In this interview, we hear from Tara Oaks, a single mother of five who has built a successful cleaning business So Fresh and So Clean from the ground up. Tara shares her inspiring story of resilience in the face of tragedy and the unique challenges she has faced as a single mother running a business. She also offers valuable insights on marketing, time management, and maintaining a positive attitude during difficult times.
Her commitment to honesty, trust, and hard work shines through in both her personal and professional life, making her a role model for single mothers everywhere who are looking to build a better future for themselves and their families.
What inspired you to start your cleaning business, and how did you get started?
We lost our home to a fire last year and the realization of how your whole world can change in a split second motivated me to chase financial freedom. This change in perspective inspired me to persevere and turn our tragedy into something meaningful. All the support I received from my community was a huge factor as well. It reminded me of the good that was still out there in the world and encouraged me to want to be a part of something bigger.
How do you balance the demands of running a business with the responsibilities of being a single mother of five?
It’s definitely a balancing act! Everything is planned weekly down to a T, but I’m always prepared to be flexible at any given moment. I also have a lot of help from my family and friends. It really does take a village and my village is invaluable! In addition, having raised three very capable teenagers that are leaders themselves has also been an immense contribution to our family dynamic.
What are some of the unique challenges you’ve faced as a single mother running a business, and how have you overcome them?
The most challenging aspect is the stereotypes I’ve faced. To be honest, I thrive knowing I’m the underdog, so it’s also been my biggest motivation. I’ve been underestimated my whole life and while I use to let it effect me, I know now how to use it to my advantage. Perception and mindset are key! I think sometimes we can be our own worst enemy in that aspect.
How do you ensure that your business provides high-quality cleaning services while maintaining affordable prices?
In the cleaning industry it’s more about labor than it is the cleaning products. While we accommodate our clients with the products that they like and/or use to, it’s our attention to detail and the last touch of perfection we leave at each home or business that I believe puts us over the top.
How have you marketed your business, and what has been your most successful marketing strategy?
Networking! This has made me more money than my college degree ever could have. The support from the community is priceless! I set out on this adventure knowing word of mouth would be everything and that I would never leave a client the opportunity to be dissatisfied.
What advice would you give to other single mothers who are considering starting their own businesses?
A good start would be to take that first step and don’t overthink it! Don’t let the what-ifs continue to weigh you down everyday. There is power in small steps! Mistakes are going to be made, but take every one as a lesson and an opportunity to do better the next time.
How have your children been involved in your business, and what have they learned from the experience?
I honestly could not be more proud of the young women I’ve raised. They have shown me through this challenging time that they will be able to persevere through anything with grace and determination. They had the rug pulled out from underneath them and still handled all their responsibilities without missing a beat. They are all honor students that held up their prior engagements, from holding down jobs, extra curricular and community involvement while helping with their little brothers on the weekend. They will always be my greatest accomplishment!
What are some of the values and principles that guide you in running your business and raising your family?
I believe your word is everything. Trust and communication has always been a priority in my home, so that extends to my business as well. I always try to have the best intentions in everything I do and remain consistent and reliable for all my clients.
How do you prioritize your time and responsibilities as a single mother and business owner?
This one I hold close to my heart, because time is so valuable to me. My oldest will be twenty-one shortly and it really has shined a light on how fast time flies by. So while my main priority is to enjoy the time I have with the people I love, it’s equally important that I fill my cup first. It doesn’t take much for me to become drained with all that’s going on in my life, so I have to maintain a balanced lifestyle: mentally, physically, and spiritually! Everything else is just ripples in the water.
How do you maintain a positive attitude and stay motivated during difficult times?
Gratitude! While I’m not always positive, I try to focus on all the good in my life and how blessed I am to come as far as I have. I’ve been through more hardships than I care to count (some by my own hand), but God willing, I’ve got through them all. I’m always looking ahead, and although I do look back for motivation time to time, I don’t let it define me.
What advice would you give to other single mothers who are going through challenging times or considering starting their own businesses?
Keep putting one foot in front of the other. There’s always going to be challenges and/or mistakes made, don’t be so hard on yourself and allow those mistakes to be a learning tool for you and your children. Don’t forget to allow yourself grace and understanding. Your children don’t need perfection, they need you to be happy and content with who you are! Not to mention they are great imitators! Let them imitate!
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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