Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel and Luis Ochoa.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
Hi, thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to share our entrepreneurial story with you and your readers. We are two brothers who emigrated from Colombia to the United States in 1999 with one goal in mind: to learn as much as possible from the culture and its great values, and to be successful entrepreneurs by creating a business that positively impacts society and the planet. We have been very diligent ever since to achieve our goals and dreams, despite the many obstacles that we as immigrants face after arriving at this wonderful country full of opportunities.
With our gained experience in different working fields, we merged our knowledge and founded Ochi Brand Corp. in the fall of 2017. Since then, Ochi Pure Hemp Oil® has been the leading skincare brand with Full-spectrum Hemp Oil as the main ingredient; which has proven to have great antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and moisturizing properties. Ochi is 100% made in the USA, cruelty-free PETA registered, compliant with good manufacturing practices, and third-party lab tested, which allow us to deliver a high-quality product for both men and women looking for an alternative skincare brand that cares about their impact on animals and the environment.
We knew the task wasn’t going to be easy since the introduction of Hemp Oil to skincare was just at the beginning stages. Creating a brand that presents the hemp plant in a sophisticated way was necessary to change the perception of the public about cannabis-related products, hence we manufactured these elegant, sophisticated, and original hemp-oil infused serums as a healthier option for skincare routines.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth ride, understanding the rules, laws, do’s and don’ts around the cannabis industry has been the most challenging part due to the industry’s ongoing legal changes. Some of the biggest struggles which we have successfully overcome fall around the approval of merchant accounts and credit card processing, as well as paid digital marketing like advertising on Google and Facebook.
We have also been approved as a certified seller on the Google Shopping App, where customers can purchase our products directly. We are still facing big challenges, which are the approval to sell on Amazon, eBay, and other social media apps. Due to their policies about CBD, hemp, or any cannabis-derived products, we are not allowed to sell on their platforms.
However, we have been able to put our products out there in the hands of the public by partnering up with businesses like beauty boutiques, spas, skincare stores, aesthetic professionals and so on…
Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
We are a family owned company based in South Florida. Daniel is in charge of business development, sales, and finance, while Luis takes care digital design, marketing, and logistics. Our professional backgrounds in manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, web and graphic design, b2b sales, management, and product development, merged successfully together to pierce through this new up and coming industry of full-spectrum (CBD) hemp oil derived products.
Due to our skincare line’s main ingredient, we occupy a unique space in the health/beauty industry. Our fresh and elegant branding makes us appealing to a broad group of consumers, the quality of our ingredients meet the highest standards and the transparency of our manufacturing processes, being third-party lab tested, is what set us apart from the others.
We are proud to make a difference in society by creating a cruelty-free skincare brand and to be able to change the perception consumers have about cannabis and its benefits. People are tired of conventional products and brands that don’t care much about the planet, so we are very excited to be part of the change.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc.?
Our industry is just at the beginning stages and we look forward to creating a broader portfolio of hemp-derived products. As more laws reform in favor of the business, more doors will open for us; there is still a lot of regulation from the government and misinformation from the public about the plant and its benefits, thus we are here to change that.
Eventually, society will become more understanding of the importance of the hemp plant to our environment and well-being. We will see a continuous shift and growth in the industry, which will influence different sectors like construction, nutrition, textiles, packaging, holistic and conventional medicine, fashion, beauty, and many others.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc.?
Our industry is just at the beginning stages and we look forward to creating a broader portfolio of hemp-derived products. As more laws reform in favor of the business, more doors will open for us; there is still a lot of regulation from the government and misinformation from the public about the plant and its benefits, thus we are here to change that. Eventually, society will become more understanding of the importance of the hemp plant to our environment and well-being. We will see a continuous shift in the industry, which will influence different sectors like construction, nutrition, textiles, packaging, holistic and conventional medicine, fashion, beauty, and many others.
Pricing:
- Ochi Pure Hemp Oil® Advanced Vitamin C Serum $68
- Ochi Pure Hemp Oil® Instant Wrinkle Repair Serum $68
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ochihemp.us
- Phone: 9546812613
- Email: Ochihemp@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Diego Henao
Imagine8 productions
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