Alexa Hoffman, Founder of Alevan Botanica, on Helping Others Find Balance
Hello Alexa, please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:
My name is Alexa, and I am the founder of Alevan Botanica. Alevan Botanica is a holistic wellness company rooted in aromatherapy and Ayurveda. I am a former fashion designer who embarked on a path to find wellness and balance in my life through the ancient studies of Ayurveda and yoga. This lead me to become an aromatherapist, Ayurvedic Health and yoga instructor: I founded my company to help others find balance, create daily rituals and feel well. The organic products and holistic services Alevan Botanica provide are designed to balance body, mind, and home.
So Alexa, what excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?
I am excited to meet and collaborate with all of ambitious and focused female founders, as well as continue to learn from all of the like-minded women growing their businesses!
What made you take the leap to start your own business?
I found myself out of work and cooped up in my tiny Brooklyn apartment at the start of the pandemic. This allowed me the space and time to make all the ideas that had been floating around in my head for the last year into what is now, Alevan Botanica.
So Alexa, can you tell us about your background prior to starting your own business?
Prior to starting my business, I went to college for Fashion Design and Economics. I worked as a sweater and cut and sew knit designer at various companies in Boston, Philadelphia and NYC. After experiencing burnout and not feeling aligned with the nature of the fashion industry, I began to pursue a career in wellness as health coach, private trainer and full-time fitness instructor.
Did you always have a feeling you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
Yes! It is in my blood; I remember vividly growing up and watching my mother and father start their own business. It was a source of inspiration and motivation even to this day!
Spreading the word about a new business is crucial! Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy?
My marketing strategy was word of mouth, through my personal instagram/facebook as well as through the Kickstarter platform. It went as planned, not amazing and not terrible either! I have definitely grow and learn more with each additional launch.
Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?
Yes! This is a big part of our company mission and focus. We believe in #createyourritual, this means everyday taking time to find stillness, to connect to your intuition, and bring healthy practices into your daily routines. My best tips are starting with a morning and evening routine that is calming, grounding and focused.
What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?
Just start! Sometimes things will not be perfect right away, but you will always be happy to took the first step.
Last, but certainly not least, what’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?
A lot of new products are in the development pipeline! We are also looking to begin to open brick and mortar locations to begin to expand our service offerings, in addition to product line, which include: fitness classes, Ayurvedic workshops, and more!