Erica Pierce, the owner of Oya Kreations in Nacogdoches, Texas, started her natural skincare journey out of necessity. When her daughter’s severe eczema couldn’t be managed with existing products, Erica took matters into her own hands and began creating her own solutions.

In 2021, Erica launched Oya Kreations, where she creates body butter, soaps, bath salts, sugar scrubs, and Elderberry syrup, all using natural ingredients.

“I love experimenting and doing my own research,” Erica said. “It helps me learn and create new natural products.” Her passion for natural health has grown from a personal project into a business aimed at helping others.

Her passion for natural health has grown from a personal project into a business aimed at helping others.
Her passion for natural health has grown from a personal project into a business aimed at helping others.

In May 2023, Erica met the Entrepreneurship Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) during a RISE Event in Nacogdoches, located within the T.L.L. Temple Foundation’s service area. She started working with CU Management Consultant Trent Thomason, who helped her with both personal and business financial plans.

They worked together to review her family budget, find ways to cut costs, boost income, and plan for her nursing career advancement. During their engagement, a key breakthrough for Erica’s business was analyzing her product pricing and costs.

This revealed that some items, like her calendula soap, were more expensive to make due to higher labor and material costs.
This revealed that some items, like her calendula soap, were more expensive to make due to higher labor and material costs.

Erica raised the price of her calendula soap from $10 to $15 because it has more ingredients than her other soaps. This change prevents her from losing money and helps her price product bundles for profit. Now, she confidently makes a profit at pop-up sales.

“Erica and I connected over our mutual passion for natural health,” Thomason said. “I’ve been grateful to be a supportive part of her entrepreneurial journey, as I believe she has a mission worth sharing.”

"Erica’s growth and progress as a businesswoman have been inspiring.”

— Trent Thomason, CU Management Consultant

Erica appreciates CU’s help, saying, “Trent helped me with pricing, financial planning, and finding ways to save or make more money. He also recommended useful resources.”

Erica is excited about her progress. “I’ve been doing a lot of pop-ups, and my goal is to have at least 10 by the end of the year.”

As Oya Kreations grows, Erica feels empowered by the support she’s received from Trent and CU.

“My experience has been great. If I have questions, I can message or email Trent, and he always responds quickly. They also attend events, so I can ask more questions in person. I’m confident recommending CU to other businesses.”

— Erica Pierce, Owner of Oya Kreations