This month, a Detroit native became the first Black woman to have a supplement line at The Vitamin Shoppe.
Samia Gore, 40, launched her wellness plant-based brand Body Complete RX, in 2014. As of Aug. 1, her TRIM line, which features metabolism and energy drops, as well as supplement capsules, is available at 700 Vitamin Shoppes around the U.S.
Gore, a mother of four, first embarked on the journey of starting her business when she started making an effort to eat and live healthier after her last child was born. However, Gore said she couldn’t seem to find any supplements that worked, as some seemed to make her nauseous. Gore ultimately set out to start her own company.
“We are so excited to be launching at one of the top retailers of nutritional supplements in the country because it’s a true testament to the efficacy of our brand and products,” Gore explained when the announcement was made. “As the first and only Black female-owned brand in The Vitamin Shoppe’s weight management category, I am excited to make these wellness products more accessible to customers across the country and support their journey towards wellbeing.”
Aside from TRIM, other product lines by Body Complete RX include THRIVE, GLOW, NOURISH and PERFORM. Gore partnered with nutritionist Dr. Ruby Lathon to develop the plant-based products.
After losing 80 pounds during her weight loss journey before undergoing surgery to get her body where she wanted it to be, Gore used her Instagram accounts as an information page to discuss health-related topics in the Black community. Now with more than 230,000 followers, Gore’s Instagram page features testimonials and before-and-after photos from customers. On Aug. 4, Gore announced that her TRIM Kit was sold out via online orders and that some locations had run out of the product as well.
“I was not always interested in health and wellness. This is an industry that I basically fell in based on my own personal journey, ” Gore told the Detroit Free Press.
The company has grossed $10 million in sales and also sells products like vegan protein powders, a Vitamin C serum, collagen-boosting powder, women and men’s multivitamins, and superfood bars.
Gore shared that running a successful business without space in retail had been a challenge.
“Being a Black woman in the supplement space for the past several years without having space on a retail shop, I do feel like I have to work 10 times harder,” she said.
