BALTIMORE -- A small, dimly lit warehouse space in downtown Baltimore holds Nnadagi and Louise Isa's developing empire -- about 1,300 boxes of lor tush, their environmentally-friendly line of toilet paper.
For the Remington-based sisters, these 30,000 rolls of hypoallergenic toilet paper made from bamboo -- with a name that means "little tush" when said with a Baltimore accent -- have become a way to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit while helping the environment.
One of their first memories of toilet paper was when they ate some on a dare when they were 3- and 4-year-olds growing up in West Baltimore. Neither sister can remember who dared them.
"We were bored. It wasn't like our parents didn't feed us," said Louise, 35, as the sisters break into laughter.
Fast-forward three decades, and the sisters have donated almost 5,000 rolls of toilet paper to Baltimoreans during the coronavirus pandemic after launching the business in 2018. They have inked a year-long contract to provide their product to a popular local boutique hotel and say they also are in talks to do the same with other hotels along the East Coast.
"We are super sustainable. I drive an electric car," said Nnadagi, 34, adding that their venture is part of expanding eco-friendly options to Black people, a consumer market they said is often ignored.
The Isa sisters have picked a fantastic time to launch their business, according to Patricia Kanashiro, associate professor of management at Loyola University Maryland.
"They are business savvy," she said. "The timing is perfect for too many reasons."
In addition to the premium some companies recently have placed on working with businesses that are diverse, the sisters also could benefit from an increased demand for locally owned companies.
"A lot of the consumers and companies had to turn to local businesses," Kanashiro said in reference to the company's recent selling success in Baltimore. "lor tush took advantage of the momentum. They saw an opportunity to fill the gap."
The sisters say they are pretty much self-taught businesswomen.
"I had zero help, no business consultant, no business degree," Nnadagi said. "I'm a self-taught, fast learner. I found our manufacturer through trial and error and a whole lot of research."
They said they worked with a manufacturer in China to create the toilet paper to their specifications. That meant they could offer a product that was free from dyes and other chemicals while being safe for septic tanks. Most importantly it had to "feel good."
"We went back and forth," said Louise, adding that their eventual goal is to bring their entire manufacturing operation to Baltimore. "We landed on a pretty good [formula.]"
"It has some strength to it and softness," Nnadagi said. "It has no problem going down the toilet. It feels like luxury paper. That's the response we have been getting [from customers.]"
Using bamboo, which they said grows in abundance, instead of paper from trees isn't as environmentally harmful.
"We use the same process as making tree toilet paper," Nnadagi added. "But bamboo is better for the environment and grows faster."
The sister's estimate this first year of doing business has cost about $30,000 -- most of which came from their savings. The sisters continue to work their day jobs -- Louise as a manager at an organic grocery store and Nnadagi is a musician who also works for a marketing agency. They also said they received an $8,000 loan from a friend.
The sisters came up with the idea for the toilet paper in mid-2018. They were able to develop their first batch of rolls in November 2019. The coronavirus pandemic struck just as they were prepared to launch their first retail push. Seeing the shortage of toilet paper at the beginning of the pandemic, the Isa sisters decided to donate their first run of product to the community.
They set up an online questionnaire on their website that helped them identify people in need of their product -- whether that meant people who had severe allergies or simply were in financial need.
"Our default position is helping people. That makes us happy," said Nnadagi, who added that her family grew up with little money.
The family was evicted several times and were homeless on a number of occasions, she said.
"Our parents did what they could. There are days when you run out of stuff. You make it work," Louise said softly.
"We carried that with us through today," Nnadagi said.
The sisters' good deeds did not go unnoticed. Word spread of their philanthropy. Baltimoreans who received the toilet paper took on the role of mini influencers, leading the sisters to Hotel Revival and its director of culture and impact, Jason Bass. He worked with them to develop a business deal.
"My responsibility is supporting local businesses, especially local minority businesses, and [determining] how we can purchase [products] and supplies from those businesses," Bass said.
Aside from the story of the Isa sisters' company, Bass also liked their product.
"I personally fell in love with it," he said. "The staff was impressed with the quality and presentation."
The hotel also plans to bring attention to the company by telling guests about its local roots, Bass said.
"It's something of significance to us," he said. "We want people to understand what they are looking at. This is made in Baltimore by Black women."