My name is Yoshiro Mare, and today I'll be sharing my experience creating and closing my first business alongside with my love and partner Maria Borrero. In the search for an extra form of income, I went on investigating multiple business models online. An e-commerce shop sounded the most attractive to us but we didn't know a way to start. Drop shipping has gained so much traction online over the pasts years, and has settled to be the most common business to run online. However, the learning curve and the resources I ran into about this topic, we're not something that kept me interested. I went on exploring diverse options, and then ran into something called "White-Label" drop-shipping. This model is basically where you sell pre-made products under your own brand name, without needing to handle manufacturing, inventory, or shipping. This matched perfectly with what we were looking for and our budget.

We had the model, but didn't have a clear option on what to sell. And that's when we arrived to Supliful and the supplements and beauty products niche. Our main purpose was doing something that would serve a higher purpose and not exclusively benefit us. We believed building a brand on this specific market was definitely in sync with that goal.

For me personally, supplements have been something that helped me tremendously in my life. I have 4+ years sober, and taking supplements like Magnesium, Zinc and healthy proteins and vitamins have supported my health and wellbeing during my battle against psychiatric medication dependency and marihuana. So definitely the idea of transforming my experience into brand, into a message and products was something that convinced me to move forward.

We didn't even know we need to legally establish a company to sell online, how to build a website and so much other things and skills. But I asked friends and family, watched so many videos and had reads on all this topics and took the leap of faith to start.

Here are the main tools and sites I used to start my first business

Northwest Agency: A registered agent service to start and maintain businesses.

This is the company we chose to to set up our first LLC. We are non-US citizens and this was the best option for us to create our business in the United States. The process with them is pretty straightforward and process were very clear. They have affordable prices and overall we had a great experience with them. I would definitely recommend taking a look at this service if you wish to start an LLC from 0. They helped us get our EIN, fill our annual report and the dissolution also of the LLC was pretty easy. Basically any questions you have regarding any procedure or documentation they have you covered.

Shopify: E-commerce platform to build and manage your online store

Shopify became the backbone of our entire operation. This platform made it incredibly simple to create a professional-looking online store without any coding knowledge. We were able to buy our domain and customize our store design, manage products, process orders, and track our business performance all in one place. Designing the store was very very challenging because, I had literally 0 experience. However the integration with the Supliful plug-in (our provider) and the free site templates we're helpful. Without Shopify, launching our brand would have been significantly more complicated.

Supliful: White-label supplement and beauty product supplier

Discovering Supliful was a game-changer for our business model. They handled all the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping of our products, allowing us to focus on building our brand and marketing. Their platform made it easy to select products, customize labels with our branding, and connect directly to our Shopify store. Every time a customer placed an order, Supliful would automatically fulfill it without us having to manage inventory or shipping logistics. This reduced our startup costs significantly and eliminated the need for storage space. The quality of products was consistently high, and their customer service was responsive whenever we had questions.

WISE: provides global money transfer services

For payments we used Wise, which is not a bank itself but acts as one. This service allowed us to have an account on the US and helped us send and receive money internationally. The payments we received from our shop we're received from our Shopify shop via Stripe to this account on Wise. The offer competitive exchange rates and low fees, it simply worked for us.

Tips:

1. Invest a lot of timing in SEO, for you products, descriptions, pages, images, literally everything. 2. Don't invest in paid promotion if you don't have a budget of over 300 USD to spend on an add campaign and go for Google Ads instead of Meta. 3. Don't give anything for free.

All these tools and platforms proved invaluable for launching our business, but the real treasure lies in what's less tangible. The foundational values and innovative approach towards nutrition and self-care we developed. Elemental Splendor, this became our north star throughout this entrepreneurial journey.

The Problem:

In today's rushed world, people consume nutrients mindlessly—gulping smoothies and taking supplements without awareness
This leads to widespread nutritional deficiencies and declining mental health
Despite abundant wellness products, we remain disconnected from true nourishment

Our Solution:

Elemental Splendor's Conscious Nutrient Activation mindful approach
A revolutionary method that transforms how you engage and experience nourishment
A comprehensive guide bringing mindfulness and intention to consumption

The Benefits:

Measurable improvements in nutrient absorption
Significant stress reduction
Addresses root causes of wellness challenges, not just symptoms
Creates sustainable change in your relationship with health
Delivers benefits that extend far beyond conventional supplementation
The True Value Behind Our Journey

For us, the most valuable outcome wasn't measured in sales figures or follower counts, but in our personal transformation. The patience we cultivated while waiting for results, the consistency we maintained through challenging periods, the flexibility to adapt our strategies, and the persistence to overcome obstacles—these qualities reshaped us as human beings.

Our business may have closed its doors due to a low volume of sales, but what remains is far more precious: a deepened understanding of what it takes to run a business, enhanced resilience in the face of uncertainty, and the wisdom gained in our relationship. This journey taught us that true entrepreneurship isn't just about building a company—it's about building and discovering yourself.

As you consider your own entrepreneurial path, remember that beyond the practical tools and business models lies the potential for profound personal growth. This might be the greatest return on investment you'll ever receive.

Looking back, I can identify several key attributes that were essential throughout this journey:

Patience became our most important virtue. The results we had didn't happen overnight, and there were many moments when it felt like we were putting in tremendous effort without seeing immediate returns. I learned that building something worthwhile takes time—whether it's establishing brand recognition, optimizing marketing strategies, or waiting for customers to discover us. The market doesn't respond immediately, and understanding this helped us maintain perspective during slow periods.

Consistency Showing up daily to work on the business, even when motivation was low, created compound effects over time. This meant regular social media updates, continuous website improvements, re inventing our strategy, and ongoing market research. The days when we didn't feel inspired or had arguments but worked anyway often led to unexpected breakthroughs.

Flexibility was crucial in adapting to changing circumstances. Our initial business plan evolved significantly as we gained real-world experience and feedback. We had to pivot our marketing approach several times, adjust product prices and ways to funnel our audience. Being too rigid would have prevented us from making necessary changes. The willingness to admit when something wasn't working and adapt became one of our strengths.

Persistence carried us through numerous challenges and setbacks. There were technical issues with the website, shipping delays, customer service challenges, and marketing campaigns that failed to perform as expected. Each obstacle tested our commitment, but pushing through these difficulties ultimately provided the most valuable learning experiences. I discovered that most problems have solutions if you're willing to persistently work through them rather than give up at the first sign of trouble.

While closing this chapter of our entrepreneurial journey feels bittersweet, I view it as a success story—not measured by profit margins, but our personal growth. The skills and mindset developed during this year have transformed how we approach challenges in all areas of life. Most importantly, we've proven to ourselves that taking calculated risks and stepping into unfamiliar territory leads to the most profound development.

For anyone considering starting their first business, remember that the value extends beyond financial outcomes. The person you become through the process—more resilient, knowledgeable, and confident—is perhaps the greatest return on investment. Whether your venture thrives for decades or serves as a stepping stone to something else, the experience itself is invaluable.

Our Lasting Legacy: The Elemental Splendor E-Book

While our business journey has concluded, its essence lives on through our most valuable creation—the Elemental Splendor guide to Conscious Nutrient Activation. Throughout our entrepreneurial adventure, we discovered the profound disconnection between modern consumers and the nutrients they consume, which became the foundation of our philosophy.

In a world of rushed consumption and mindless supplementation, we developed a revolutionary approach to nutrition that brings consciousness and intention to nourishment. Though our online store has closed, this message remains powerfully relevant.

Our e-book offers:

The science of nutrient absorption and the mind-body connection
Practical techniques for mindful consumption including intention-setting and gratitude
Physical activation methods that boost nutrient absorption through various exercises
Strategies for timing, recovery, and personalizing your practice
Tools for overcoming challenges and creating sustainable wellness habits

If you've connected with my entrepreneurial journey, I invite you to explore the culmination of our vision. The Elemental Splendor E-Book presents a choice—to continue with disconnected consumption or embrace a transformative approach to nourishment that creates lasting change in your overall well-being.

Are you ready to transform life, one mindful moment at a time?

Though our business chapter has closed, the wisdom continues to flow—just as your journey toward mindful wellness can begin today.