It doesn’t seem possible to start a skincare and home goods brand with just $100, but that’s what Tanika Casimir did with Elizabeth Peyton Creations operating out of Springfield, writes Lisa Dukart for Philadelphia Business Journal.

Casimir started creating products to give her mom some clean alternatives after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, eliminating unnecessary ingredients.

“I was like, OK, let’s try to change our lifestyle,” she said.

Casimir removed chemicals and started making soaps, lotions, body butters, and scrubs using fruits, vegetables, and shea butter.

A neighbor was interested and started buying her products. 

Casimir, who previously ran a wedding and events firm, launched Elizabeth Peyton in April 2017.

The company name combines her mother’s middle name and a flower girl’s name from a wedding she worked on.

Six years in, Casimir is earning $50,000 above her annual revenue goals. She’s ready to expand with new products.

She’s also considering a membership-based creative co-working space that would support other startups like her own.

“I’m big on giving back to small businesses,” she said. “I really feel like when I first started, a lot of businesses didn’t have spaces to do things, make products….”

Read more about Tanika Casimir, owner of Elizabeth Peyton Creations at Philadelphia Business Journal.

Tanika Casimir talks about Elizabeth Peyton Creations.