became a call center agent. From there, she went up to being a VIP executive host, until finally becoming an executive assistant in the call center she works at.
When she started to earn well, she wanted to prove that she can do more so she started her own business.
She started by being a reseller of a chemical-based product that she personally uses.
“I came across this chemical-based face product and became a reseller.”
She used Instagram to sell her products and eventually made good money from it.
“After using the products for a couple of months, I noticed it was doing more damage to my skin than good. I was alarmed, so I started to research and study the ingredients, finding out that they were highly toxic. I stopped using the product immediately.”
The unfortunate realization was what made the young entrepreneur think of coming up with something different. Thus, One Earth Organics was born.
“I thought, maybe I could come up with something different.”
She used her remaining savings and rallied up her close friends with Chemistry degree to help her.
“I did more research and found plant-based ingredients that yielded better results than chemical-based ones. I teamed up with one of my closest friends to help me with the formulations since I don’t have a Chemistry degree, then I used my remaining savings as a capital to start production. Mind you, I only had 37,500 pesos in my account, which was meant for my son’s tuition fee downpayment.”
Like any other business, the first set of products was somehow personal as it caters to the owner’s beauty concern.
“My biggest insecurity were my underarms so I started with developing the Underarm Therapy Set, then I used Instagram to sell the products.”
Once she had results, she started posting her before and after photos. The dramatic results were enough to start a chain of inquiries from one customer to another.
Then it all took off from there, the first 50 sets that she produced sold out in 2 days. She received tons of amazing feedback and her customer reach has doubled. Soon, she tried joining bazaars and eventually reached more women.
Motivated more than ever, Tyff made a decision that will change her life.
“I just trusted and believed that the business was really meant for me, so I resigned from my job as an executive assistant and pursued the business full-time. And the rest was history.”
According to Entrepreneur PH, today, her son is 16 years old and One Earth Organic is becoming available worldwide. It is now part of Beauty Bar, and they also have distributors in other countries including Singapore, United Kingdom, Qatar, and Dubai.
OEO started with 7 initial products, now they have 20 and many more are being developed.
When asked about her philosophy, Tyff shared,
“My beauty philosophy is simply practicing self-love, because this means you’re conscious about what you put on your skin, and you take time to treat yourself with a regimen.”
Her unique selling point that made her products sought after was that it was more personal. She listens to what her customer needs and she tests her products herself before making it available for purchase.
“We listen to what our clients need and just deliver, and we will continuously innovate in terms of what the consumers need and ensure that it is accessible to them.”
“The brand is cruelty free—we never test on animals! Our products are tested on my skin, on me, and never on animals. I test it for months and months before it gets distributed.”
Tyff also left some business tips for those who want to build their own businesses.
“First, you need to learn the basics about the skin—the ingredients, what works, and what you want to address or target, then experiment, as this will help you grow and gain more experience. Don’t be afraid to ask for help either and always support others around you.”
After all, you won’t succeed if you don’t take a leap. This is what Tyff believes in when she took the leap that brought her to where she is now.
“Believe in your products and your skills because if you don’t, nobody else will. Focus on the good and on what you have. Lastly, be inspired and grateful, always!”
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