Tiffani Young
Founder, Natural Butter Bar
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Tiffani Young is the owner of Natural Butter Bar, a company that offers all-natural products that help different types of skin and hair look their best. Natural Butter Bar currently offers close to 40 all natural Butters, Oils, Gel, and Essential Oils that can either be applied directly or mixed to suit individual needs giving the skin and hair exactly what it has been craving.
Currently, Tiffani is working directly with Dalhousie University to launch an all-natural shampoo and conditioner with natural preservatives so it does not cause any negative effect on customers.
Tiffani started Butter Bar in December 2020, and she has sold over 3,000 products across Canada and into the United States. Tiffani decided to improve the accessibility of her products by offering Braille labels upon request and improving its website to accommodate the visually impaired.
Tiffani has a heart for the community! Prior to opening Butter Bar, she worked with the Boys and Girls Club as a Youth Outreach Worker and an After-School Coordinator. Because of her heart for community, she plans to launch a program in partnership with the Tribe Network called “Be-YOU-tiful” which aims to build self-esteem and confidence.
Tiffani plans to raise the voices of women, especially black women.
Tiffani is a graduate from Saint Mary’s University, Honours in Psychology and Human Resource Management.
Tiffani is a wife and a mompreneur with two beautiful kids, Malachi and Rayah.
In Tiffani’s words:
I was born and raised in Nova Scotia and come from a large blended family. Growing up we moved around a lot and I was always the new girl and usually the only Black student in the class, sometimes in the whole school. As a shy person this was a challenge and led to some pretty lonely times. Even within my own family, I didn’t always look like my siblings and would be mistaken for the babysitter. For most of my life I usually felt different or out of place, whether it was because of the colour of my skin, the texture of my hair or simply the way I spoke.
Like many people I just wanted to fit in, one way I felt I could do this was to chemically relax my hair. I thought that if my hair were straight, I wouldn’t stand out as much and that I wouldn’t have tangles (boy was I wrong haha). I begged my mom for a relaxer and she reluctantly said yes at the age of 14.
Thankfully as I got older and experienced more things, I was able to be more accepting of myself. During my time at Saint Mary’s University, I was able to find a sense of belonging and acceptance. When I made the decision to stop using relaxers and start my natural hair journey it was a big step in letting go of who I thought I should be and instead embrace who I was created to be.
As I learned how to care for my natural hair and fall more in love with my texture, I gained a sense of pride I never had before. Wearing my big, bouncy, beautiful curls for all to see helped to build my self-confidence. During my time as an After-School Coordinator I realized that my natural hair was not only boosting my confidence but those of the little black girls I had the pleasure of interacting with each day. They would light up when they would see the different styles I would wear and it encouraged them to try different styles as well. One of my favourite memories is when one little girl came in and proudly said “Miss Tiffani my hair is like yours today”, going on to say this was the first time she had ever worn her hair in an afro.
This is what is at the heart of Natural Butter Bar, I want to celebrate the different textures, curl patterns and skin tones that make up our beautiful community. I want to shine a spotlight on those who are not typically showcased because representation matters. Butter Bar is about falling more in love with the skin you’re in and the kink of your hair. With our wide range of products, we have something for everyone because we all deserve access to affordable, quality products.
What are you most proud of professionally? And who or why?
Starting Natural Butter Bar was a very proud moment for me. It meant I had overcome my fear of failing or not knowing if I am good enough to be in the business world.
I actually had the idea for Butter Bar about 6 or 7 years before launching; however, I procrastinated and talked myself out of starting the business because I could not see myself succeeding. I allowed my self-doubt and insecurities to keep me from moving forward with the idea.
I constantly told myself all of the reasons why I couldn’t do it, I do not come from a business or chemistry background, I am terrified of public speaking, no one in my family owns a business, I don’t have the money to start, I’m not a salesperson. The list was endless.
Thankfully the combination of learning to care for my natural hair, the encouragement from my husband and sharing my journey with other black women/mothers of black girls I started to see that I did have something. I had a way to fill a gap, to provide a much-needed service not simple to make money but to help others.
My passion became stronger than my fears; my desire to help others became greater than my insecurities. With that I was able to take a leap of faith and launch my business in the middle of a pandemic, believing that I could succeed. I had taken the time to do the hard prep work for my business and myself and on launch day with butterflies in my stomach I knew win or lose I did my best and that is all anyone can do.
What’s your vision for Atlantic Canada in 10 years? What’s our biggest opportunity now?
My vision for Atlantic Canada is that in the next 10 years, if not sooner, we will see a true reflection and celebration of our diversity reflected in our business community. Atlantic Canada is a special place to live. It is beautiful, restful and family oriented. However, there are some areas where we are behind the ball. There are communities who are still being left out of the conversation when it comes to what types of businesses are needed and wanted. There are still businesses from underrepresented communities that are being ignored and do not have access to resources needed to succeed. My hope is that in 10 years these barriers will be removed.
Our biggest opportunity is to recognize the talent that can be found in Atlantic Canada and determine how to foster that and turn it into a sustainable business. One way that I believe Natural Butter Bar can help is to use our Community Outreach Program: Be-YOU-tiful, to help improve the self-confidence and esteem of youth and women, especially from the black and indigenous communities, so that others can recognize their potential, find their passion and turn it into a successful business if they so choose to just like I did.
What was your greatest stage of growth? What made it a shift for you?
My greatest stage of growth was becoming a full-time business owner. Launching the business was scary but I had the security of my “9-5” job as a safety net. However, as the business grew, I knew I had to focus more, work harder, faster, and more efficiently without losing myself while also providing my customers with the best value for their time and money.
I felt I needed to become a full-time business owner because of my passion for this industry and the need in the community. My customers deserve my full attention.
What’s your favourite or most read book or podcast? Now or at each of your greatest stages of growth?
I can’t say I have a favourite book; I do love a good mystery when I am looking for an escape. I also haven’t listened to many podcasts. I do however love listening to music and there is usually something playing in my house most days. Although I don’t have a favourite genre or artist, some favourites right now would be Maverick City Music and the Sing 2 soundtrack (for the kids of course haha).
What’s your deepest learning from this past year? How did/will you apply it?
The biggest things I have learned over the last year are to look for avenues to grow and collaborate, I can’t do everything by myself. Also be punctual!
I spend a great deal of time working by myself in my business. These lessons have taught me to ask for help so I don't burnout and to take a step back to pause, reflect and celebrate the successes we’ve had. This helps me to not get lost working in the business and reminds me to work on the business as well.
Lastly, being punctual has been very helpful. I find myself very relaxed before any event/meeting starts and it has opened up opportunities that I might have missed if I were ready and prepared ahead of time.
Who’s inspired you, directly or indirectly? How have they inspired you?
My grandmother, she immigrated to Halifax, N.S. form Jamaica and never let anything stand in the way of her goals. She's almost 80 years old and she is one of the hardest working people I know even now. She is consistent in offering help and going above and beyond for her family.
What would you have done differently?
Started the business earlier. Although I believe everything happens for a reason and that there is a right time for things. The right time could have been earlier and I could have been further along this path if I had gotten out of my own way sooner.
What are the principles you live by?
Don't settle for less! In everything you do, put your best foot forward, walk with integrity and always remember there is room to grow and change.
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Entrepreneur, Wife, Mother, Foodie, Music lover