Asa Bell is the owner and operator of Ase to the Rescue which offers handmade health and beauty products including Black Seed and Burdock Root Capsules, Sea Moss, Rose Oil and Rose Water. Asa Bell is a graduate of LAEDA’s Entrepreneurial Development Training Program (EDTP). We had a chance to sit down with her to ask about her experience with entrepreneurship and LAEDA’s training program.
(1) LAEDA: Entrepreneurship is a very challenging path to take with many different possible directions. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? I got my first taste of entrepreneurship from watching my father. He is a fashion designer who started his own clothing over 20 years ago. I saw the late nights and early mornings as well as the ups and downs; but, I also witnessed the rewards and how much fun it was to own a business. This always encouraged me to become an entrepreneur even as a child.
(2) LAEDA: Why did you choose your industry? I like to think that this industry chose me especially since my name (Asa) means Physician and or Healer. When I was a child, I remember always wanting to be a doctor or nurse because I loved watching emergency rescue shows. Although, I went to school for Nursing, I didn’t finish. However, when I became a mother, this very protective helping spirit came back over me with my son. I didn’t want to give him anything that could harm him so I became obsessed with making myself more knowledgeable. Soon, I began to not only enjoy what I was reading but also retaining the information. It was at this point that I knew Western medicine was something that I didn’t want to be a part of but natural medicine was.
(3) LAEDA: Tell me about your experience while attending EDTP. What have the major takeaways been from the program? Have you had any “Ah-ha!” moments? How did the program help you? I was introduced to this program through a program in Trenton that I am a part of called the East Trenton Collaborative. The program sent me a link to LAEDA website where I completed the application. After that application process and going through two interviews, I was accepted. EDTP came at such an important time for me since I was at the point where I made the big leap during the pandemic to start my business and introduce it to the world. I had been in business for a couple months but I felt like I needed to get some business training and knowledge… This is when EDTP came along. I would have never been able to take this class before because it’s based in Camden (which is an hour away from me) but this one was virtual due to Covid. Once I got to class, I didn’t realize that people would be at different levels of business ownership; so, I learned not only from the instructors but also from my classmates. The connections that you make are timeless and just being a part of LAEDA is amazing because it opens a lot of doors from a business sense. I could not be happier to be a part of this organization.
(4) LAEDA: Tell me about your journey on the road to business start-up. What have been some of the challenges, successes, failures, etc.? In June of 2019, I switched my personal social media accounts to business accounts. I took a huge leap of faith and used money from my income tax to purchase a lot of products. The people who know me, knew that I had been talking about doing this for years; but, those people who didn’t know me expressed that having a business website would be more professional. Without the website, I missed some opportunities but I was able to still receive real support regardless… This always confirmed that I was on the right path even when I felt like I wasn’t.
(5) LAEDA: Could you tell me a little about where your business is today? Today I have a website (asetotherescue.com/bigcartel) and business is going well but I am still learning as I go. I am proud to say that I’m doing most of my business through my site which makes me feel more professional. Also, I am excited about the holidays since I have some pop-up shops that I will participate in. I encourage everyone to visit my social media pages for a listing of where I will be next.
(6) LAEDA: Do you have any advice for future (or existing) entrepreneurs? If you have a dream or a passion, follow it and don’t give up! If people don’t understand what you’re trying to do, remember they are not supposed to because it’s your dream, it’s your vision.
Asa can be reach by visiting her website: asetotherescue.com/bigcartel, Facebook page: Ase To The Rescue and/ or Instagram page: @AseToTheRescue
The Entrepreneurial Development Training Program (EDTP) is a free, nine-week business skills training course offered in Camden, NJ in the Spring and Fall each year. Qualified entrepreneurs receive 72+ hours of training from industry professionals, business planning, and continued technical assistance. Apply online at www.LAEDA.com.