Story & Lesson Highlights with Viktoria Thompson of Downtown Raleigh

We recently had the chance to connect with Viktoria Thompson and have shared our conversation below.

Viktoria, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Hiking! I love spending time in nature and having time to myself to just think and focus on my breath, so hiking has been the perfect activity for me. Bonus points if there’s a creek or waterfall on the trail!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey y’all my name is Viktoria Thompson and I’m the owner of Dell’s Temple, a holistic body care business. We create all natural products that are safe for people with sensitive skin and eczema, but for us it’s a little deeper than just body butters and scrubs. We believe that the cause for flare-ups and irritation could be more than just what you’re putting on your body, but also what you’re putting in your body, stress, and a number of other things. That’s why we also create teas and herbal blends to help address the root cause, providing a more holistic way to care for your body.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My mom without question. My parents had me and my siblings when they were young, and they did absolutely everything they could to give us a good life. There was a point in time when my mom worked 3 jobs just to support me. She always told me that nothing in life would be handed to me, I had to work for it and earn it. Not only did she repeatedly tell me, but she has modeled it for me my entire life.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are exactly where you’re supposed to be. Not late or behind, but going at the perfect pace. It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, especially when it seems like they are light years ahead of you, but everything happens exactly when it’s supposed to and what is for you will never pass you.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That natural ingredients are a luxury. Oftentimes you’ll notice that products marketed as “clean” or “organic” or “natural” are often more expensive. Access to non-irritating, sensitive skin safe products should be available to anyone who needs it, not just for those who can afford luxury items. That’s why Dell’s Temple prioritizes accessibility when it comes to pricing our products. While it’s important for us to cover the cost of materials and the time that it takes to create the beautiful products that we offer, its also important that the people who actually need our products are able to purchase them.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
Starting sooner. For a long time, I came up with all kinds of excuses for not launching Dell’s Temple. I needed more money, I needed more time, I needed more products, the list was never ending. Soon after launching, I realized how many people benefited from my products, how many opportunities were available to me, and how many amazing connections I’m not sure I would’ve made without it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dellstemple.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@dells.temple
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dells.corner
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dellstemple