Meet Rebecca So: CPA Firm Partner & Deodorant Enthusiast

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

Hi Rebecca, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always wanted to invent some gadgets that help people solve problems. But whatever I came up with, my friends and family would always shoot down my ideas or it would be too cost prohibitive just to create a prototype. But one day, I was chatting with my staff at a fieldwork (I’m a CPA) about how aluminum-based antiperspirants were bad for us, but their complaints were that most natural deodorants didn’t work, then it finally dawned on me! My “invention” doesn’t have to be a big one, it only needs to be “needed” by many!

I’ve been struggling most of my adult life to find a deodorant that worked. I didn’t even care if it had aluminum that might cause breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. I just didn’t want to stink! But nothing ever worked. They either only last for hours, or would cause my skin to be dry, irritated and even discolored. Not to mention the white marks on my clothes. So I came up with my own formula using apple cider vinegar and it worked! And I thought if I had a hard time finding a deodorant that worked, there must be many others looking for a solution. Yet there I was, I had a formula that worked wonders for me when nothing else could, it is all natural, it doesn’t leave any residue, it is unique as nobody else markets acid-based deodorant. So why wouldn’t I market it? That’s how I started SWAY.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been trained as a CPA my entire career so art and design is far from what I do. But I have a vision on what and how my products would look like. I love J-beauty and K-beauty. I grew up loving Japanese packaging. So other than developing a good product, I wanted to make sure my packaging will set SWAY apart from the other natural deodorants you see on the market. I wanted my deodorant to look more like a skincare product than the typical deodorants you see in the grocery stores.

I could have hired a designer but like most startups, I was bootstrapping. So without any design skills, I started watching YouTube videos on how to use Illustrator. Luckily, I was going for a minimalist style so at least it wasn’t too hard to me to do.

So when people, including executives from big retailers, complimented how they love my packaging, that indeed made my day.

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.
I absolutely love Peking Tavern in downtown LA. That’s where I get my Chinese dumplings fix with a nice glass of cocktail and great ambiance. The owners are super nice and I get to meet many friendly locals there.

Melrose Trading Post on Sundays are fun. They have some interesting things to shop for, antiques, arts, local vendors.

Definitely check out the Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center. I’m not a science geek but I must tell you I was in awe with the shuttle.

I also love going to Underwood Farm in Moorpark. You get to pick your own strawberries and vegetables. That’s where I learned what broccoli looks like outside of a plate.

Afterwards, swing by the Reagan Library. They have different themes from time to time and gotta love seeing the real Air Force One!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My girls, GG, Cath, Elena, Yelana, Jen, Angela, and Sam, at Fun Fit Factory. AJ whom I met doing Krav Maga. They were the ones who encouraged me to get my product into the market and have been my guinea pigs for my deodorant and many other products that follow. And they are the perfect guinea pigs because we sweat up a storm when we workout together!

Website: www.lovemysway.com

Instagram: @lovemysway

Facebook: Sway Natural Skincare

Youtube: SWAY Detox Deodorant

Other: info@lovemysway.com

Image Credits
Haldane Morris