Today we’d like to introduce you to Starla Davis.
Hi Starla, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In September of 2019, Roy was on sabbatical from the corporate world after a particularly terrible work situation. He interviewed for several new positions, but every time he thought about returning to the industry he was in, he would get physically sick. Having grown up on a farm, he decided to start a garden as an outlet for his stress. He planted several heirloom herbs and peppers, along with essentials like tomatoes and okra. The garden absolutely flourished, so we started drying the herbs and turning them into different seasoning blends. I had just started my first semester of grad school when we found out that the Lucas Farmers Market was going to be opening just a few minutes from our house. Although the timing seemed crazy, we decided to let Roy say goodbye to the corporate world and started our business.
I was extremely fortunate that I was able to overlap many of my grad school projects with things for the business – our website, several of our YouTube videos, and our business plan. Even though my Master’s Degree is in Learning Technologies, my second semester included a course in entrepreneurship, which was the most amazing timing.
In addition to our seasoning blends, I also make all-natural soaps, shampoo bars, serums, and other family care products. I’ve been working with essential oils since I was 19, but got really passionate about keeping things as natural as possible after our youngest child was born four years ago. He struggled with eczema so I started making his soap and shampoo, and it made a world of difference. I also found myself struggling with acne for the first time, so after trying a ton of off-the-shelf products that only seemed to make things worse, I developed a serum, anti-inflammatory mask, and a detox soap bar with activated charcoal that turned out to be an absolute game-changer for me. So, that’s a common theme with our products – they aren’t just things we make and sell; they are things we make and use for our own family and want to share with others.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We started our business just a few months before things started shutting down due to COVID-19, so there were times that were really terrifying and uncertain. Thankfully, we had just gotten into Dallas Farmers Market and they did an amazing job of handling things and keeping vendors and customers as safe as possible. We were an essential business, so we were able to keep growing, even through that very challenging time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Royal Roost Farm?
All of our artisanal seasoning blends are all natural and feature home-grown heirloom herbs, so they have a ton of flavor without any gluten, soy, preservatives or fillers. And our little jars are adorable. Most of our blends are low-sodium or completely salt-free, and only one has any sugar in it, and that is just a pinch of turbinado in our Chipotle Coffee Rub. Because we mix our seasoning blends in small batches, we can accommodate customers that have dietary restrictions or allergies.
As for our family care products, we don’t use any artificial dyes or fragrances. We keep our ingredients really clean and natural. My favorite products are our serums. The great thing about selling our products at farmers markets is that I get to see the amazing transformation of our customers. When someone comes back a month after they’ve picked up one of our serums and their face is absolutely radiant, it’s the best feeling.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
We were both clearly destined to be doing exactly what are doing now. Roy’s happiest childhood memories were getting up early to go pick peas and vegetables with his grandpa on their family farm. And I spent my time outdoors gathering interesting leaves, twigs, berries, and flowers and turning them into “recipes.” Thankfully, my recipes have improved greatly since those days.
Pricing:
- Seasoning Packets: $4
- Seasoning Jars: $7
- Soaps: $7
- Shampoo Bars: $8
- Serums: $12-15
Contact Info:
- Email: royalroostfarm@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.royalroostfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royalroostfarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalroostfarm/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/royalroostfarm
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnfrj9mB8pa00n4OsnL9fPw
Image Credits
All images by Starla Davis
