Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Sawyer.
Hi Michelle , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Twenty-one years ago, I took a leap of faith. I started my cleaning business from scratch no big funding, just a dream and a relentless drive. Shooting Star Cleaning Services. At the time I lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL I grew it slowly, residential and commercial cleaning. I never stopped envisioning a bigger impact. About three years ago I knew it was time to create something new. I hired a chemist and set out to craft my own cleaning product a Multi Surface Cleaner it has probiotic and plant based. I had it trademarked and patent. This brand, Shooting Star, was born this past Halloween I opened. I moved to Jacksonville, FL two years ago kept my cleaning business going. starting fresh with a new chapter. I also began making candles another passion of mine. Now, with both businesses thriving, I’m so grateful for the journey from that first step
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not always been a smooth road when I first started my business in Fort Lauderdale. I only had two accounts and I waited one year before I started building on Commercial accounts as you know nothing is a guarantee especially with residential homes. Your services can be canceled anytime when I decided to move to Jacksonville. I gave up all my accounts and started from scratch with no work I had a savings and I was able to take six months off of work when I moved here while I settled in and slowly I started to build my business back up. I now have residential and commercial accounts.
I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale. I lived in Connecticut for two years, but Fort Lauderdale was my home but I knew I wanted to move out of the Fort Lauderdale. I just didn’t know where so one weekend I went to Jacksonville. I was there for two days and I loved it, and I felt in my heart that this was my new home. I’m very close to God and I always search for guidance. I really took a leap of faith. I had a house built I knew I was going to give up my accounts in Fort Lauderdale, which I was financially very successful, but I knew in my heart that I was making the right decision and I knew that God would get me through the challenges. A lot of people would say I’m a risk taker, but it’s really faith that’s what guides my life. Before I started my cleaning business 21 years ago I was a claims adjuster for liberty mutual insurance. I worked there for almost 3 years and I was not happy. I knew when I was nine years old I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, I gave them one week notice and I quit my job with two residential accounts so I believe if you have God in your life and your driven, you can accomplish anything.
When I first launched my product business, I’ll be honest I felt completely out of my depth. I came from a service based background, and this was a whole new world for me. But there was this undeniable push something spiritual that told me this was my calling. I knew, deep down, that this was where I was meant to be. I had to learn everything from scratch running the business out of my home, handling shipping, labeling, and bottling each product by hand. My manufacturer sends the formula straight to me, and from there, I do it all candles, packaging, and every detail in between. It was a steep learning curve, but it has been so worth it. Now, I’m out there at farmer markets, sharing my passion, and seeing this dream come to life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I offer residential Commercial Cleaning. I have a Chemist that makes my formula and it’s shipped to my home where I bottle it and I make my homemade candles. I sell my products on Shopify and I go to farmer markets. I’m really trying to build a product business. I love working with people and meeting new people and I feel like I have a really good product line. My candles are coconut apricot wax, which is vegan and I love hearing from my customers, how happy they are with their purchase. My Chemist is going to make me more cleaning products so my line will eventually grow.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
We are an Italian family. My favorite childhood memories was our family gatherings a lot of cooking a lot of friends family the crowd can be 30+ people at the house good food good conversation. Lots of memories my parents knew someone at the time who had their own band and they would come to the house and play their music drums, guitar singing. These gatherings could be at my parents house, my great aunts house My Cousin‘s house a friend‘s house and it was often because it was always some occasion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Shootingstarproducts.com
- Instagram: Shooting Star
- Facebook: Shooting Star products
