Octavia Phillips, a former biomedical scientist based in Philadelphia, has seen a remarkable 300% increase in revenue for her skincare line, Touch of OShea Natural Skincare. Inspired by her family's history as organic farmers in Virginia, she initially created natural balms and creams for friends and family dealing with skin issues. This passion project has expanded into a full range of body butters, hair oils, and other essentials.
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Despite perfecting her products, Phillips struggled with the business side initially, admitting she lacked direction in those early years. Her focus shifted entirely to Touch of OShea in 2025, prompting her to utilize Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, an online resource aimed at supporting entrepreneurs.
Through this platform, Phillips re-evaluated her pricing strategy. Believing that lower prices would attract more customers, she learned to adjust her pricing based on the production time and quality of her ingredients, leading to a significant increase in her sales. After participating in specialized events, she raised her prices by as much as 35%, resulting in her best-ever first quarter of sales.
The Digital Ready program also transformed her approach to digital marketing. An event focused on using AI for content creation taught her to enhance her social media strategies, including launching a comic series that generated nearly 500 views and sparked customer interest in her products. Moreover, Phillips implemented AI agents to streamline administrative tasks, saving time and improving efficiency in her promotional efforts.
Beyond operational changes, Phillips has gained confidence as a solopreneur. Previously intimidated by larger businesses, she attended a Digital Ready workshop that encouraged her to see her individual efforts as an opportunity for personal growth. This mindset shift prompted her to pursue funding through pitch competitions and register for vendor opportunities at local events.
Phillips is also connecting with fellow entrepreneurs from Digital Ready events, which has helped alleviate feelings of isolation faced by small business owners. She actively encourages others to take advantage of the resources provided by Digital Ready, leading to three of her colleagues enrolling in the program.
Looking ahead, Phillips plans to hire her first full-time associate within the year and aims to honor her family's legacy in organic agriculture through her brand. She highlights the importance of incorporating her family's names into her product line as a way to remember their roots.
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready seeks to assist 1 million small businesses by 2030 through resources designed to promote their success.