Meet Richie West | Entrepreneur & Social Media Content Creator

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

Hi Richie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I decided to start my business during a transitional period of my life. I wanted to start taking pride in what I was doing to support myself. It was time for me to create something that nobody could control or take from me.

My initial plan was to create an Adult Toy business. I changed my mind after realizing I wasn’t passionate about Adult Toys and I knew I would feel shame if I were to go down that route. Candles are something that have always brought joy to my life and I wanted to create something that would appeal to a wider audience. I desperately wanted to be known for something other than my boyish looks.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I think every business should have a story behind its creation. My story is one that not everyone will be able to understand. Something that sets me apart from a lot of other businesses is the fact that I am fully self-made and fully self-funded . I have nobody helping me to conduct my business day-to-day and that can become very stressful at times. Having a supportive group of people around me has been instrumental in overcoming adversity and other challenges.

My YouTube channel is what I am most proud of. I started my channel 5 years ago when I was still in college and living in a small dorm room. I began sharing my life and harsh lessons that I was already learning at nineteen years old. I didn’t exactly know what I was doing but I knew that I enjoyed editing the video and seeing feedback from others. At this point, I am still sharing life lessons that I am continuing to learn in hopes of helping young people who may need direction.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would first take my friend to Sedona for a Pink Jeep Tour to experience the jaw-dropping natural beauty since there is no other place in the world like it. Next, I would treat my friend to wonderful dinner at my favorite restaurant “Bobby Q” for a delicious pulled-pork sandwich. Another place I would take someone who was visiting from out of state is Old Town Scottsdale for a nice brunch and afternoon stroll.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The main reason I started my business is because I wanted to leave The Adult Film Industry. Without the support of my wonderful YouTube subscribers, I don’t think I would have gained the courage I needed to leave an industry that I had become dangerously comfortable in. I never would have started my business “West Novelties” if I didn’t have a supportive and uplifting audience following me on YouTube.

Website: https://westnovelties.com

Instagram: @westnovelties

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxOpvqs4l94vrjWg2ifEfXg