Customers like Mimi Gabriel swear by the products in the beauty line Cosmetiques Laudun. Says Gabriel, “After using the Sweet Feet Repair Foot Creme for a couple of days, my feet feel like silk”. Gabriel isn’t the only one who’s taken by the products, so is New York-based fashion designer Dayanne Danier. Of the product, she raves: “Once I step out of the shower, I apply it to my feet and the results are remarkable. It makes my feet super soft; it’s like getting a pedicure everyday. Everyone should buy a jar of the Sweet Feet.”

Cosmetiques Laudun is the creation of two cousins Sandra Gabriel-Gachelin and Anna Laudun Beaubeuf. Gabriel-Gachelin was born in New York and Laudun Beaubeuf was born in Canada, but grew up in Petionville. Both are of Haitian parents, and met as teenagers. Somehow living in separate countries during their early life wasn’t a deal breaker when it came to starting Cosmetiques Laudun.

The Cosmetiques Laudun products all have an organic base (ingredients include jasmine, seawood, bamboo, honey, oats and the like). Indeed, the firm is an example of how beauty and green can be combined to make a successful, thriving business.

The ecopreneurs gave Kreyolicious.com a look behind the scenes…

What’s the biggest beauty emergency you’ve ever had?

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: My son developed a severe form of eczema as a child and was initially treated with prescriptions from the doctor, yet none of them worked. It was then that I decided to turn to one of my grandmother’s recipes, and, within days, the eczema was gone. I was overjoyed! Quite honestly, it was at that moment that I realized I had to share these recipes – my grandmother’s garden was a business opportunity! By the way, to this day, the eczema has never returned, although my son does use the recipe regularly to keep it at bay.

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: I would say for most women: the biggest beauty emergency is that nasty pimple right before an event. Although not entirely preventable, a good daily cleansing regimen, keeping hydrated, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important. Our Michargilda cleanser mask is very effective in speeding the healing time of acne flare-ups.

Prior to starting Cosmetiques Laudun, did you have a background in the beauty industry?

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: Not quite. I’ve always had an interest in cosmetics and skincare. I think it started when I was a young dancer at the School of American Ballet, Lincoln Center, NYC. I was fascinated by the stage makeup tricks used in The Nutcracker and other famous ballets. I also did make-up for fashion shows and I’ve assisted many photographers with make-up artistry. In my study of Fine Art and Surrealism I was also very fascinated with the use of colors in my own art pieces.

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: It depends on what you mean by “background!” I grew up learning authentic, tried-and-true natural recipes that not only care for the skin, but treat it, as well. My entire childhood was an apprenticeship, of sorts. My grandmother’s “garden formulations” were used on everyone in the family, as well as neighbors and friends. To give you an idea of how prevalent natural skincare was in our family, let me tell you about Sandra’s grandfather. He was a French soldier in World War I, whose job was to treat wounded soldiers. And guess what he used? Herbal medicines! When he returned to Haiti after the war, he would treat both children and adults who were suffering from asthma, colds, eczema, cataracts, etc. And, every single time he discovered a new herbal remedy from a plant, flower, or whatever, he would share that knowledge with his younger sister—my grandmother. So, while I do not officially have a background in the beauty industry, my knowledge and expertise is extensive and proven.

Here you are both—executives at a cosmetics company you founded. When you were in high school, did you feel beautiful?

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: Not at all! Very few teenagers feel confident about their appearance. I wore braces, and I was also a late bloomer. It’s important for young girls to be taught to feel great about their own unique qualities. True beauty comes from within.

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: Most adolescents worry about their appearances – from the health of their hair to the pimples on their faces – and this certainly results in low self-confidence for many of them. I have to say, though, when I was in high school, I did not worry about these things. Certainly, genetics can work in your favor, but I also know that my skin was beautiful because of my grandmother’s recipes. All teenagers are entitled to beautiful skin, and it’s unfortunate that so many of them suffer unnecessarily.

Your cosmetics line is organic. That obviously very important to you.

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: There is an excessive use of chemicals and preservative used in the formulation of many skincare lines. Parabens speed up the aging process overtime. It also hurts the environment. Animal testing is utterly deplorable. We wanted to go back and recreate the timeless skincare recipes of Anna’s grandmother, my great-aunt Jeanne Gabriel Laudun. She never tested anything on animals and she never used chemicals. All of her products were created using materials found in her garden. Everything that grows in nature has a beauty and health benefit.

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: Today’s consumer is turning away from chemicals, additives, and Western medicine’s pharmaceutical solutions to unhealthy skin. And, frankly, I think there is a longing for what my company brings to the skincare industry: an inceptive line of products that satisfies both the consumers’ needs and wants. I believe today’s customers demand products that are natural and chemical-free, yet, I also think there is a yearning for time-tested, simple and pure recipes for the skin – that grandma used to use.

Human beings have been taking care of skin for thousands of years, yet it’s only in recent decades that we have turned to chemicals and the pharmaceutical industry to satisfy our skincare needs. Why? For thousands of years, the skin has been properly cared for by ingredients growing out of the ground – not in a laboratory. The earth provides us with plants, flowers, and herbs, many of which have amazing healing and cleansing properties. Why add chemicals?
We at Cosmetiques Laudun have a philosophy based on respect for nature, the environment, and natural health. We believe in organic, pure, and simple skincare recipes that have stood the test of time. We invite you to try the highest quality skincare line available and experience for yourself the benefits of caring for your skin in the most natural way possible: straight from the garden.

When was the last time you went to Haiti?

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: In 2000.

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: My grandmother passed away in 1999, and I have not returned to Haiti since then. Nevertheless, I do dream of going back, especially to share my experience of entrepreneurship with the young girls there. Anything is possible, and I want to show them that a future of success is within their reach.

For those who want to undertake something similar…say start a cosmetics company, what advice do you wish to offer?

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: Starting a business takes a lot of time and business planning. Challenging decisions will come and sometimes business errors will happen but that is also how you learn. It takes money to make money but it also takes knowing how to spend it wisely and in the right steps to push your business forward. There are no “get rich quick” formulas in this highly competitive market. You have to start with a great product. Look for an exceptional support team of passionate people with a similar vision as yourself. Delegate wisely, give your team members autonomy to be creative and love what you do.

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: Each of us has a grandmother, grandfather, or some other relative who has a secret recipe for skincare. Write those recipes down! There are millions of different species of plants, flowers, and herbs around the world, with many being specific to certain locations. Do some research, and you may find that your recipe solves a particular ailment. Create products that are natural and simple, yet ones that solve customers’ most common needs.

A sample of what Cosmetiques Laudun has to offer.

Which of your products is the most popular with your customers?

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: I think the most popular product with our customers is Mitsy Day & Night Anti-aging moisturizer—named after Anna’s beloved late sister Mitsy.

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: “Sweet Feet” is definitely one of the most popular.

Why do you think that is?

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: Our customers have seen positive results after using our all-natural FDA Certified organic skincare treatment. Our anti-aging remedy gives your skin a healthy glow by naturally softening and repairing your skin overtime.

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: The reason behind that, really, is that it works. The feet are one of those areas of the body that we often neglect, and yet they require daily maintenance—just think of the stress they endure. Unlike a lot of greasy, overly-scented products, Sweet Feet is completely natural and maintains the suppleness of your feet, while also repairing it. My grandmother concocted this particular recipe after I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 9. Like most kids, I wanted to run barefoot through the mud and grass — and just be a normal child. My diabetes, however, made me prone to “diabetic dry foot,” a condition that can severely dry out your feet. My grandmother worried that a cut would have difficulty healing, and so, like always, she trotted off to the garden to formulate a new conditioning foot recipe! My feet have always been baby-soft, and I know that’s because I have used this product since I was a child.

Cosmetiques Laudun is a partnership. What tips do you have for an entrepreneur who wants to team up with a partner for a venture?

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: Effective communication is vital. Both partners should share a mutual vision for the business. Each partner must bring something to the table and work hand in hand. All partners must know and respect each others contributions, because it all counts towards the big picture; which is providing the best possible products for our clients.

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: My partnership is a bit unusual because it’s with my cousin, Sandra. I know a great number of people believe that it’s difficult to work with a family member or close friend, especially when it’s a business venture that you’ve formed together. Personally, however, having my cousin as a partner is a blessing. Cosmetiques Laudun represents our youth and family, as well as the love we share. Furthermore, we are both passionate about our ancestors’ dedication to natural skincare! For me, there is no better choice than Sandra. My advice to any entrepreneur looking for a partner: Choose a candidate that is reliable, enthusiastic, works hard, and understands the vision of the company.

What milestones are you looking forward to reaching with the company?

SANDRA GABRIEL GACHELIN: Our goal is to use our company to contribute positively to society. We also want to continue the increase awareness of choosing a natural lifestyle. We would love our products to be introduced to the global market…I am also looking forward to seeing our products listed on Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things Christmas list! Joy!

ANNA LAUDUN BEAUBOEUF: Our ultimate goal is for our time-tested, all-natural products to take center stage on store shelves, drawing respect throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.

Visit the Cosmetiques Laudun website by clicking HERE.

Angie Menuau Joseph couldn’t help but notice something around wedding season in Port-au-Prince. She’d come across brides and grooms who were lost when organizing their weddings. “They [would be] looking for qualified providers, but [only had] word of mouth to [go by]. In Haiti, it’s very common to trust the friend of the aunt of the friend of the aunt’s cousin [for references].”

Menuau Joseph decided to sit down with two of her friends—Rachel de Delva Hyppolite and Jaelle Josecite. “In talking, we realized that the market in Haiti in this area was changing,” Menuau recalls, “and that it was important for professionals in this sector to make themselves known.” Jaelle Josecite had had experience organizing The Wedding Fair, a bridal expo of similar scope in another part of the Caribbean, and proposed doing a version of it in Port-au-Prince. Menuau recalls, “We immediately set to work, without asking ourselves too many questions. From that moment, we started to identify all the professionals in the wedding industry…To be honest with you there were many!”

Above: Rachel De Delva Hyppolite (extreme left), Angie Menuau (second from left) and Jaelle Josecite (in yellow) pose with a Haiti Bridal Expo participant.

Many, indeed. From photographers, to wedding cake designers, to makeup artists, to event planners, and bridal wear companies, all wanted to be a part of the first edition of the Haiti Bridal Expo. Menuau Joseph and her two associates were prepared to meet the challenge. De Delva Hyppolite says that in addition to her bridal planning experience, she also also ran a restaurant. She was put in charge of the General Administration Committee of the expo. Menuau Joseph took on the title of Exhibitor and Sponsor Relations Manager, as she had amassed nearly a decade’s worth of experience as an event planner. Jaelle Josecite’s background in sales, tourism marketing, communication and decoration made her ideal to handle the media outreach and sponsorship aspects of the Haiti Bridal Expo.

So, early this month, the ladies combined their know-how in their respective fields and put on Haiti Bridal Expo. Here are some lessons they learned over the course of the Haiti Bridal Expo.

Lesson #1: When several heads are trying to accomplish something, there’s bound to be goal and personality differences. What matters is how they’re handled.

JAELLE JOSECITE: Indeed work with people of different personality to accomplish something is not easy. In our small working group, we come from different horizons. For example, I am from Guadeloupe. I had to learn all about the Haitian system and it can be a real challenge. I do not agree about something I let them know [in a] respect[ful manner]. Rachel represents wisdom within the group but also another generation of Haitian more mature…So she’s the one who always have to decide or fine the good solution which is the best for the group…Angie as she has this really is a go-getter and dynamic generation of Haitian … She always have a solution for any situation … she has been working in the events in Haiti for more then 10 years so she knows everybody… But despite all this diversity we complete perfectly and we take great pleasure to work together but mostly learn from one and other. But our secret is respect, humility, professionalism and team work that is why it works well between us.

Lesson #2: Prepare for growth.

RACHEL DE DELVA HYPPOLITE: This first edition was a success…People from everywhere are constantly contacting us for our work…But for this edition, we were able to accept only 60 exhibitors. For the second edition, our big challenge will be to find a bigger place to receive more than 60 but 100 to 120 exhibitors.

Lesson #3: Publicity matters.

RACHEL DE DELVA HYPPOLITE: We want to work more closely with the media. For this first edition and for the first time in Haiti a press place was available for the media. For next year, we want to have more media and especially those from abroad.

Lesson #4: No matter how well you plan, you’re bound to experience some surprises.

ANGIE MENUAU JOSEPH: Of course…we would be lying if we said there weren’t [any surprises]. During the 8 months during which we worked on organizing the fair, things have not been easy. We met certain difficulties here and there, but we overcame them through our experience and our different contacts. But, the most difficult part was the financial aspect. Finding sponsors was not easy. But many people believed in our project and that is what counts the most.

Above: Haiti Bridal Expo attendees check through racks of bridal dresses, bridesmaids dresses, mother-of-the-bride gowns.

Lesson #5. Pay heed to the feedback have received from the participants and exhibitors.

RACHEL DE DELVA HYPPOLITE: Exhibitors and participants are constantly contacting us to congratulate us on the first edition. Among the exhibitors, some are already starting to register by asking for the same stand position or number…However, we did receive some advice, particularly with regards to the space, and this advice is very important for us, particularly that coming from exhibitors, because without them, the wedding expo could not have been a success. As such, we have even more in mind and, with the goal of offering a worthy second edition, we intend to invite exhibitors to a brunch in order to gather their impressions in a friendly atmosphere.

[All photos provided by subjects.]

CLICK HERE to follow Haiti Bridal Expo on Twitter | CLICK HERE to visit the Haiti Bridal Expo website | CLICK HERE to follow Haiti Bridal Expo on Instagram | CLICK HERE to follow Haiti Bridal Expo on Facebook

As the co-founder of the wildly popular Haitian music site Haitian Beatz, Moses St. Louis is on the grind daily, sharing scoops about Haitian music with his legion of readers and users. In Part One of the interview with the web entrepreneur, he revealed that he started the website after he had already garnered a load of experience in the Haitian music industry. Taking that experience and putting it to use, he recruited another Haitian music enthusiast Jean-Price “Jacobin” Vixama and Haitian Beatz launched! Here he looking back at the beginnings of Haitian Beatz, and discussing his plans for the platform’s future.

Kreyolicious: In the time you’ve been running Haitian Beatz, what would you say have been the most trying times? Bad news first.
A few years ago, the site was hacked and a virus was inserted into the server, and many of our readers’ computers crashed. We lost many members because of that. Even though we eventually fixed the problem, we were never able to get the members who were affected back, or maybe just a few have returned.

Kreyolicious: And what would you say have been your favorite memories? Good news, last.
But there has been some good times, like receiving a proclamation from the Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio on our anniversary event. Getting citations from the New York City Council and the New York State Assembly. We have become a household name in the Haitian music industry.

Kreyolicious: Technology changes at lightning bolt speed, and surely you’ve seen your share of changes since you’ve started as a webpreneur. What changes have you witnessed, and how did you handle them?
Joomla is the platform that we use for the site. It is very new and many people seem to think it is very hard to manage. To the contrary, Jacobin and I really enjoy using it for its simplicity. Even though it’s advanced, it’s very easy to manage. We are in the process of introducing something new that we are working on, but we will keep it a secret for now…[Laughter]

Kreyolicious: If you were starting this venture now, what would you do differently?
I would make social media a very active part of that project.

Kreyolicious: If you were recommending Haitian music to someone whose exposure up until then to Haitian music was minimal, or nonexistent, which artists, bands, and albums would you recommend, and why?
I’m a strong fan of Haitian roots music. I probably would direct their attention to bands like RAM, Boukman Eksperayns, Boukan Guinen, Azor…all their albums.

Kreyolicious: Where do you hope to take your brand in the next 5-7 years?
Well, I’ve been involved in this music business for many years. I’ve worn many hats as manager, promoter, and now media. I always believe in continuity. We would love to integrate some new blood into HB, to start taking the leadership of the site, under our guidance. One positive thing that is happening with the website now, especially on our forum, [is that] the members of the forum are [increasingly] the driving force of the website. I can spend a couple of days without signing into the website, but you’ll always see new topic discussions, generated by our members, which is very encouraging. HB is more member-driven lately.

This concludes PART TWO of the interview with Haitian Beatz co-founder Moses St. Louis. CLICK HERE if you missed PART I.

CLICK HERE to visit the site Haitian Beatz. CLICK HERE to visit the Facebook page for the site Haitian Beatz.

WikiMizik? What’s that? If you’ve ever looked up the lyrics to a song in Haitian Creole, the website WikiMizik probably figured on the first page of your search results. Managed by three techies, the site is a lyrical factory of some of the most popular Haitian konpa songs, as well as songs from other musical genres in Haitian music, and by Caribbean artists.

This is the first of three interviews that I will be conducting with the founders of WikiMizik. We will first start by having a discussion with Guignard Vilmar, the industrial engineer and techie and graduate of Florida State University on the Wikimizik team.

Kreyolicious: First things, first. How did the idea for the platform come about?
Throughout our college days friends would always ask what certain words or phrases from songs meant. Then one night someone called me at 2 a.m. asking what a line from a zouk track meant. This call disturbed my sleep, and created a train of thought that would eventually turn into Wikimizik.com The next day, Darryl and I spoke and our conversation led to project wikimizik. As a net junkie, Darryl usually knows what’s already out there. This time, he couldn’t find a site that did what we wanted to do: translate and explain Creole lyrics. So, we researched some more and brought the project to life.

Kreyolicious: Anything about your background…whether educational or work experience that has helped you in running Wikimizik?
My undergraduate degree was in Management Information Systems and a large portion of my course work dealt with computer programming. My very first career job was working as a developer. I think that background helped me design and develop the Wikimizik platform.

Kreyolicious: When did you first realize the website was taking off?
I can think of a few. Someone from New Orleans reached out to us on Facebook asking us to add an explanation for the word “chovi” from one of Belo’s songs. She spoke New Orleans Creole and loved Haitian music. She explained how their Creole is very close to ours, but there were certain words that she couldn’t understand. That made us realize Wikimizik wasn’t just for Haitians and Haitian-Americans. Folks from around the world are eager to understand Haitian lyrics and Haitian Creole. We now have hits from places like Morocco, New Caledonia, Congo, Netherlands, etc.

Another time that comes to mind is when Jean-Winer Pascal created an account and added a song on wikimizik.com. I reached out to the user because of an issue with the lyrics he had added, only to realize he was the Jean-Winer Pascal, writer of several hit songs for Beethova Obas, Emeline Michel and Belo. When we reached out, he didn’t shy away from showing how amazed and appreciative he was for the work we were doing. His words of encouragement boosted us to work even harder.
A year ago, we reached out to Michel Degraff, linguistic professor in MIT and founding member of Akademi Kreyol Ayisyen [Haitian Creole Academy]. We wanted to get his take on the concept. Mr. Degraff was amazed by the large set of searchable Kreyòl lyrics available in the Wikimizik database. Throughout the lunch meeting, he never ceased to reiterate how this idea could contribute to serious academic research. Using our relational database, we’ve now provided Mr. Degraff with several data sets that contribute to his research on the Kreyòl language.

Kreyolicious: What are your favorite lyrics from a Haitian song?
So many great songs to choose from, but if I had to pick one I would say Detripay (wikimizik.com/lyrics?song=251) by BelO. It was co-written by BelO and Jean Winer Pascal. It’s a beautiful poetic description of a sad reality. The metaphors in the lyrics are powerful, and cannot be understood without profound thinking. Every time I listen to this track it solidifies the idea behind the Wikimizik concept. Here’s an excerpt: “Yon kout kleren nou an zig zag/Lavi yon pèp tounen yon blag / Vètij grenpe tèt Maryela / Poto san fil/Jwenn madigra” [A shot of alcohol sends us astray/People’s lives done turned to a big joke/Maryela got vertigo/A street pole with no electrical wires clashed with a Mardi Gras parade]

Kreyolicious: Where do you see Wikimizik five years from now?
In five years, we want the Wikimizik brand to be fully developed and deployed. Wikimizik is more than just a website. We have several key elements that will accompany the site. Among them is the mobile app. It will provide users with some of the same features from the site on mobile devices, but it will also complement Wikimizik with a unique, exciting features. We recently hosted the first Yon Ti Koze Sou Pawòl [A Conversation About Lyrics], a series of panel discussions with artists and thinkers about lyrics and texts. We have several other projects in the pipeline that we can’t share yet. We are so excited for what’s to come!

This concludes PART I of the interview with the Wikimizik team. Be sure to check out PART 2 and PART 3.

Meanwhile, be sure to CLICK HERE to check out the WIKIMIZIK website!