Today we’d like to introduce you to Coumba Sow Palmer. Them and their team share their story with us below:
This is how Adja’s came to be. Coumba was experiencing some really bad acne and skin problems.
She tried several different products and even saw a dermatologist who prescribed medicinal products and nothing would work.
One day, she met an African friend and began opening up and talking about her insecurities with her skin problem.
Her friend asked why she was not using traditional African products or butter that she grew up using. This triggered Coumba to begin using African Black Soap and after consistently using it for several weeks all of her acne was gone.
After seeing the effects of using natural products, Coumba began the journey of communicating and organizing with family back in Senegal in order to make these products available and help out other people who are fighting bad acne or scarring. But not only that but to maintain natural healthy and soft skin.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely wasn’t smooth at the beginning.
I made mistakes with products not working for certain people and having to use different products to try for their skin tone. I had to try different Shea to finally stick to the ones I knew for sure work for my customers.
I lost money because I wasn’t pricing my products right but I wanted to keep my customers happy and reach people all over the country because of my great products and reasonable price.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Adja’s is named after its owner Coumba Adja and her daughter Maia Adja. Coumba was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, and the majority of Adja’s products are produced and shipped straight from the motherland.
Shea trees are indigenous to many parts of Africa and produce fruit with very oil-rich seeds inside.
The fat is extracted and turned into butter which has several nourishing and beneficial qualities, while also not posing hardly any nut-allergy risks or side effects.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love my city because this is home. Since Day 1 everyone has been so supportive, from my customers that have been following me for a long time to other business owners in the city that hosted pop up shops and other events to promote each other. Growing up here and going to high school here a lot of people have seen my story and trust in me because they have seen my struggle and grind. There are so many great people and amazing relationships that I have in Nashville. So much, that we are opening an African Boutique at 1801 Jefferson St this summer. We will carry Adja’s shea butter of course along with a huge selection of African merchandise from art to skin products and more. We can’t wait to meet new people and are so grateful to Nashville and all of our supporters who have helped us along the way. Truly wouldn’t be in this position without them.
Contact Info:
- Email: Shopadja@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.shopadja.com/
- Instagram: @Adjas_african_boutique
- Facebook: Coumba Palmer
Image Credits
Thevividexperience
