Who doesn’t love great self-care products? Jenessa Palmer Simms is the owner and founder of Gin Glow Enterprise, originating in Etobicoke, Ontario. Gin Glow Enterprise is a hand-crafted bath and body company. Jenessa makes several of her products from scratch, namely; bar soap, liquid soap, body butter, bath salts, body cream, body scrub, and much more. 

Jenessa’s business journey began from her own personal needs and interests, and now she is dedicated to providing an “at-home spa” experience for all through the quality of her products. When Jenessa first began creating products for herself, she wanted to use ingredients that would be the best for her skin health! Soon after, she shared her creations with her family and friends, all of whom thoroughly enjoyed her lotions and body butter. After several years, Jenessa was ready to take the plunge and open her own business, where she now sells a range of products.  

To expand her operations and start selling online, Jenessa decided to join the ShopHERE powered by Google program. Jenessa partnered with her eCommerce Coordinator to create a website that is functional, visually attractive, and informative. 

“The person who I worked with was very insightful, flexible and patient. I learned a lot when it comes to launching and I love how my site looks. Definitely a lot better than when I tried to do it myself a while back.” 

Jenessa was able to find value with the support provided by the ShopHERE program, and accomplished a digital transformation to start selling online! The program enabled Jenessa to continue her entrepreneurial passions, whilst balancing a full-time career. Jenessa feels that the program is valuable with the range of resources.  

“Take a chance and try! You never know what may happen.  Also working on your goals may be slow especially if you work but it doesn't mean it can't be done. It just means it needs to be done in a mindful manner where you can still work on your goals, feed yourself and pay the bills.” 

Balancing a small business along with a full-time job can be a difficult task. Jenessa is an example of how hard work and following your goals can pay off.  She had a lot to manage, but she was determined to start her business and step out of her comfort zone to showcase all that she had to offer. ShopHERE provided additional support to help make this dream a reality. Many individuals may be hesitant to get started, but Jenessa encourages you to find a balance and take the leap of faith.  

“It's a great way to start up especially if you don't have many tech and social media skills… It was a great program and the person who worked with me was helpful and knew what they were doing.”  

The ShopHERE program is a great resource for small businesses to access one-on-one support regarding eCommerce solutions, digital marketing resources, and website building skills. Click here to view Jenessa’s website and purchase her products! If you enjoyed learning about Jenessa's experience with the program, you can view more information and sign up for the ShopHERE Powered by Google program here.