What is Moodygirl Chocolate? Our Story is Your Story!
What does it mean to be a "Moody Girl"? We sat down with Moodygirl Chocolate's founder, Leah, to discuss the magic behind the mocha -- the cool behind the cocoa -- the purpose behind the products!
It takes a lot to be a business owner in 2021, and for Leah and the Moodygirl team, this adventure is just getting started.
I'm Leah! That's me on the right up there -- showing off our AMAZING chocolate! Whether you've been with us since day one or you're just starting your Moodygirl journey, I'm so happy to have you!
So -- where did you get the idea for your business?
Ever since I can remember I have always struggled with horrible PMS symptoms. Once a month right before my period I would have INSANE monthly chocolate cravings. I would go to my local Whole Foods in search of the perfect clean, functional chocolate bar and never found anything that was designed to support my craving and kick my PMS symptoms.
I knew I couldn't be the ONLY girl in the world that struggled with this issue. I decided to solve my own problem and make functional chocolate for women.
At the time, based on my research and a few conversations with my doctor, I was taking magnesium and Vitamin B6 to help manage my PMS symptoms. So, the logical next step was easy -- I started to infuse the vitamins into my homemade chocolate!
I handed out the chocolate to all of my girlfriends and even brought it on a women's wellness retreat to test the market. I received great feedback -- and a lot of "OMG, how did you do this?!" -- and knew it was time to launch!
What’s the “story” behind your business?
I launched Moodygril on April 15th, 2020 -- exactly one month into the pandemic. Yeah, I know!
We had to pivot and shift the business plan to be completely e-commerce based since we were on full lockdown and small businesses were closed. We started out launching on Amazon and with the support of so many people spreading the word, we SOLD OUT OF CHOCOLATE IN OUR FIRST TWO WEEKS!
This gave me to confidence (and the capital) to expand the line and come out with other chocolate that represents taboo topics in society. Through chocolate, my goal is to educate and empower women to embrace their true and authentic selves -- hence the name MOODYGIRL. I want women to feel empowered to do and be whatever they desire in life -- everything from sexy to sweet!
What have you learned about yourself as a business owner, hard worker, and human being since starting Moodygirl?
I have learned more about myself in the past few years than my whole life combined. No one tells you how much you grow in your late twenties!
Moodygirl has been a part of my personal self-empowerment journey. I hit a really rough patch in my life where I questioned everything from my career to my relationship to my friendships. I realized I was checking the boxes and following society's expectations of what I should do or be instead of taking the time to pause and listen to my "knowing" or intuition.
I was always so concerned with the "next thing" in life that I never really took the time to ask myself what I wanted, who I wanted to be.
And as I started to ask myself those questions, my vision for women's empowerment and wellness grew -- and the seed for Moodygirl was planted.
As I pursued my passion, my life started to align and the puzzle pieces slowly started to fit together. The biggest lesson I have learned throughout this process is that slowing down, and allowing time and space to reflect, will lead you down the right path in business and in life. We are living in a world of instantaneous communication between social media, email, and texting and have answers literally at our fingertips. However, the biggest questions are answered when we slow down and reflect.
What have you learned over this last hectic year?
I am a huge believer in synchronicity -- and also that nothing happens by coincidence.
In 2017, I was certified as an IIN Health Coach. During my training, I learned about the importance of having a balanced lifestyle -- beyond what is JUST on your plate. This includes spirituality, friendships, exercise, joy, and home cooking -- just to name a few.
Over the past four years, I have made an effort to find like-minded people that share these same wellness values. When launching Moodygirl I was truly amazed at the amount of support I received from the community. I have had so many ups and downs with Moodygirl in the past year -- every time I thought "I can't do this anymore" the community would reach out or an article got published about Moodygirl. It was like the universe was handing me exactly what I needed at that moment -- and giving me the strength and courage to push through!
The Moodygirl community keeps me going -- you all help me ride out the rock bottom moments. My favorite part of Moodygirl is truly the connections I am building with women around the world. I love when people reach out and share their story, whether it's about struggling with low libido and sex or feeling anxious at work. As we continue to grow as a platform my hope is that more people feel comfortable connecting and sharing their stories.
When it comes to running the business, what do you think are the biggest sources of your success?
I have the ability to dream big and see the long-term vision -- by FAR this is my greatest asset! Since I am able to clearly see the vision I know what steps need to be taken in order to guide Moodygirl down the path.
Looking back on 2020, what are you most grateful for in your personal life?
My family. My mom is my biggest cheerleader -- her unconditional support with Moodygirl has been a huge part of my success. She is always helping me pack orders, driving to the post office, and most importantly she's always there for me through all the ups and downs and in-betweens.
My husband has also been my support system through it all by encouraging my ideas and allowing my energy to flow freely. He has always believed in my potential to do more. He sees me as a visionary.
How about in the business?
The connections with people! Building the Moodygirl community has been the key to our success. Every IG post, email, review, gift, and purchase helps us to grow. We truly would not be where we are today without people believing in our chocolate, our story, and our vision.
So, Leah -- what are your goals for the future of Moodygirl?
So many goals! I will try to just name a few 😘
We are going to tap into expanding into retail, and new exciting products are on the horizon as well -- so many amazing ideas for flavors, collaborations, and more! We also are going to work on bringing in more spirituality, wellness, and education to the forefront of the Moodygirl platform. Eventually, my goal is to start a Moodygirl podcast and host wellness events for Moody Girls all over the world!
What advice to you have to people like you starting or growing a business in 2021?
If everything is perfect you have launched too late.
Everyone starts at the beginning no matter WHO you are -- and there is always going to be a HUGE learning curve. My advice is to follow your dreams, listen to your intuition, and know that all the ups and downs are just part of the journey.
I keep telling myself, "I am in it for the long haul." This mantra is critical because I know success in every sense takes time. If you plant a seed, it doesn't grow a tree overnight -- it takes years of dedication and hard work. I am still watering and nurturing my sprout every day, knowing one day it will be a tree.
My advice is to get clear on your purpose: Let your vision be SO strong that nothing can keep you from watering your little plant every day.
And a fun one – what’s your favorite Moodygirl product?
Chill Out is my personal favorite! I have struggled with anxiety my entire life and ashwagandha has been a game-changer for me. It makes me feel grounded, more centered and puts a halt on my racing thoughts.
I love to eat Chill Out after a long day at work. It helps me to settle down and is of course the perfect after-dinner sweet treat. The mint flavor is out of this world too.
One of my favorite Moodygirl hacks is sticking it in the freezer -- especially during the summer months! Nothing like a little frozen treat, especially one that helps you Chill Out!