Nellie Griffin, owner of ExSEAlent Moss, has found a way to blend natural remedies with her community’s needs in Columbus, Mississippi.

Her business, which started during the peak of the COVID pandemic, emerged from a personal calling to provide what her community lacked — sea moss gel. This nutrient-dense “superfood” was frequently sought after for its health benefits, but the local health food store where she worked couldn’t keep it in stock.

The frustration from unmet demand, along with the growing awareness of sea moss’ potential to help with respiratory issues, particularly in clearing mucus, sparked Nellie’s entrepreneurial journey. “Ultimately, I felt a calling — God told me that this product was needed in the community,” Nellie said. “That was the spark that started it all.”

Launched in July 2022, ExSEAlent Moss specializes in six variations of sea moss gel, eight variations of sea moss soap, and a line of essential hair oils, all crafted from high-quality organic ingredients. Her products, rich in sea moss, fruits, and essential oils, are not only sold at local health food stores but are also a staple at natural product pop-up events in and around Columbus.

However, the joy of helping customers manage conditions like blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, and diabetes was tempered by the financial and operational challenges of running her business. Nellie’s passion for creating effective and health-boosting products was unquestionable, but behind the scenes, rising costs for ingredients and outdated bookkeeping methods were stifling her progress.

That’s where the Entrepreneurship Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) stepped in.

Through a referral from a local connection, Nellie was introduced to CU, and she quickly connected with CU Management Consultant LaKetter Cannon. One of the first issues identified was that Nellie didn’t have a clear understanding of her product costs. Cannon explained that during their discussions, they discovered Nellie didn’t know the cost of her products.

With no formal system in place to track her expenses, Nellie was losing sight of the true financial picture of her business. Cannon worked with her to create recipe cards for each product and set up an accounting system to record transactions. This was a major shift for Nellie, who had been tracking everything manually.

The results of CU’s engagement were transformative. With Cannon’s guidance, Nellie increased her prices and transferred all her transactions from January to July 2024 into a new, efficient accounting system provided by CU. Nellie now understands how to price her products properly and has a much clearer understanding of the financial health of her business. This newfound knowledge has not only improved her profitability but also given her the confidence to keep expanding her product line, including the launch of a new sea moss soap.

Though there is still more training and development ahead, the foundation has been laid for long-term success.

With the support of CU, Nellie Griffin’s ExSEAlent Moss is poised for continued growth, and her passion for helping people is stronger than ever.

“I truly enjoy seeing my customers say, ‘This really helps me,’” Nellie said. “It’s rewarding to know I’m making a difference in their lives. I’m excited about the possibilities for my business moving forward.”