Today we’d like to introduce you to Tafari Roberts.
Hi Tafari, 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 backstories with our readers?
Being very vocal on my missions, my products and I have been featured on WXYZ Detroit News, Daymond John’s 2021 Black Entrepreneurs Day, and WDIV’s Click On Detroit. I have also been featured in the Detroit News and internationally in Pure Jamaica Media and Jamaica’s oldest, largest newspaper the Jamaica Gleaner.
I was born and raised in the underserved community of Detroit to Jamaican parents. I witnessed gun violence as well as many of my peers becoming incarcerated growing up due to the lack of opportunities. I gained inspiration from the entrepreneurialism of my grandmother who owned a lumber yard while raising eight children in the developing country. I also gained inspiration from my mom who earned her GED, Associates degree as well as Bachelor degree while completing work-study raising 4 small children. This inspiration, along with faith, drove me to break barriers as a minority and woman in supply, a member of Afro-Tech, and a leader in various Jamaican and Caribbean American philanthropic organizations such as the Jamaican American Youth Alliance and Next Gen Caribbean – Detroit.
I possess almost 10 years of sales and technical support experience from Apple, Inc as a Product Specialist and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management. This aspired me to share my knowledge both as a supplier and techy through philanthropic programming to increase access to tangible and actionable entrepreneurial mentorship via resources in economically challenged communities locally and globally. Business empowerment and actionable resources to at-risk persons within the city of Detroit and the Jamaican community allows for persons to build generational wealth and break generational curses.
The Tafari Group is an Afro-Caribbean-owned, Detroit-based wholesale company located within our economically challenged community to foster change, reduce incarceration, eliminate recidivism, stimulate the economy, reduce poverty, and alleviate hardship among community residents. Located in the heart of the Rust Belt, our aim is to hire local individuals within the communities allowing persons to gain social entrepreneurial experience within our firm as well as professional mentorship. The Tafari Group LLC is a federally certified minority-owned and woman-owned entity. We are also WBENC-certified WBE, M/WBE certified and DEI certified.
My long-term mission is to aid in curbing illness transmission and hospitalization from dirt, feces, germs, and bacteria and increasing access to single-use soap in the US, Caribbean, and beyond through product distribution, philanthropy, and social programming. I believe my Rove Soapsheets will revolutionize hand washing and hygiene while on the go preventing outbreaks and virus transmission within economically challenged communities like Detroit lending increased health and overall wellness.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most entrepreneurs, building a legacy isn’t easy at all. Breaking away from what we have been conditioned to believe as wealth building is a challenge within itself. Building a company from the ground up and being a mom is a juggling act with having to attend to mom duties as well as making sure everything is in order business-wise. Between after-school programs, dental and doctor appointments along with the effects of COVID took skills and energy for sure. There are many sacrifices and changes that I have made to get this far in business but I won’t change it for the world. What is making this road less traveled easier are my small circle of supplier friends, mentors, and other Detroit-based minority suppliers walking the path with me like:
– Great friend and mentors from inception Erik Greer of Mi Casa Home Essentials and Art Cartwright of Global Empowerment Ministries
– Amazing mentor and community advocate Akindele Akinyemi founder and CEO of Global African Business Association
– Awesome friend and community advocate Dominic Christopher founder of Deh Abroad Village, Caribbean American Restaurant Association (CARA), and Jamaican American Youth Alliance (JAYA)
– Jamaica’s media boss and great friend Shane Palmer CEO and founder of international media company Pure Jamaica Media and his team
– Award-winning journalist, Jamaican based adventure blogger, vlogger, and dear friend Kareem LaTouche of Jamaica Gleaner’s Kareem’s Quest
– Groundbreaking friends infusing Detroit and the nation with African/Caribbean flavor Brendan Asante and DJ Blakito of Jerk x Jollof
– Fellow She Boss in supply and great friend Kadian Russ CEO of Klean n’ Jiffy and K-Sol Multipurpose Cleaners
– Woman of many hats and superwoman Ebony Walls CEO and founder of Be A Part Of Me Consulting
– Poet and cutthroat Caribbean community Philanthropist Sophia Chue of Caribbean Community Service Center in Detroit
– CEO of Luscious Sweets and dear mentee/cousin Malika Kishel
I have always believed you become whom you surround yourself with the most and you are only as good as your circle.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Have you ever been in a bathroom without soap? My disappearing Rove Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets have you covered, just add water.
Prior to COVID-19, I frequently traveled back home to Jamaica to visit family. I would often discover many public restrooms lacked soap similarly to many public restrooms here in Detroit. In 2020, COVID-19 affected Detroit severely with the highest infection and transmission rate in the nation at its peak. This birthed Rove Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets, paper that disappears into hand soap when lather with bottle, faucet, or freshwater. Our 50-sheet pocket-sized and element-resistant protective case is the most travel friendly on the market as it is slim, TSA compliant, and lighter than a pack of gum. Each sheet is infused with aromatic, skin softening soap that leaves hands clean, fragrant, and silky soft. To use, take half to a full sheet with dry hands, place it in your palm, saturate both hands with water, lather as the paper disappears into suds, and rinse. We offer 6 scents at $6 each:
– Ocean Breeze
– Pink Rose
– Fresh Jasmine
– Lavender Mist
– Green Tea Twist
– Unscented
The CDC suggests persons wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds over hand sanitizer as it doesn’t sterilize dirt at all. Rove Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets are thin, lightweight papers infused with soap agent that form into a sudsy lather with water. These paper soapsheets aid in preventing the spread of germs, dirt (including feces, bodily fluid, and blood), and bacteria with ease allowing persons to wash their hands in any environment or situation.
Launching back in November 2020, Rove Soapsheets debuted on store shelves October 2021 at the grand opening of Meijer Rivertown Market in Downtown Detroit along with hundreds of other Michigan-made brands. They are also available at Meijer Capital City in Lansing, online at Walmart.com, Etsy, and rovefreely.com. Giving back is #1 so in partnership with Givz, 10% of all sales on rovefreely.com go to US-based and Jamaican organizations for underserved community members.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
It is amazing and bustling with culture and life. A true melting pot of people.
Pricing:
- Pink Rose Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets – $6
- Ocean Breeze Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets – $6
- Lavender Mist Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets – $6
- Fresh Jasmine Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets – $6
- Green Tea Twist Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets – $6
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@rovefreely.com
- Website: https://www.rovefreely.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rovefreely/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rovebrands
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoveFreely
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RoveFreelyShop?ref=profile_header
Image Credits
Tafari Roberts
Meijer Rivertown Market
Medium Rare
Black Entrepreneurs Day
