Meet Chelsea Hamilton | Co-Founder & COO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Hamilton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, what is the most important factor behind your success?
It’s one thing to say that customer service matters as a brand. It’s another thing to actually walk the walk. People care about Simple Jane because we walk our walk when we say we care about our clients. So many little touches go into cultivating the service of our customers, and it makes the difference between us and just any other brand. Handwritten notes go into our online orders. We have a text line that gets responded to personally (and promptly) and like a real human (no bot syndrome!) and all emails are thoughtfully answered. It’s easy to take short-cuts or a one-response-fits-all approach to interacting with customers – but I really believe the fact that we don’t do that matters to our customers and keeps them coming back to us for years!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Creating a product-based business is not for the faint of heart. There are so many facets that you have to be versed in in order to make it a success. From packaging to inventory to production to finance to marketing…it’s so complex. And oh yeah – people have to actually LIKE what you make too. So take that, and add an extra layer on top being in a restricted category with CBD and WOW – it is NOT easy!

I am most proud of the fact that over the last 5 (going on 6) years that we’ve developed Simple Jane, we have always found a way. When we first started the company, we couldn’t find a bank that would accept our money. Then, we couldn’t find a reliable payment processor who would accept payments online for us. Then we had to overcome purchasing power and the cost of our quality ingredients at scale as a self-funded business. It just went on and on, there was every excuse to just….quit.

But here we are, in 2022 and we are still going at it better than ever. We have amazing wholesale partnerships across the country – having our product in their hands helps us grow. We have our e-commerce business that continues to grow as more people find us after experiencing the product IRL or are referred from a friend or read a great review.

The growing pains have been humbling. to say the least. But we show up every day to keep going, keep reaching and keep empowering people to heal themselves. That makes it worth it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I grew up in the North Phoenix area and moved away to live in the Bay Area for about 8 years before coming home. I love it here and there is truly SO much to do (and eat!)

Brunch and breakfast spots – Brunch at Francine (almond croissant french toast – trust.) and then walk it off shopping Fashion Square. Snooze in Kierland, Breakfast Kitchen Bar in Scottsdale Quarter,
Lunch – I love all the LUCI’s concepts, especially the one at the Orchard. The Greene House in Kierland. ANY Postino’s location. But low key, nothing beats the mediterranean chicken salad and a giant iced green tea from Pita Jungle.
Dinner – If you’re going to totally splurge, dinner at Cafe Monarch. Incredible. I also love Spiga on Pinnacle Peak ( a true local’s haunt with a great wine list)

Take a day-trip (or an overnighter) up to Sedona to hike. Have dinner at Mariposa while the sun sets.

Everyone hikes Camelback and Tom’s Thumb (for a reason, they’re classic!) but there are some great, lower traffic hikes up in the McDowell Mountains (Gateway Trail!) that area easy and still give you great views.

Scottsdale is an amazing places to pamper yourself. Get a resort pass and hop around to some of the local resorts for the day. The Fairmont Princess, CIVANA and the Spa at Sanctuary are all truly heaven.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My co-founder, business bestie & mom, Angella Hamilton. If it wasn’t for her endless perseverance, dedication and creative genius, Simple Jane just wouldn’t be here today. It hasn’t been easy (if anyone tells you building a product-based business is easy…they’re fibbing!) but man she has the most grit out of anyone I know. She keeps going, keeps creating – and it’s because of her we’re able to help so many people across the country feel better in their bodies. She doesn’t get enough credit but she deserves it and so much more.

Website: https://simplejane.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplejaneco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whatchelseasaid/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimpleJaneCBD/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS8opK9vO2aUDuaAvrrqbwQ

Image Credits
Elizabeth Marie Photography