BEATRICE DIXON OF THE HONEY POT CO.
“Keep staying true to yourself. I believe one of my superpowers is my willingness to show up as exactly who I am and I would want my 20-year-old self to know how truly powerful that is. ” - Beatrice Dixon
Beatrice Dixon had been suffering with bacterial vaginosis for eight months when one night, an ancestor appeared to Dixon in a dream and provided her with a list of ingredients to heal herself. The concoction worked and Dixon realized that she had something special to share. From that visionary dream, the formula for a powerful and effective herb-powered vaginal wash was created. In 2014, Dixon launched The Honey Pot Company, a plant-derived vaginal wellness line created with a goal of providing humans with vaginas healthy alternatives to traditional feminine care products that are free of unwanted chemicals, carcinogens and sulfates. The rest is history. Dixon has leveraged her vast expertise in pharmaceuticals, retail, natural foods and personal passion for wellness and herbal medicine to build an innovative and disruptive plant-derived feminine care system.
The Honey Pot Company’s system spans the ongoing needs of the vagina from birth through menopause, producing an unparalleled, complete care system. Unlike conventional brands, The Honey Pot products are efficacious, contain known and trusted ingredients, and are clinically and dermatologically tested. The Honey Pot Company offers vaginal cleansers, organic menstrual tampons and pads, organic incontinence pads, mommy-to-be products, soothing vulva creams and boric acid suppositories, refreshing panty sprays, and organic lubricants. Today, The Honey Pot Company’s products can be found online and in stores nationwide at Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wegmans and other retailers.
An empowering black female entrepreneur, Dixon has been a recipient of the Sundial and Unilever’s multimillion-dollar New Voices fund; was 1 of the first 40 women of color to raise over one million in venture capital; and has been featured in T -Pain's School of Business, BuzzFeed's Ladylike series, Today Show, CNN, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, ELLE , and ESSENCE to name a few. Most recently, she was named one of Forbes Top 100 Female Founders and one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs of 2020; her company won a 2020 ESSENCE Best in Black Beauty Award and a WWD Beauty Inc. Wellness Award. Through her diverse background and experience, Dixon continues to make a mark in the world of natural health and retail with a truly revolutionary approach to human health and sexual wellness.
What inspired you to start The Honey Pot Company?
It was less of an inspiration and more of a need. I was suffering with a year long bout of Bacterial Vaginosis - in so much pain and exhausting absolutely every option. Once the continued use of antibiotics didn’t change my experience, I felt helpless. One night my ancestor came to me in a dream, sharing the formula for what would become our washes. I woke up and feverishly wrote down all of the ingredients. That day I made the concoction in my kitchen, used it and it worked. I realized immediately that others were likely experiencing similar issues and that this product needed to be shared with the world and then The Honey Pot was born.
What skills are essential to creating a successful company from the ground up, particularly in the wellness industry?
Adaptability, compassion and a relentless desire to provide consumers with not only efficacious products but a safe and informed environment to build their own journey. We are a vehicle towards a better for you lifestyle as we truly believe that the vagina is a portal for wellness.
Founding and fundraising for any startup is challenging, but data shows that it’s particularly challenging for women of color. How did you approach challenges that stemmed from being a Black female founder, and what advice do you have for women of color entrepreneurs?
The challenges for myself and The Honey Pot felt seemingly different because we were additionally compacted by the effects of an industry that catered to womxn’s needs that was dictated by men. That said, as a black human showing up and talking about vaginas I had literally seconds to capture someone’s interest thus my first suggestion is own your narrative. How you show up, what elements of your business are you punctuating and stay committed to that mission. While you will feel challenged, the pitch is your nugget and point of entry - do not compromise that. When doing research as to who you want to partner with or may be looking to raise capital from, I would recommend understanding how you sit in said person’s overall portfolio - where does your business fit? The upside? Make sure you are showcasing that.
Who is a woman leader you look up to?
Pema Chodron is a leader in the most dynamic sense of the word - a human who has cultivated her own path while sharing that path with others. A true leader in my opinion is someone who can guide whilst feeling guided and at its heart that is a spiritual practice. I look up to her ability to acknowledge that in the descent, as things fall apart, you can find peace and momentum to move forward. That ebb and flow and general recognition is both inspirational and practical to me.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Keep staying true to yourself. I believe one of my super powers is my willingness to show up as exactly who I am and I would want my 20-year-old self to know how truly powerful that is.
Quick take one: Name three of your favorite The Honey Pot Company products.
Cucumber Aloe Panty Spray - because it is dynamic and smells divine.
Lavender Vulva Cream - it is such a beautiful product and is so effective. I love building it into my vaginal wellness routine as a way to keep my vulva hydrated. Also, it makes an incredible body cream for ultra dry skin!
Everyday Herbal Pantiliners - you just never know when you may need a liner and these are super soothing and refreshing.
Quick take two: Recommend a few books, podcasts, newsletters or blogs that you've enjoyed and would recommend to the website readers.
AudioBooks
Podcast
Startup, Daily stoic, & Serial
Blogs
Quick take two: Name one act of self-care you practice each day.
Meditation. I allow myself the latitude to do this in whatever way I can but I absolutely have to sit in silence and just be daily.