Self-care Inspired Jigsaw Puzzles For Black Women

WELCOME TO THE #RVLTRIBE

RVL Wellness Co creates products that put the power back into the hands of Black women, and encourages them to reclaim their time and mental health. At RVL (pronounced "revel"), we create handmade jigsaw puzzles for Black women to enjoy dedicated moments of self-care and enrich in their wellness journey. Each of our puzzles features curated artwork from Black female artists designed to uplift our spirits. RVL Wellness Co provides a modern twist on an old classic that Black women will love and enjoy.

BRITTNY'S FOUNDER STORY

From the moment I started RVL (pronounced "revel), I had one goal in mind: help other Black women find alternative ways to find joy and practice self-care. In 2020, I experienced a level of stress and anxiety that made me feel like I was being hit by a bus. As a result of a career shift, my mental and emotional health was taking a hit and I suddenly found myself doing more surviving than thriving.After almost a year of focusing on nothing but work, I made a conscious decision to finally begin seeking ways to bring peace and happiness back into my life.

I turned to my childhood for inspiration and instantly found happiness in memories of puzzling with my grandmother. With that in mind, I researched the benefits of puzzling and found that it has some of the same effects as meditation. Desperate to reduce my stress levels and motivated by the chance to help someone else do the same, puzzling became my new place of peace.

However, there was one problem: I struggled to find puzzles that had images of people who looked like me.

RVL is intentional and unapologetic in providing the representation that the puzzle industry is missing. While highlighting artwork created by Black women, capturing the beauty of our Black culture, and prioritizing mental wellness, RVL helps you secure your peace with every puzzle piece. My hope is that you’ll use this modern take on an old classic to find and maintain your peaceful moments. You deserve it.

Our beautiful puzzles:

• Aim to elevate the self-care experience
• Offer an affordable option for self-care
• Promote imagery and artistry that reflect the well-being, values, and magic of Black women
• Provide a way to cope with emotions, reduce stress levels, and promote a sense of calm

Black women deserve to revel in wellness and take care of themselves. No more hustle culture, just intentional downtime. We encourage our customers to light a candle, pour a glass of wine or cup of tea, and create their own vibe of self-care and self-love.

WHY ARE WE HERE?

Black women face a disproportionate burden in society and their challenges have long been ignored. The effects of trauma from systemic racism and sexism and the strain of being caregivers and leaders in their community have caused Black women to experience high amounts of stress and burnout.

We know that self-care is important and we encourage Black women to make it a priority to improve their mental wellness. But due to harmful stereotypes of “The Strong Black Woman” and the lack of access to products and services that cater to the culture, Black women are often unable to prioritize self-care and mental health.

There is a severe absence of representation for Black women amongst brands in the self-care and mental wellness space. This lack of representation leads to feeling like you don't belong, feeling like you aren't worthy, and feeling like you aren't held in the same regard as others of different races. The self-care needs of Black women vary wildly compared to our White counterparts due to our daily experiences with microaggressions, discrimination, and the images of Black trauma seen daily in media.

Although there has been a significant increase in the number of Black women-owned wellness businesses over the past few years, Black-owned firms struggle to gain traction in their business due to lack of access to funding. In the US, black-owned firms are twice as likely to be rejected for business loans.1

SO WHY PUZZLES FOR SELF-CARE?

Studies indicate that puzzles stimulate the brain while at the same time allowing us to relax our minds and enter a state of meditation. Puzzling can help you feel released from everyday stress, and the state of calm that you experience will help lower your heart rate and blood pressure.2

Puzzles are an inexpensive way to disconnect from the digital world and focus on your mental and emotional wellness. Working on puzzles can even improve your mood! Dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, is released every time we do a puzzle and even every time we put a piece in the right place, helping to regulate mood and optimism.2

WHAT'S OUR GOAL?

RVL Wellness Co is seeking funding to grow and scale our business. A fully funded crowdfunding campaign will present opportunities to increase awareness of our brand, nurture partnerships with other Black-owned wellness focused businesses, and invest in the equipment and manpower needed to produce products at a larger scale.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Now is the time to invest in Black women! We need your support to help take our company to the next level so we can change the lives of Black women everywhere, piece by piece. Everyone has something to give, and every act of generosity counts. As a donor, you play an integral role in bringing the RVL Wellness Co vision to life.

THANK YOU!

REFERENCES:

1. "Black women-founded wellness businesses: a fast-growing movement and market", Global Wellness Summit. 2018

https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/trendium/black-women-owned-businesses-are-transforming-the-wellness-industry/

2. Jimena G., "10 SURPRISING BENEFITS OF DOING PUZZLES," Cronicas Puzzleras. April 13, 2020.

https://www.cronicaspuzzleras.com/en/10-surprising-benefits-of-doing-jigsaw-puzzles/