Navigating Gut Health on the Go: Elizabeth Hall’s Travel-eeze Solution

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios, it’s time for Women In Motion. Brought to you by WBEC-West. Join forces. Succeed together. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here. Another episode of Women In Motion. And this is going to be a good one. But before we get started, it’s important to recognize our sponsor, WBEC-West. Without them, we couldn’t be sharing these important stories.

Lee Kantor: Today on Women In Motion, we have Elizabeth Hall and she is with eeze Natural Health. Welcome.

Elizabeth Hall: Hi. Thank you for having me.

Lee Kantor: I am so excited to learn what you’re up to. Tell us about eeze Natural Health.

Elizabeth Hall: Yes. So eeze Natural Health is a gut health supplement business that I launched last year, and our flagship product is Travel-eeze, which is a gut health supplement that is specifically for when you’re traveling. So it helps with your gut immune system and traveler’s discomfort and bloating and constipation, which is a common issue when people travel.

Lee Kantor: So what’s your backstory? How did you get involved in this line of work?

Elizabeth Hall: It’s kind of crazy. So in my early years, I was a flight attendant, so I always heard countless stories of people who suffered from health issues while traveling due to changes in routine, different foods, and the stress of travel. And it wasn’t until – actually, years later, I was on vacation with my husband where I was having the same issues with my gut, where it was literally ruining our vacation, not just mine, but his as well. So I knew that I – like, there was nothing on the market for it. Yes, there’s probiotics, there’s prebiotics. But my product isn’t that. It is strictly just vitamins and minerals that help with your gut when you need it.

Elizabeth Hall: And I – like, literally just came to me, like, I need to do this for myself. So I created this product for myself. Of course, I did end up getting doctor-approved and third-party certified because I’m not a pharmacist or a doctor, but it was something that I needed for myself. And now I have it and now I’m sharing it with the world.

Lee Kantor: Now, when you’re an individual, a layperson out there that has kind of this type of issue that you have, how do you even go about knowing what ingredients to experiment with? Like, what was kind of your process to develop Travel-eeze?

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah, it’s kind of a crazy story. So I had suffered from health issues for many years. In fact, I had to retire as a flight attendant because of my health issues.

Elizabeth Hall: So I think I was a natural expert without even realizing it. I always wanted an alternative product instead of being on medications that I had not thought of. I do have colitis, but it’s been in remission for many years. They thought that I had Crohn’s disease. I still don’t believe that I ever had it, but I was diagnosed with that. I had endometriosis and that affected my gut and all kinds of other issues. So I always studied other natural products that would help me versus going through the heavy medication, pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical products.

Elizabeth Hall: And when I started creating my product, I just started researching the ingredients that I knew that would be helpful for myself and my gut. It’s kind of crazy. My husband says that I went through – I was like in a trance when I was in my kitchen mixing these formulas and all of these ingredients together, and I was my own guinea pig. I literally was experimenting on myself.

Elizabeth Hall: For example, you know, like, vitamin C is one of my ingredients. And I recall in the beginning I was getting mouth sores because of the vitamin C, and there’s different types of vitamin C that I learned.

Elizabeth Hall: So once I realized there was a product that worked for me, that’s when I did go to get the proper reassurance from someone who actually had the background in it, such as a doctor and pharmacist.

Lee Kantor: And then it’s one thing to know the ingredients, but also to know the amounts of the ingredients. Like, did they help you with that?

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah, yeah. So once I knew something was working, then of course I went. It is third-party certified who did confirm all of the proper amounts and what is good for you and what’s not. So I did go through all the proper stages, but it was kind of crazy in the beginning. I was just really figuring it out on my own at the very beginning.

Lee Kantor: And then, how do you ingest this? Is it a pill? Is it like a powder that gets drunk, like with water or something?

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah, that’s a great question. It is a powder formula and they are in individual stick packets for the convenience of traveling. I specifically wanted it in a powder formula because it forces you to pour it into an 8 oz minimum glass of water, 8 to 12 oz. So you are having to drink a full glass of water so that you are hydrating yourself. Most people are dehydrated when they’re traveling or also having gut issues.

Lee Kantor: So that’s just – people don’t realize that they are dehydrated. So this is a great way to help them just stay a little bit hydrated, right?

Elizabeth Hall: Exactly, exactly.

Lee Kantor: Now, did you realize how important gut health was before doing this, or was this something I know you had some issues in and around gut health, but was this something that, you know, you became obviously more educated on? Because I know a lot of people don’t understand the importance of gut health. It’s one of those things that aren’t on everybody’s radar.

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah, exactly. I think, like I said, I think I was like a natural expert without realizing that I was. I did know and since then have also felt like I’ve become even more of an expert. What many people don’t realize is that approximately 70% of your immune system is in your gut. So prioritizing your gut health is essential for a strong immune system.

Elizabeth Hall: And now that has been my message. I’m just trying to share the information that I’ve gained and learned so that, you know, people are aware that, it all starts in your gut. They call it your second brain. And I think people are starting to learn it’s becoming more of a topic. But that’s – I think now I’m on a mission to share the knowledge about how important your gut is.

Lee Kantor: Is there some kind of do’s and don’ts when it comes to gut health? Are there some foods that maybe you should be avoiding, or maybe other foods that you should be kind of eating more of?

Elizabeth Hall: Well, yes. I think that people need to eat more vegetables and fruits. Right? So I always like to make it. I like to try it in my mind. I think that I’m making it simple for people to digest, is think of your food as a rainbow. The more colorful your food is, the more healthier it is for you. So, that’s basically how I like to think of food because vegetables are colorful, fruits are colorful. If you’re eating a lot of white processed foods, then you know it’s processed; a lot of white starches, rice, breads, those are all white foods that are not the best for you because they’re heavily processed.

Lee Kantor: And then, that negatively impacts your gut health.

Elizabeth Hall: Yes, exactly.

Lee Kantor: Now, what was it like to go from, you know, entering the world of being an entrepreneur? Like, it was one thing like, okay, I’m going to solve this problem for myself, but then to solve it for yourself and then to, you know, get the packaging right, the branding right, and getting it into stores and selling it either directly or through other people, like, that’s a whole other animal there. How did you kind of do that?

Elizabeth Hall: I think that I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. I am like a go-getter. So I also have been in real estate for the past decade. So as a real estate agent, you are really – you’re running your own business and you’re an entrepreneur. So I was fortunate to use those skills to get me going for this business. But it’s an entirely different world that I was not a part of or knew anything about because this is an actual product that I was launching.

Elizabeth Hall: So, you know, honestly, I still don’t even know how I did it. I think that I just started asking questions. I knew that I was on a mission and I had a passion. So, once I had a formula that I started working on and I knew it was foolproof, I just started asking anyone I came across, like, “Oh, do you have a contact to a manufacturer?” “Do you know who does branding?” And I also used Google. That was my alumni.

Lee Kantor: Did you start out selling direct to the consumer, like, you know, through Amazon or Shopify or one of those things, or were you trying to get into retail?

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah. So I am direct-to-consumer currently. So I sell on my website, on Shopify. I also am on walmart.com, which I’m very proud to say, and I am on Amazon and I am talking to retailers currently to work on that path. My goal is to have it at the airports and at the – and hotels. I believe that’s where people need it the most. So I’m trying to make it convenient and have it easily accessible to people. So, that’s my goal and that’s what I’m working on.

Lee Kantor: So how did you do the learning curve of e-commerce? Because that is a slippery slope there for a lot of folks.

Elizabeth Hall: It is. It’s a deep hole and I’m still figuring it out working it out, to be honest.

Lee Kantor: Did you kind of put it out there and did you get results right away, or was this something you had to tweak, like pricing? I mean, there’s a lot of variables when it comes to selling direct-to-consumer.

Elizabeth Hall: Yes. In the very beginning, I felt that I got very lucky and fortunate. I did get orders right away. And then, I went down into a lull where I’m like, “Oh, I’m not really getting any orders. So what’s going on?” And now I am working on ads. So you do need marketing dollars to send out ads on every platform for your website through social media, even ads specifically for Walmart, ads specifically on Amazon. So it’s heavily involved with ads, ad spend.

Lee Kantor: And then, are you having those individual platforms, you know, ship the stuff and do all of the kind of logistics of that side of the business?

Elizabeth Hall: Yes. So like Walmart and Amazon, they deal with the distribution and filling the orders directly so that you’re able to get it the next day on Prime or, you know, two-day delivery. And I also do some ordering. I fill orders myself currently on my website. So the orders that I receive directly from my website, I fill those orders myself till this day.

Lee Kantor: Now, recently you were able to take the stage at the Women’s Business Enterprise Council in Vegas to pitch. What was that? What was that like?

Elizabeth Hall: You know, it was exhilarating and very nerve-wracking. That was my very first time ever doing a pitch, and I was honored and really excited to be a part of it. I made it through the second round, just to be able to make it to the second round. I was excited since that was my first time pitching.

Elizabeth Hall: And I, since then, have practiced my pitching. I actually signed up for a three-day boot camp with, it’s called the Speakers Institute, and I’m really trying to up my pitching game, and I feel that I since then have gained a lot more knowledge and experience. And I can’t wait to pitch again, hopefully with WBENC next year.

Lee Kantor: Now, was there something you learned from going through kind of that experience? Because a lot of times when they’re trying to poke at you, they uncover some things that maybe you didn’t think of or moves you could make. Did you learn anything from going through that?

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah, I did. Well, I learned that I really need to focus and work on my nerves because it is very stressful.

Lee Kantor: That could be your next – that could be your next product.

Elizabeth Hall: But I also learned that it was – it’s really important to have your pitch down, and you need to be prepared no matter what because you only have a very short amount of time to get your message across. So having it down is really, really, you know, it’s could be your one and only opportunity to really change your business to the next level or get it to the next level. So I am prepared for the next one for sure.

Lee Kantor: Now, you’re also working on a book. How did that come about?

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah, I am, which I’m really excited about. That came about with all of my knowledge about gut health. It’s called Shut The Gut Up, How to Optimize Your Gut Health, and I will just be sharing some tips and tricks on how to help your gut in simple ways, and also gut and also your, not just your gut health, but also your mental health like your mind, body, and soul. Right? It’s all connected. We’re all connected. So I just want to share my knowledge of what I’ve learned and how I’ve been able to help myself and with my product and go from there.

Lee Kantor: Now, your company is eeze Natural. Are there other products other than Travel-eeze on the roadmap?

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah, I do have a product called Daily-eeze that I will be launching in the new year. So it is a slightly – it is a different formula and it will be a powder formula as well. And I’m excited to get our next product Daily-eeze out. So Travel-eeze is just – you take that when it’s needed, and Daily-eeze, you will take on the daily.

Lee Kantor: Now, what was the reason that you joined the WBEC-West community? What were you hoping to get out of that experience?

Elizabeth Hall: Oh, I’m very honored to be a part of the WBEC-West. Well, first, I just love being around like-minded female founders and boss ladies, but also the contact and the information they share and their events that they have are very inspiring. And also just connecting with, you know, all the corporations because in the future, my goal is to have my products and retail stores such as Target and I am on Walmart currently, but I want to be in their stores directly, and I want to be in hotels and at the airports. So I’m working on those relationships and that’s what WBENC-West provides.

Lee Kantor: Is there any piece of advice you’d like to share for other women entrepreneurs out there, something you’ve learned that really stuck with you?

Elizabeth Hall: Well, I say, if you have an idea, it’s been – you know, you’ve been hearing it in your head, you’ve been mulling it over but you haven’t really made that jump yet or you’re afraid, I always just say, just do it. It’s like the Nike slogan, just do it.

Elizabeth Hall: What do you have to lose? You could start out small. You don’t have to go out big with a bang. Just share your ideas with other people. And I always say I’m here to support other women. So if they have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, and definitely be a part of WBENC because they provide so many resources that can help you grow your business and start your business. And I also just say listen to your gut.

Lee Kantor: So what do you need more of and how can we help you?

Elizabeth Hall: Well, exposure is always good, so please just share, share my knowledge of your gut health. And if you’re ever traveling soon, always have some Travel-eeze as your must-have travel essential.

Lee Kantor: And if somebody wants to learn more and connect with you or somebody on your team, or learn more about your products or book, what’s the website?

Elizabeth Hall: Yeah, our website is eezenaturalhealth.com. That is E-E-Z-E, naturalhealth.com.

Lee Kantor: Well, Elizabeth, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Elizabeth Hall: Awesome. Thank you for having me.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on Women In Motion.