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The Official Website of the State of West Virginia

New wellness business makes healthy adjustments to survive and thrive during pandemic

5/2/2021

The ink had barely dried on the documents creating a new business when the coronavirus pandemic swept across the state. 

The newly formed Utopia Wellness in Charleston combined the health, esthetic and business talents of Courtney Tackett and Olivia Hairston. 

“We merged February 5 of 2020. On March 19, 2020, we were shut down for 73 days,” said co-owner and Chief Financial Officer Hairston. 

“It was terrifying,” said co-owner and Chief Communications Officer Tackett. “There was nothing that we could do to prepare because no one has experienced anything like this in the last 100 years.” 

Unable to provide face-to-face services to clients during the mandatory shutdown, the company was spending down its cash reserves. Despite the formidable challenges, the partners were not about to give up on their new endeavor. 

Read the rest from the WV Small Business Development Center.