LIFT UP LOCAL 017
Written by Marcus McKissic
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography
If we’ve learned anything enduring the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that sanitation and personal hygiene are vital to the health and prosperity of our communities. Many services and products were born of this necessity over the past couple of years, including ROVE Soapsheets.
Tafari Roberts is a Jamaican American, born in Detroit to two Jamaican born parents, a first generation American. Tafari is the CEO and creator of ROVE Soapsheets, a product that is changing lives everywhere. Soapsheets are lightweight soluble paper soap that removes dirt and germs without that oily feeling. Simply place a soapsheet on your hand, add water, and rinse! They are small and easily transportable, making Rove Soapsheets useful in a variety of situations.
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography
Tafari first recognized a need for an agile cleaning product on a trip from Detroit to Jamaica, at the beginning of the pandemic. As they navigated their daily lives and the growing need to wash their hands, many people in the rural areas of Jamaica didn't have soap readily accessible. So Tafari got to work. The first step after creating the product, was to sell it through online channels, like Facebook Marketplace. Tafari found that there was a broad range of people that were seeking the benefits of her soapsheets. Soon it became clear that travelers, parents of small children, and outdoorsy folks, were all included in the target market. What started as a way to provide rural Jamaicans with a way to sanitize during the pandemic, blossomed into a business.
“My product debuted in Capital City Market at the beginning of 2022. I was drawn to Capital City Market due to its love for it’s community and how they make sure to be hands-on in local events.””
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography
Building a new business brought a need for funding. A determined entrepreneur is diligent in finding any resources available to them. For Tafari, that included applying for grants such as the 2021 NAACP Powershift Grant. This grant is significant because it came not only with monetary funding, but also the chance to be mentored by the great Daymond John of Shark Tank.
“I remember having to do a video pitch on Zoom, and I put it together at the last moment. I had on a hoodie and a hat.” Tafari laughs.
Yet it was that authentic representation of herself that allowed her to secure the funding and more importantly, the chance to have conversations with Mr. Johns to guide her on the next steps of growing the business. This opportunity, along with several others, allowed the Detroiter to take the product to stores like Capital City Market and others across Michigan.
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography
“My product debuted in Capital City Market at the beginning of 2022,” she says. “I was drawn to Capital City Market due to its love for its community and how they make sure to be hands-on in local events.”
This foundation sets the tone for the company to expand internationally. Rove Soapsheets is poised to serve schools, hospitals and airports all over the world. Any place where there are underserved communities in need of a quick and convenient alternative to bar soap and sanitizers, Rove wants to be there. The sky is the limit for Rove Soapsheets and Tafari Roberts.