We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard Nelson, V and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Richard, what matters most to you?
In a word: honesty. Honesty is what makes our core team work together exceptionally well, it’s what makes our customer service and level of trustworthiness so great with our customers, and it’s ultimately what sets our entire product line a part from other major players in the skin care industry. As a small business, it is critical to know who you are, how you do it, and most importantly, why you do what you do. When you have that pinned down and stay true to it, the authenticity shines through your product for your customers to see and embrace. We sought out to build a line of all-natural products that help people nourish their skin and flaunt their natural beauty; one year later, and we now have hundreds of customers that have done just that, and the news is spreading.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Although Solotion is in the Skincare industry, my background is actually in Engineering, believe it or not. As a kid from Miami who simply loved to make new things, with a passion for Math & Science, and a firm foundation centered around God, Family, discipline, and perseverance, I’m proud to say that I am the first engineer in my family (with my little brother to be the second soon!). When I attended Florida Atlantic University, graduating Cum Laude with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and two minors in Business and Computer Science, a few things really started to sink in. My humble beginnings were evident, as just affording college applications were a feat, which drove me to apply to dozens of scholarships and work multiple jobs as a full time student. On top of that, I was often one of the only Black students in my class or team, making it a lot easier to get left out or judged. As a shy kid, I quickly realized that if I wanted to be successful, and see my degree through, I would need to learn how to network and lead. By the time I graduated, I had served on the board of several organizations (including one that I founded), made new friends across disciplines around campus, and learned the power of using my voice to connect people and ideas. All of those lessons continue to fuel me, and play a huge part in my roles today as an engineer and entrepreneur. On top of that, the engineering skills I’ve acquired come in handy with making nifty, free tools and automations for our business!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hmmm, as someone who really enjoys the outdoors (especially with this South Florida weather), my itinerary would be heavily skewed towards outdoor events. Of course I would include the typical tourist attractions, such as South Beach and several of the beautiful malls in Miami, but some of my favorite spots are all near the water. Fort Lauderdale beach is always a serene place for me, as it combines two of my favorite past times: relaxing at the beach and playing basketball. Barbecuing with a chill playlist, catching up on old times, and then playing a few pickup games could easily take up multiple days in my book. I also love watersports, especially kayaking. I’d probably checkout Groupon to find a few new spots in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area, and find a few kayaking excursions, and also pencil in some time for jet skis and wakeboarding (which I’ve personally never done before).
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I HAVE to give a shoutout to Mr. Ezrol Brown, one of my business partners, co-founder/co-owner, and friend. The idea of Solotion is actually what brought us together, and his knowledge and wisdom from traveling, using natural remedies, and running his own businesses is one of the primary secret ingredients of our brand. Without Ez, there wouldn’t be a Solotion Skincare, and with him, I’m excited to continue to learn and grow together in our business venture and friendship.
Website: solotioncare.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solotion_skincare/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SolotionSkin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolotionSkincare
Other: Richard (Ricky) Personal Account Links: IG: https://www.instagram.com/dj_ricky_5/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/DJ_Ricky_5 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.nelson.7568596 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardnelsonv/
Image Credits
Alex Reynoso; Richard Nelson, V; Jhairus Lewis; Ezrol Brown