Community Highlights: Meet Maya Lewis of Nani + Nola

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Lewis.

Maya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Nani + Nola began when I became a new mother. In the early newborn days, I wasn’t always able to find products that were natural, smelled amazing and effectively treated the various issues and concerns that popped up with a brand new baby. The inspiration truly struck when my newborn daughter had severe diaper rash that did not respond to any of the commercially available products on the market. I began formulating and developed a product that did the trick. Fast forward almost 3 years, COVID 19 hit and my 9-5 became nonexistent.

It was at that point, I took a leap of faith and launched Nani + Nola with 4 products – Cuticle Oil, Baby Balm, Baby Oil and Hand Sanity (our hand sanitizer). Since then, the brand has expanded and both our online and market presence has grown here in the valley. We have since launched Mama Oil, Beard Oil, Goddess Oil, and Quench Cream. This fall we will roll out even more new and exciting items. We stand by our original mission of providing high-quality, effective products that provide a moment of peace and luxury in the crazy, hectic world of motherhood.

As a mother of young or old children, you can trust that our products are clean, phalate and toxin free, never tested on animals and work hard to get the job done.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all, there are lots of small and big struggles – growing pains, learning new processes, making mistakes – that are a daily part of growing a business and balancing it all. Motherhood has taught me so much, one of them is that nothing is perfect and things are CONSTANTLY changing – the same is true in business. I aim to provide excellent customer service, and high-quality, consistent products that moms really need for their families.

I consider Nani + Nola my third child – she requires constant attention and she’s teaches me something every day. Overall, I embrace the struggles, the surprises and the rejection that come with building something from the ground up. I am proud of what I have created, what I am continuing to strive for and for the vision of what is to come. It’s exciting and nerve-wracking every single day.

*I find that the big struggles are: access to capital and exposure.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Nani + Nola is a personal care and lifestyle brand aimed at bringing high-quality, natural, safe and effective products to mamas. We offer products for the whole family, and a variety of age ranges – but we focus on mama & baby care. Our best-sellers are our Cuticle Oil and the Baby Balm. The Baby Balm is a game changer – it’s the best diaper cream you’ll ever try and it’s a great all-purpose balm for everything from dry skin, to eczema, scars, burns and bites. We are different from other personal care brands because we focus on natural products while still providing a luxurious experience – our products feel and smell amazing! I am most proud of the Quench Cream because it was difficult to create but is now a favorite among our customers. Please follow our brand page @naniandnola and website naniandnola.com for updates, we will be adding more to the brand soon.

What are your plans for the future?
We have big plans for the future but for now, we are looking forward to the fall market season, growing our online presence and expanding our brand partnerships. We are currently available in Tempe at Pure Juice N’ Joy, Chandler at Jxlyn’s Nail Studio (located inside Lalelei Lash) and on the ModernLuxx Baby truck (at various pop up locations across the valley). Additionally, be on the lookout for Nani + Nola Home in the near future.

Pricing:

• Prices range from $6-25
• Cuticle Pen $5.99
• Baby Balm $11.99
• Goddess Oil $24.99
• Quench Cream $15.99

Contact Info:

• Email: maya@naniandnola.com
• Website: naniandnola.com
• Instagram: naniandnola
• Facebook: naniandnola

Image Credits
Michaela Hoenigman