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Q&A with Erin Motlow

Tell us about the company

Nama Fiji is a sustainable and 100% plant-based skincare brand that is building a socially responsible enterprise for our planet's well-being. For us, it’s not just about making world class products, equally important is caring for our community and sustainably using what mother nature has to offer. We’re focused on improving the livelihood of rural women & communities in Fiji through training, employment and Nama harvesting in the Fijian villages of the Yasawa Islands. To us environmental and social responsibility isn’t just a mission, it permeates every facet of what we do.

What makes your brand unique?

Our founding story and hero ingredient are quite unique. The woman who created our formulas has been in Fiji for over 20 years, supporting the economic development goals and particularly women’s livelihoods in Fiji through a phenomenal impact model that includes: Spa Academy Fiji, a CIDESCO International accredited school, Senikai Spas, a chain of spas in luxury hotels and resorts, and Essence Group, our product manufacturing arm. In 2017 Nama Fiji was founded as a means to support the women from small villages in the northern Yasawa region through the purchase of sustainably harvested, wild Nama, which is a sea grape or seaweed.

What challenges have you faced in building/expanding your business?

We launched in the U.S. in October 2019 and 6 months later the world stopped and our plans for 2020 were completely upended. The year has been challenging for most and we’ve taken advantage of the opportunity to slow down, re-evaluate, and plan for 2021. We’ve seen positive results, and we know that it takes time to optimize a model for success. And given consumers are distracted right now, understandably so and myself included, we don’t want to jump to any pre-mature conclusions..

How have you pivoted during COVID and how will you pivot in the post-COVID era?

We’ve been more conservative this year due to COVID. We went direct-to-consumer first in the U.S. for a number of reasons, which has served us well during COVID. But “post-COVID” I think retail is going to have a comeback, albeit in a different flavor. People are going to be tired of buying everything online and are going to want to get out of the house and socialize with their community. Having face to face conversations with potential customers will be a focus.

Why are you in the SF Bay Area?

I was born in the Bay Area but I grew up on the East Coast. I started working for a tech company in NYC in 2011 and convinced them to move me to HQ. I moved to San Francisco in 2012 and the Bay Area feels like home to me. I think there’s immense opportunity here coupled with access to nature. Plus Fiji is only a 10 hour direct flight!

How has GlobalSF supported you?

GlobalSF has been immensely helpful by providing introductions to contacts in the network to get advice from like-professionals or discuss potential partnership opportunities. During COVID, I received outreach that provided information on potential grant options that were being offered from various organizations.

What do you feel has been the value of connecting with us?

I guess I just feel this sense that I have another party on my team that’s rooting for me and Nama Fiji’s success.

How can GlobalSF better serve you going forward?

I’ve been fortunate to get some 1:1 attention from GlobalSF and I’m just wondering if there’s ways to scale this so that the network can connect more asynchronously with each other.

What do you see the future holds for your business?

There was a reckoning this year where everyone collectively was required to pause and really think about how their actions affect others and this planet. Those who care about those two things want to purchase from sustainable and socially conscious brands. We just need help getting the word out there.

Any words of wisdom to other businesses going global?

Understand tax law and leverage freight forwarders for import / export.

How can people get in contact with you?

You can find me on Linkedin if you search Erin Motlow (spell out last name) or email me at erin@nama-fiji.com