Check out our feature in Voyage Houston Magazine!
Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie McCoy.
Hi Leslie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2020, when COVID first started ramping up and going global, I started searching for natural and organic ways to help build my family’s immune system… and that’s when I found out about sea moss.
Known by some as Irish Moss or Chondrus crispus… It had such a high vitamin and mineral content, that not only was it great for my immune system but also for my hair, skin, energy, and weight loss and helping me clear up the mucus from my sinuses (Which I always seemed to have when I first woke up in the morning) along with a host of other benefits. After doing some research and reading up about it more, I started making it for myself and my husband first, then as I started improving on the texture and toying around with different flavors, I started mixing it into applesauce for my two little ones. After a couple of months of us taking it every day I started to notice how my skin was improving, we had more energy and I didn’t have as much congestion when I woke up in the mornings. Since COVID wasn’t really going anywhere yet, I started telling some of my friends about it and making it for them as well. Between that and noticing how we started to feel better overall, I noticed that there were still a lot of people who were unfamiliar with sea moss in general and its benefits and that’s when my husband threw out the idea of making it available to more people.
I was super nervous, so I initially started selling it to some of my close friends, old associates and some coworkers at my husband’s job. After I got a little more comfortable… March/April of 2021 I reached out to Darryl of Moods Music in Little 5 points Atlanta about being able to stock it in his shop which was truly a blessing. After that, I started doing a couple of pop up events and the reception I received from them was absolutely amazing. Once the demand from people who lived further out then we delivered or those who couldn’t always make it to Moods… It inspired me to create and launch our website www.naturallysereneseamoss.com, so that they could order and have it shipped to them anytime they want. We now have four different sea moss gel flavors… Plain, Elderberry-(Most Popular), Strawberry, & Blueberry (Both Kid approved) and two juices… Pineapple Mango & Watermelon Kiwi.
Our goal is to continue sharing this treasure with everyone so that they too can benefit from this amazing natural resource and be at peace with what they’re putting into their body.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Yes and no. I’ve had some experience in helping create and manage a business, so I understood a lot of the ups and downs that came with it. But I soon realized that there was so much more that I didn’t know or even understand when it came to creating and building a business. Knowing that I would have to make all of the decisions myself, put myself out there and learn a bunch of new things?… we’ll, that was a little overwhelming. I always had confidence in the dopeness that is my gels and that people would love them but there were definitely times when I questioned if I would really be able to do this while also trying to maintain myself and my family.
There were definitely little inconveniences and obstacles that popped up but that was to be expected. So I would say my struggles were more on a personal level. I really had to start pushing through those self judgments that we place on ourselves and show myself a little grace and love.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well for the past 16 years I’ve worked in office operations & management. I think that’s also what has helped me be able to manage my own business slightly smoother.
I’ve always been pretty open to learning or at least trying to implement new techniques or processes to make things more efficient and easier for everyone. Especially when you’re dealing with customers; whether it was creating memorable experiences, following up on a complaint or simply just listening to their needs or concerns. I genuinely enjoy making others happy.
If I had to go through and handpick the one thing that I’m known for? I’m not sure… I’d probably say it would be my openness to learn new things and my willingness to always help. I’ve always been a great team player and organizer. Planning isn’t my forte but once a plan or an agenda is set, I can knock it out of the park… as long as I don’t doubt myself.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think that with everything that has happened since COVID and the whole get vaccinated or not debate; more people are looking and wanting to get healthier naturally. Now that’ll look different for everybody, because there may be some who want to completely change their lifestyle or some who just want to implement healthier habits. So I think you’ll be seeing even more companies like mine pop up. Whether it’s natural supplements, skincare, or hair care products and I want Naturally Serene to be a part of that movement of helping people live healthier more nourishing lives.
More and more people are delving into self-care and in doing so realizing that that includes health and wellness. Healing and nurturing your body from the inside out and head to toe. I believe that the earth already has all of the natural resources and remedies needed to nurture and care for our bodies… it’s just about finding what works best for you.
Hi Leslie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2020, when COVID first started ramping up and going global, I started searching for natural and organic ways to help build my family’s immune system… and that’s when I found out about sea moss.
Known by some as Irish Moss or Chondrus crispus… It had such a high vitamin and mineral content, that not only was it great for my immune system but also for my hair, skin, energy, and weight loss and helping me clear up the mucus from my sinuses (Which I always seemed to have when I first woke up in the morning) along with a host of other benefits. After doing some research and reading up about it more, I started making it for myself and my husband first, then as I started improving on the texture and toying around with different flavors, I started mixing it into applesauce for my two little ones. After a couple of months of us taking it every day I started to notice how my skin was improving, we had more energy and I didn’t have as much congestion when I woke up in the mornings. Since COVID wasn’t really going anywhere yet, I started telling some of my friends about it and making it for them as well. Between that and noticing how we started to feel better overall, I noticed that there were still a lot of people who were unfamiliar with sea moss in general and its benefits and that’s when my husband threw out the idea of making it available to more people.
I was super nervous, so I initially started selling it to some of my close friends, old associates and some coworkers at my husband’s job. After I got a little more comfortable… March/April of 2021 I reached out to Darryl of Moods Music in Little 5 points Atlanta about being able to stock it in his shop which was truly a blessing. After that, I started doing a couple of pop up events and the reception I received from them was absolutely amazing. Once the demand from people who lived further out then we delivered or those who couldn’t always make it to Moods… It inspired me to create and launch our website www.naturallysereneseamoss.com, so that they could order and have it shipped to them anytime they want. We now have four different sea moss gel flavors… Plain, Elderberry-(Most Popular), Strawberry, & Blueberry (Both Kid approved) and two juices… Pineapple Mango & Watermelon Kiwi.
Our goal is to continue sharing this treasure with everyone so that they too can benefit from this amazing natural resource and be at peace with what they’re putting into their body.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Yes and no. I’ve had some experience in helping create and manage a business, so I understood a lot of the ups and downs that came with it. But I soon realized that there was so much more that I didn’t know or even understand when it came to creating and building a business. Knowing that I would have to make all of the decisions myself, put myself out there and learn a bunch of new things?… we’ll, that was a little overwhelming. I always had confidence in the dopeness that is my gels and that people would love them but there were definitely times when I questioned if I would really be able to do this while also trying to maintain myself and my family.
There were definitely little inconveniences and obstacles that popped up but that was to be expected. So I would say my struggles were more on a personal level. I really had to start pushing through those self judgments that we place on ourselves and show myself a little grace and love.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well for the past 16 years I’ve worked in office operations & management. I think that’s also what has helped me be able to manage my own business slightly smoother.
I’ve always been pretty open to learning or at least trying to implement new techniques or processes to make things more efficient and easier for everyone. Especially when you’re dealing with customers; whether it was creating memorable experiences, following up on a complaint or simply just listening to their needs or concerns. I genuinely enjoy making others happy.
If I had to go through and handpick the one thing that I’m known for? I’m not sure… I’d probably say it would be my openness to learn new things and my willingness to always help. I’ve always been a great team player and organizer. Planning isn’t my forte but once a plan or an agenda is set, I can knock it out of the park… as long as I don’t doubt myself.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think that with everything that has happened since COVID and the whole get vaccinated or not debate; more people are looking and wanting to get healthier naturally. Now that’ll look different for everybody, because there may be some who want to completely change their lifestyle or some who just want to implement healthier habits. So I think you’ll be seeing even more companies like mine pop up. Whether it’s natural supplements, skincare, or hair care products and I want Naturally Serene to be a part of that movement of helping people live healthier more nourishing lives.
More and more people are delving into self-care and in doing so realizing that that includes health and wellness. Healing and nurturing your body from the inside out and head to toe. I believe that the earth already has all of the natural resources and remedies needed to nurture and care for our bodies… it’s just about finding what works best for you.