Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharmila Sadarangani.
Hi Sharmila, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started out as an elementary school teacher. Soon after I had a child, and then another child 15 months later. I decided to take off a few years of teaching and stay home with my young children. During that time, my husband decided to leave and I was left raising two little boys on my own. My youngest was diagnosed with autism six months before he left. I was not able to go back into teaching at that point, then I decided to substitute teach at my boys’ school so I could be on their schedule. As time went on, my son’s needs increased such as medical care and therapies. I was unable to work full-time, so I continued to substitute teach. I met a wonderful man in 2015 and we have been together ever since. I went back into teaching for a while, but I couldn’t make enough money to justify being away from my family so much. My son also needs a lot of attention and care 24/7. I started making some of my products for my own family. My first product was my sodium free taco seasoning. My dad had a heart attack many years ago, and I started making that for him as well as myself. He needed to be on a low sodium diet and I noticed taco seasoning had so much sodium. The second thing I started to make was lip balm for my youngest son. He has a feeding tube and his lips would get very dry. I tried many different lip balms on the market and I could not find one that could help him with his dry lips. I started to formulate my own, and from that, many other products evolved. I started making my sodium-free taco seasoning. lip balms, hand scrubs, body balms, and more. After many years of trying to work full-time and not working due to my son‘s needs, I decided to make my small business my only career at the end of 2024. I do local events around Kansas City for small businesses with a variety of other vendors. I’m trying to get my small business off the ground. I’ve created a website where people can purchase my items. I also do a lot of local shopping events at wineries and other venues. I’m hoping to get into the City Market in Kansas City’s River Market area this spring to sell my products as well.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been quite difficult because my family needs me. I have to pick my son up from school often due to his medical and behavioral needs. He is profoundly autistic and it has been a challenge to focus on my business. Obviously my family comes first so it pretty much gets put on hold until we get closer to the Christmas season when I do more of my events. I would like to be able to do more events throughout the entire year.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I focus on health when I am making my products. For example, my sodium free taco seasoning contains no salt but full of wonderful spices that make up taco seasoning. I don’t add any fillers such as cornstarch or flour. There is no need for salt and added fillers. Taco seasoning purchased in the store can contain 3000 mg of sodium in one small packet! My taco seasoning has zero sodium, but you can always add a little salt if you care to. Once you add other items to your tacos, such as cheese and salsa, you’ll notice you won’t miss the added salt at all.
My other products focus on body care and health. I make all natural products such as lip balm, hand, scrubs, and body balms. Everything is made with all natural ingredients, no chemicals added. I’ve noticed that so many things we use in life have so many chemicals that if I can contribute a few natural products to our community, I’m happy to do it. My hand scrub is one of my favorites. It leaves your hands so soft. My body balms all have their own purpose. For example, my chest rub balm is my version of Vicks, but without chemicals, including petroleum. It is a wonderful mixture of peppermint and eucalyptus. You can use it as a moisturizer, but also on the bottom bottoms of your feet and your chest when you’re feeling congested. Another body balm I make is my immunity balm. It is a mixture of five essential oils that help fight infection. You can rub it on the bottoms of your feet when you’re feeling sick. It contains cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, and rosemary. It smells amazing! I have many other body balms that customers can sample at any of my shows, as well as my hand scrubs and lip balms.
What sets me apart from other vendors is my products are all natural, and I’ve never met another vendor who makes anything like the hand scrubs I create or the body balms. I’ve also not met anyone who makes sodium free taco seasoning. I enjoy making these products to help people become a little more mindful of their health and smell good while doing it!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I don’t get a chance to listen to many podcasts, however, I do use a Bible app called “Through the Word” that I really love. It centers me and allows me to prepare for my day ahead. It will discuss a Bible verse and apply it to real life, then someone else reads the verse aloud. I’ve never understood the Bible so completely until I found this app. What I really like about it is it’s FREE! In a world full of uncertainty and chaos, I find healing in my faith.
Pricing:
- Body Balms 2oz Jar $20
- Sodium Free Taco Seasoning $15 8oz jar
- Hand Scrubs 8oz $13
- Lip Balms $7
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sharmashomemadeproducts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharmashomemadeproducts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/189n8sPANs/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharmashomemadeproducts
