Meet Tara Gangadharan of Thara Sacra

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Gangadharan. 

Hi Tara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Royal Oak, MI. My mother, a nurse, was born in New York from parents who immigrated from Scotland and my father, a doctor, was an immigrant from India. Education was extremely important to my parents, so I followed the traditional route of going to college to obtain my BS in Fashion/Business and later—my MBA. Like many people living in Michigan, I found a career in the Automotive industry. During the Automotive industry downturn, I moved to England on a whim and found myself working in the Skincare & Cosmetics industry. While there, I enrolled myself in Naturopathic Medicine classes as a way to meet new people and feed my interest in natural medicine. 

When I returned to Michigan some years later, I found myself battling a chronic illness and I noticed a deep connection between my need for both emotional and physical healing. It was during that time when I started to create some of the early product formulations that would become the foundation for my future business and passion—Thara Sacra. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t. Finding my customer base was a struggle. I initially worked with yoga studio instructors because they were my friends who had a similar need for emotional and physical healing. This was great for product development, but my products were not being used or demonstrated enough for customers to truly experience the magic. I also tried to introduce my product to some well-known Detroit retailers, but I found the barrier to entry was large. I also tried to pitch local publications about my new, unique product but couldn’t get a bite. The marketplace was saturated, and retailers/publications were used to who had always been there before. There were many times I wanted to quit, but I kept going. I shifted my focus to opportunities outside of Michigan and found that the customers coming back for more were often massage therapists or bodyworkers. They were using my products in their practices, and they found their clients experiencing the benefits. That gave me the confidence to realize my product was valuable, and that I just needed to find my customers. Fast forward a few years and now my products are being used by more Michigan-based professionals, and I am already working on launching my professional line of larger-sized products. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Thara Sacra. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Thara Sacra was born from a vision of making products that come from the earth and are infused with or help to enhance the energy (or prana) that flows through every living being. Each formulation is approached from an energetic perspective—then, a physical perspective. For example, my Ground Foot Oil is formulated with botanicals that help you energetically Ground, but they are also nourishing and moisturizing for the feet. The intent is to combine my products into your daily rituals with a focus on energetic support and healing. If you dive deeper into my essential oil blends, you will see that I’m not so concerned with if an aroma is technically balanced, but if it is energetically balanced first. This makes for aromas that some have described as like “nothing they have ever experienced before.” 

I am proud of my brand’s aesthetic and all that I’ve been able to accomplish. However, when I get a message or a comment on a post that a product helped someone, or even just made them feel more energetically light, that is the biggest reward. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Yes, definitely. Here are a few: 

• Wholesale in a Box – Blog and training course geared towards small businesses. This was the first place I landed when taking the leap into wholesale.

• How to Build a Goddam Empire – Book by Bulletin Founder, Ali Kriegsman. This is the real deal, no-nonsense guide

• Bulletin – An amazing resource and wholesale platform for small businesses.

• How to Breathe: The Book – Book by Ashley Neese. These practices got me through many mental blocks.

• Community – I cannot stress this enough; find your people. The network of women business owners in Michigan have inspired and lifted me up the most.

Pricing:

• Product Range: $24-160

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@tharasacra.com
• Website: www.tharasacra.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tharasacra
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/tharasacra
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/thara_sacra

Image Credits
Dele Nguyen Photography
Erica Treais Holm Photography