The pandemic was good for a lot of startups.
It was not good for Rachel’s Remedy.
The company, led by founder Rachel Jackson, makes relief packs for new mothers based on its moist heat technology.
But the company’s business model, years in the making, disintegrated in front of Jackson’s eyes as existing and prospective partnerships fell apart in summer 2020. That includes everything from retail channels to major pharmaceutical companies.
She was down. But she’s not done.
Jackson has reformulated the Rachel’s Remedy business plan around partnerships and corporate partners, centering on her two full patents and a new slate of products that go beyond the motherhood space. Rachel's Remedy still sells its suite of products directly to consumers via e-commerce channels, but Jackson said it's a scaled-down effort compared to before.
Jackson regularly hears that her Breast Relief and Down There relief packs are repurposed for ailments such as dry eye, styes and joint pain. She's had said a number of conversations with potential corporate partners for everything from sales partnerships to white labeling.
“There’s a lot left to do,” Jackson said, “and the likelihood of it being successful is very high. We just have to get there.”
Jackson has every excuse. She put her career as an attorney on hold for Rachel’s Remedy, which she decided to pursue to help solve problems she experienced while nursing her two sons.
She could go back to Jackson & Jackson LLP full-time. But that suggestion wholly underrates Jackson’s entrepreneurial tenacity.
She made it through the past few years – including a tumultuous relationship with some financial backers. If she can do that, she just might be able to do anything.
“I want to make a difference in this world, and I think this is the best way to do that,” she said. “It’s been a slow crawl out of the pandemic hole we were in, but now good things are happening.”
