Today Sylvia Ruma finds herself as the founder and president of her own business,
Ruma Organics. A year ago she didn't think she would be building her own organic deodorant company.
"I never intended to start the business at the time," Ruma says. "I have always loved making my own organic products. It's just what I love to do."
The Macomb Township resident started blending deodorant in her kitchen for personal and family-member use. At the time she couldn't find an effective deodorant made of natural products so she started making her own. She gave a few samples out to family and friends, which prompted a grass-roots demand for it.
"I couldn't believe it worked," Ruma says. "It worked better than I ever imagined. The more I passed it out the more people liked it."
Ruma attended entrepreneurial courses at the
Blackstone LaunchPad program at Walsh College in Troy. That gave her the foundation to begin selling Ruma Organics online and then in retail stores. She and one of her team members (a relative) have acquired production equipment that should help Ruma's team keep up with demand.
"Now we can make 18-24 jars at a time," Ruma says.
Source: Sylvia Ruma, founder & president of Ruma Organics
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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