Rachel Zwipf | Clean Chicks & Lily Springs
Rachel Zwipf never dreamed of being an entrepreneur. Her journey started out of necessity.
Rachel moved to Charlotte, North Carolina nine years ago as a single mother. Her need for a steady income and her desire to spend time with her two sons led her to work in the cleaning industry, and she began posting listings for her services on various websites.
After six months, the business demand was too much to keep up with on her own, and Rachel’s entrepreneurial journey was about to take off. She hired her first employee and began to develop the Clean Chicks brand identity, but she didn’t stop there.
Rachel noticed that her hands were becoming extremely dry and cracked from the clearing products that she used. “It was not good for my body,” she said. “I started doing my research, and I looked into any Black-owned cleaning products that I could buy and support. I couldn’t find one, so I thought maybe it’s my time to create this, and Lily Springs was born.”
Lily Springs is Rachel’s line of natural cleaning products. Rachel created her new products through a process of research, experimentation, and client feedback. She thought through every aspect of the products – developing the labeling, creating the scent, and even considering the customer experience.
Rachel wants to delight her customers, so she includes freebies and inserts in every package. “If it brings me joy, I’m pretty sure it will bring somebody else joy,” she said.
The quick growth of Clean Chicks and Lily Springs meant that Rachel had to figure out a lot of things on the fly, but to continue to grow and build a sustainable business, she knew she needed support.
To learn more about entrepreneurship, Rachel first went through a program with the Women’s Business Center of Charlotte. Then, she applied for The Boost Pad where she has appreciated the training and the opportunity to bounce ideas off of other business owners.
Rachel believes that if she would have had The Boost Pad earlier in her career, she wouldn’t have had as many stressors or complications. She explained, “Lack of understanding leaves you unprepared.”
The training and encouragement have helped Rachel move her business forward. It has given her the confidence to push herself and pursue new opportunities. She said she often thinks, “I may not be comfortable, but let me go and do it.”
With a sound business structure in place and a network of support to grow her business, Rachel is furthering their reach by partnering with janitorial companies for distribution, and by entering the government contracting space. She is also expanding her offerings to include white glove service for Airbnb locations.
Rachel is also passing down the lessons she has learned to others. Her 10-year-old son, Jackson, works alongside her in Lily Springs. Their partnership reflects the abundance mindset she brings to her entrepreneurial journey. ”I think more entrepreneurs really need to give back to other entrepreneurs, to be a support. I believe that there is so much money and abundance out there that you don’t need to stifle resources or clients. Let’s truly help each other out.”
To learn more about Clean Chicks or to purchase their Lily Springs natural cleaning products, visit www.cleanchicksrock.com.
Founder Stories & Startup Wins — The Boost Pad
