We had the good fortune of connecting with Terry Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terry, how do you think about risk?

I think of risk taking as a necessary element on the way to achieving goals. As an entrepreneur I am continually taking risks. It can be exhausting and rewarding all in the same day. I think what holds most people back is fear that the possibility of failure is real. Where I think people limit themselves is not allowing for the equally real possibility that success is real. Hard earned – but real. Prior to starting the Travertine Spa Collection, I worked for a prestigious Fortune 500 Company. I had a great salary and great benefits. I was laid off during the recession of 2008/9. Looking back, it would have been hard for me to walk away from the financial security of corporate America. I had a mortgage and other responsibilities. Starting a company while unemployed during a recession was a risk. I chose to believe in my ability to solve problems and invested my time, money and efforts in myself. Years later I am running a small business in the midst of a global pandemic. Now I not only have myself to look after but also employees, office space and recurring expenses.
Managing constantly changing health and safety protocols are an added measure of stress and risk. I prioritize the health and safety of my staff over profits. As shelter-in place regulations were implemented in California we earned nationwide shelf placement with Whole Foods Market stores for our Eucalyptus Steam Shower Spray. This was wonderful news except for coinciding with a global shortage of packaging. We have a product line of over 30 items. Most glass and plastic bottles were sold out worldwide as hand sanitizer was in high demand. People sought to protect themselves from an unknown and deadly virus. I was not going to call my new business partner with the (legitimate) excuse about limited packaging. Multinational companies couldn’t even get packaging for their own products. So it was exponentially harder for a small company with small orders. A close friend told me, “If anyone can get the packaging, it‘s you.” I appreciated the encouragement as I took on more financial risk. I would visit a local warehouse to ask if they would sell small quantities that were de minimus for larger companies. I traded with other companies. I also methodically called the largest packaging distributors and placed back orders in quantities that I would never have previously considered. Thank God, I was able to source exactly what I needed to fulfill the initial wholesale order.
I also risked spending heavily to purchase packaging and raw materials for future orders. I didn’t want to miss fulfilling one order or miss one sale. In a world where food lines and stimulus checks are a new reality, I am painfully aware that even the best efforts may still result in the shuttering of a business. I personally know some were not as fortunate. At one point I looked at all of the boxes stacked high throughout my office and thought “Now I need to sell all of this.” Months later, we sold that initial inventory aided by an on-line buying surge during the holidays. Our organic skin care line also continues to sell. We still have plenty of packaging for current and future orders. I am constantly creating and launching new products. My latest endeavor/pivot/risk was launching our perfumery courses online. We have not missed fulfilling one order. I remain grateful. Humbled.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Travertine Spa Collection is a luxury brand of organic skin care and natural body care products. I am a Paris-trained perfumer. We are proud to have been recognized by Forbes, trusted by spa professionals and loved by every day people. I started creating products 17 years ago as a creative outlet from the stresses of corporate America. Plant based products have been a passion of mine since my teens. Now I consult, teach and mentor others in how to grow their businesses. We are unique because I maintain a personal hand in all of our products and create most of the fragrances. We recently launched online fragrance classes on Zoom! We want the world to know that we work hard every day to maintain a standard of excellence in our performance. We create products that we love and use daily.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A perfect day (assuming sunshine and no traffic): We would start with a hike in the canyons of Crystal Cove. Stop for breakfast at a small café with quality coffee. Spend an hour doing an easy kayak paddle in Newport Harbor. Drive up to LA and search for a great read at Eso Won books. Lunch at Kick Ass Vegan in Leimert Park. Take in the view from Griffith Observatory and have a mellow evening with take out followed by a stroll through the canals in Venice.”

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout is dedicated to Lauren M. She is one of those rare friends who points out what you are good at –things you may not yet see in yourself.

Website: Travertinespa.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travertinespacollection/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travertinespa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TravertineSpa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravertineSpa

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/travertine-spa-santa-ana-2?osq=shea+butter

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/TravertineSpa

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.