Small Business Spotlight: Kobi Co., Mother/Daughter Co-Founders, Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory

The pandemic gave birth to many things – check out this mother/daughter business that arose from the stress of distance learning! We talked to Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory about the origins of the business, sticking to their intentions and their delightful self-care products.

Q:  Please tell us about the formation of Kobi Co. What are the core tenets of the business?

A:  Kobi Co. was founded in 2020 by 17-year-old Kobi Gregory, my daughter, as self-care ritual to help her cope with the stress of distance learning during the pandemic. The candles started selling - Kobi’s hobby turned into a full-on business and it was time for me to step in and help manage. It was great timing for me as well - I was burned out by a long career in corporate finance. I’ve been securing partnerships and new retails spots throughout Minneapolis and focusing on growing the company.

Throughout every step of our growth, we’ve remained intentional. We believe businesses bear a responsibility to take care of their customers, to be stewards of the planet, and to do their part to create a more just and equitable world. We believe in taking care of ourselves, so we can go out into the world and make some good trouble. We believe in Black Girl Magic. We believe mental health, especially Black mental health, is paramount. We believe self-care doesn’t have to be expensive, time consuming, or reserved for a privileged few. We believe music has the power to heal. (Especially Prince’s music.)

At Kobi Co. we are committed to giving back. A portion of our profits go toward our annual scholarship for BIPOC women, and our limited edition #BlackLivesMatter candle supports families affected by gun violence and police brutality. We will always do our part to uplift fellow Black-owned, women-owned companies, especially if they’re Minnesota grown (like we are), and we aim to provide a gender-affirming, LGBTQ+ aligned, antiracist workplace.

Q:  Is it difficult to separate business discussions from mother/daughter discussions?

A:  To be quite honest, this is something we struggled with for quite some time - especially in the beginning. Needless to say, it would make for a very long and hard day. This is the most time we’ve spent together - ever (since Kobi was a toddler). It was hard for me not to bring up her not doing the dishes or doing some chore as we were working together. I found myself parenting her while she was working and neither one of us liked it. Kobi was discovering her new found skills as a business owner and wanted me to respect her as a business partner. I had a lightbulb moment when I heard her sharing her ideas and knowledge about the business in a pitch meeting. I was so impressed, I immediately saw her in a different light - a knowledgeable, capable partner. So today, we are super intentional about separating work/home discussions - and talk parent/family business outside of the office. It’s all about work/life balance. 

Q:  Each of your candles comes with a curated playlist – please tell us more. Why the combination of scent and music?

A:  We want our candles and music to foster a calming, restorative vibe. We want you to be your best self, do your best work, and be the best friend, steward, and ancestor you can be. We are Minneapolis born-and-raised, and you can feel the hometown pride throughout all of our products, our relationships, and our dope taste in music.

Q:  Who creates the playlists? Do you feature local musicians?

A:  Kobi here. Sometimes I’ll let my mom add a few of her faves from the olden days, but funny enough we have the same music taste. I love a lot of old school songs.

We absolutely feature local musicians: Of course, our #PurpleRain candle has tons of Prince on the playlist. Our #♥️Minnesnowta candle has the most variety of local MN musicians, and our recently released #Feelin’GoodAsHell candle has a lot of Lizzo (and yes, we consider her local since she lived here for over five years!).

The Angel Essence candle was created in honor of Erika De Salvatore.

Q:  The Angel Essence candle has a lovely backstory. Please tell us about it. How did Erika De Salvatore assist Kobi Co.? 

A:  In 2020 we were accepted into Target Corporation’s pro bono program. Target found and assigned a dream team to work on a rebranding project for Kobi Co.

It was an amazing experience for us, to have insight to what real, professional creatives do on a day-to-day basis. It was a blessing for us to be on the receiving end of their amazing work. We worked together closely/remotely for over three months (this was during the height of Covid) so we never got to meet in person, but that didn’t stop us from bonding over mutual admiration. This incredible team of amazing women worked as hard for Kobi Co. as they did for Target. Shortly after the project wrapped, we learned one of the project team members, Erika De Salvatore, passed away (she was the biggest Kobi Co. fan - as shared by her colleagues and family). 

It hurt us more than we could have imagined. We felt for her husband, small children, family and friends. We were so grateful for the love she had shown for us we felt super compelled to do something to honor her legacy. Upon attending her funeral service, we learned her family asked that in lieu of flowers, friends and family could support Kobi Co. Needless to say, we were beyond moved at this beautiful gesture. We were compelled to find a way to honor her legacy - we consulted with her family and colleagues and learned her favorite fragrances. The Angel Essence candle includes scents of vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli and citrus.

Q:  Besides candles, what other products does Kobi Co. offer?

A:  We offer 3-in-1 sprays (body, room + linen), bath bombs, bath salts, and wax tarts.

Q:  Where can we find your products? How may we follow your news?

A:  We are currently sold at the Mill City Farmers Market, Electric Fetus, all eight Patina stores, all three Down in the Valley stores, MinnyRow Market, and Lutunji’s Palate.  Please follow us on social media - Facebook and Instagram.

Kobi Co. is popular with Mill City Farmers Market shoppers. Photo: Mill City Times