Amanda Kezios, founder and creator of Mojo Spa, said selling her cosmetic goods on Amazon helped save her business and expand her customer base during the pandemic. Kezios made her comments in a March 20 blog post.

"Not only did I not have to lay off any of my staff, but I actually hired their family members who got laid off from their jobs during the pandemic," said Kezios, Creator and Founder of Mojo Spa. "Amazon allowed us to grow as a company at probably one of the worst economic times we've ever had."

Kezios launched Mojo Spa in 2003, with a focus on all-natural beauty products, according to the blog post. The Wicker Park spa now offers 200 plant-based, non-toxic, cruelty-free products using natural ingredients like fruits and vegetables. Mojo Spa's products are all hand-made, ranging from skin-care to makeup, soaps, and soy candles.

The pandemic forced Kezios to switch up her business strategy as the Wicker Park neighborhood lost much of its "foot traffic," leading her to try selling more on Amazon. This shift resulted in an increase in sales, enabling her to keep her staff employed and hire additional workers. "Orders started to trickle in more and more to the point where we were up between 100 and 300 orders a day," Kezios said. "During this time, every box that I packaged, I was just like…’I am so grateful for this order.’" Using Amazon helped Kezios expand her business beyond Chicago, potentially into the Japanese market.

According to Amazon's 2023 Small Business Empowerment Report, independent sellers in the U.S. sold over 4.5 billion items on Amazon in 2023, averaging $250,000 in annual sales. Amazon has been supporting independent sellers for 24 years, providing access to a global customer base. More than 60% of Amazon’s sales come from independent sellers, including many small and medium-sized businesses. These sellers have created over 1.8 million jobs in the U.S.

Mojo Spa is an award-winning, woman-owned Chicago-based beauty brand that incorporates holistic techniques such as crystals and sound therapy, according to the Mojo Spa website. "We’re 'The Feel Good Beauty Co.' because we truly believe when you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside."