The Beauty Spectrum is an innovative online learning platform dedicated to empowering beauty professionals through accessible and comprehensive education. We offer a wide range of courses, allowing both aspiring and experienced beauty experts to expand their skills, knowledge, and creativity.
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Bella Schneider is the founder, clinical skincare pioneer, and paramedical esthetician behind Bella Schneider Beauty Cosmetics and LaBelle Day Spas & Salons. She leads a team of more than 200 esthetic professionals at two premier spas and her wholesale division of professional cosmetics. For more than 35 years, she has traveled the world to bring service providers the best in esthetic science; as a groundbreaking formulator, successful retailer, and respected educator, her mission is to help professionals enhance their practice and grow their business. Winner of the Nouvelles Esthetiques lifetime achievement Crystal Award for contributions to beauty science.
https://www.labelledayspas.com/
https://www.bellaschneiderbeauty.com/
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I took an interest in skincare as a teenager when I was breaking out. My mother took me to have my first facial at a European facial salon. When I moved to the United States, after growing up in Ukraine and Israel, I was shocked at how limited the beauty offerings were in San Francisco. I came to San Francisco on my own. My parents were deaf, and my brother had severe cataracts and was even blind at one point. I came to America to complete my education and find a job to send money back home. I managed to secure a scholarship and complete a joint Political science and Economics degree at UC Berkeley. I worked in cosmetics and makeup to support myself.
What inspired you to start your business?
Once I graduated, I realized it was time to bring European quality esthetics to the San Francisco area. Quality European facials, cosmetics, waxing, and makeup were missing here at the time. What I would call vanity and beauty culture, with high in-depth skincare were less prevalent. I decided to take the economics acumen I acquired at Berkeley and combine this with my passion for beauty and skincare. I opened a small boutique salon in the heart of San Francisco’s shopping district. It was instantly a success; I couldn’t keep up with the business and appointment requests! I had clients travelling from an hour away for appointments. That’s when clients asked me to open another location in Palo Alto, CA that was an hour away.
Where is your business based?
Today it is in Palo Alto, California.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
I had a small sum of money I had acquired but I needed more funding. I spoke to people I knew and approached the banks for additional funding. This was the hardest part, acquiring money as a woman in the late seventies and eighties, particularly in the beauty industry, was just unheard of. I had to rely on other strong women who had made it in banking to network and secure the loan in a male-dominated creditor field.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
Communicating the message that beauty and vanity are healthy forms of self-love was big in the beginning. Also, sharing this message later on with men, that taking care of yourself and grooming are important personally and professionally, became an important message to convey later on. Today it is less necessary as the current generations thrive on self-care, beauty, and image. From picture taking to me-time, our current culture really appreciates salon and spa-time.
For me, the best ways to increase awareness have been by providing high-quality services and products as well as having central locations in popular shopping centers that have easy parking and access to other stores. Our clients refer my spas to their friends and family because they know we prioritize excellence and convenience. I found my niche by creating full-service spa-salons that offer everything under one roof and by creating my own products based on my years of experience and client feedback. They simply can’t get this from our competitors.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
I would say that the biggest challenge is developing loyal employees that are hard-working and meticulous. I have high expectations and so do my clients, so I require this level of devotion from my employees. It makes it harder to hire, as I look for long-timers, but it has also been the strength of my business. I have employees who have worked with me for as long as 20 or more years. I run my business as a family in this way. This can open me up to disappointments. My work has been to not take challenges personally and to realize that people will do as they do.
How do you stay focused?
I am naturally a driven person. I have discipline and know that I always must be one step ahead of the rest. I never shy away from change or re-modeling my brand to keep up with the newest discoveries, technologies, and market trends. With this said, I know how to indulge in the things that cause me pleasure at the end of the day. To stay focused, I disconnect from the emails and phone at the end of the day. I also focus on optimism; I don’t indulge in feeling sorry for myself or imagining worst-case scenarios. I simply believe in my and others’ ability to overcome difficulty and come out stronger.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
I focus on uniqueness. As I mentioned earlier, I offer a full-service experience. Clients can get all their services under one roof. Most spas don’t have this today because it’s more work for them. But my priority is what’s best for my clients. I make sure that our techniques, technologies, and products are always the best. By formulating my own products, I know that clients simply can’t find what I offer elsewhere. I personally train all my esthetic staff and only hire someone I would go to myself. My corporate culture is one of a family. From Christmas parties to one-on-one time, I treat my staff as my family. This is the atmosphere our clients love.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
It’s important to contribute to the community you live in. I focus on Public Relations. I actively donate to the community and participate in my client’s passions and community service. More recently, I’ve focused on actively engaging my clients through an email newsletter. In this way, I keep them abreast of new developments and stay in constant touch.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Do what you love. Put all your efforts into what you do. If you don’t love the subject matter, the product, or the service you are providing, you won’t be able to put in the time it takes to be competitive, successful, or happy.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
Because of my diverse background growing up in a communist country than in Israel, traveling the world, and living in the U.S., combined with my degree in Economics and Political science, politics are a passion of mine. Had I not chosen the beauty industry; I would have pursued a career in international journalism. I read news from around the world. Not so many blogs, but hard news from the Balkans, Europe, and the Middle East.
Truthfully, I prefer personal relationships with communicating online or on paper. Particularly, some of my personal clients, that are leaders in the political arena such as Condoleezza Rice, George Schultz, and others. I have the privilege of having in-depth discussions with them on current affairs. That’s what I find the most interesting. As far as books, I love Hemingway. I read all his books. I have also read all of Elena Ferrante's books. They are brilliant!
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
I use my laboratories and my raw ingredient suppliers as my guiding light for quality ingredients that are effective and innovative. I continually read about new ingredients in trade publications and then create new formulations with my chemists in the function of my discoveries. I take the information that I learn about ingredients from the lab to practice; My true "laboratory" is my work with clients. I question them, experiment on them, and then come up with my new ideas and formulas based on their feedback.
Who is your business role model? Why?
My main role model in life was my grandmother. I received my strength from her. She escaped and survived the holocaust and hid her family including a deaf child while her husband was in a labor camp. Her words and guidance are always fresh in my mind whenever I face opposition. She taught me to be strong and trust myself above everything else.
How do you balance work and life?
Spending time with my partner, daughter and grandson are especially important to me. I also make time to have coffee dates with my friends. I also love going to musicals and the ballet. I always plan ahead so that I know I have already scheduled in time for fun.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
I love to exercise, read a wonderful novel, watch international romance, and travel to Europe. Nature and esthetic there please all of my senses.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
I plan on observing what happens to the marketplace and keeping up with the trends. If we need to have less people in the spa due to COVID, that’s what we’ll do. If clients or professional estheticians need home services or home kits, then that’s what I’ll offer. I keep my fingers on the pulse of my clients’ needs and the actual marketplace.
How can our readers connect with you?
By emailing us at service@labelledayspas.com
Chloe-Jackman-Photography
Jasmine Lawrence is the Founder of EDEN BodyWorks. Devastated by the harsh chemical products, 11-year-old Jasmine developed affordable, natural products that are now available at retailers nationwide, including Target, CVS, Walmart, HEB, and Sally Beauty, just to name a few. She also serves as a Product Manager at X, the moonshot factory. She has held several positions creating consumer-focused products for companies like Facebook, Softbank Robotics America, and Microsoft.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I grew up on the East Coast. I founded a company called EDEN BodyWorks, which makes natural hair and body care products when I was 13 years old. I later earned my Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and my Master's degree in Human-Centered Design & Engineering from the University of Washington. I’ve worked at Microsoft, Softbank Robotics, and Facebook, mostly on product teams that create devices and social impact. I currently serve as a Product Manager on the Everyday Robot Project at X, the moonshot factory.
What inspired you to start your business?
I started my company based on my own need for natural hair care solutions. After losing most of my hair due to a chemical relaxer, I no longer wanted to use traditional products. I conducted research to create my own and used my allowance to buy oils, herbs, and other ingredients.
Where is your business based?
My team is 100% remote, based in the United States. We’ve got team members all across the country.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
When I initially started creating products for myself, I had no intention of starting a company. It wasn’t until after I attended a BizCamp by NFTE that I was inspired to share my creations with the rest of the world. My goal was to meet the needs of other women who had challenges with their hair and self-image.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
While social media has been a very effective way of raising awareness, I believe that community events allow us to connect more deeply with customers and fans. These events create room for conversation about the personal topics that shape who we are as people. I have loved traveling the world to share shampoo and stories.
What have been your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?
One of my biggest challenges has always been time management. I’ve been able to find a balance for work, family, friends, and myself that makes sure that no one area monopolizes my time by creating a detailed life plan and listening to my body.
How do you stay focused?
Having clarity in what I value allows me to invest my time more strategically. I try not to do things that don’t matter to me or that steal time I could be pouring into more important areas of my life.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
EDEN BodyWorks is unique in its focus on education, empowerment, and commitment to the community. The products we offer to complement our commitment to encouraging women to live happier, healthier lives. We sponsor groups and organizations that are committed to similar core principles including that beauty extends beyond your outward appearance. Finally, the EDEN BodyWorks team continues to listen to feedback from our customers so that we constantly remember that we are in the business of serving others not just making a profit.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
One of my best strategies has been to focus on understanding people’s needs and share the information that is important to them rather than trying to sell your own messages. Communicating like this makes our brand feel caring and personal.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
My best piece of advice would be to be clear on your motivation for starting your company. Create a mission and values that can stand the test of time. They should be able to help you make hard decisions for your company.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
My favorite app is the YouVersion Bible app. I love having access to God’s Word at my fingertips. I don’t read many blogs, but I’ve always been a fan of the To Write Love on Her Arms Blog, which is full of honest posts about mental health that genuinely resonate with me. I don’t have a favorite book, but one that has had a significant impact on my life in the last few years has been Living Forward by Daniel Harkavy and Michael S. Hyatt. Creating and revising my life plan has led to a deeper understanding of myself, allowed me to make more room in my life for loving other people, and has led to a more focused and fulfilling life.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
My favorite business resource has been online classes. There are so many courses available to develop new skills or refresh existing ones.
Who is your business role model? Why?
I don’t have a specific person in mind, but I always try to model myself after folks I see who use their companies to make the world a better place. Sometimes this creates a trade-off with profits but never with values.
How do you balance work and life?
I created a Life Plan. It allows me to intentionally carve out space in my life for the things that matter to me. There is time for work, exercise, people, and even the occasional Netflix marathon.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
My favorite way to decompress is to go for a long walk with uplifting music.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
Over the next six months, I plan to adapt my life to how the world has changed due to COVID-19. I’ll be ramping up on my new role at X and working with my team at EDEN BodyWorks to continue developing new products that allow us to impact people’s lives. Outside of work, I plan to do more reading, writing, and reconnecting with people I care for.
How can our readers connect with you?
You can connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, Medium, Patreon (for fans of poetry), or send me a message via my website.
Amber Milt has decades of experience reporting and producing on-air and digital content for major networks and publications including Fox News Channel, Lifetime Television, BusinessWeek, New Beauty Magazine, and News Channel 12 Bronx/Brooklyn. Her passion to develop innovative and compelling content – that was not driven by ad dollars and “pay-for-play” – led her to create the Art Beauty Podcast. The weekly show explores the wonderful and wacky world of skincare regimens and rituals, plastic surgery breakthroughs and busts, and how to reinvent yourself one eyelash at a time.
What inspired you to start your business?
I’d call my podcast more of a passion project. Having been in the world of content production for magazines, TV, and digital, I was all too familiar with producing branded content and pay-for-play. And while I don’t doubt that many of today’s editors and influencers are being honest in their reviews, I wanted to create a platform where people could hear the real truth about everything from plastic surgery procedures to the latest developments and technology in beauty products.
Where is your business based?
My living room (New York City)
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
Well, I had experience with video production and editing but had zero experience when it came to audio editing. So, I had to learn the basics of Adobe Audition the good old-fashioned way – YouTube. Let’s just say the first month was brutal. I also researched the best audio equipment and podcast setups and purchased what I needed to get started.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
The podcast market has become so saturated with content, but luckily, also with listeners. I wish there was some easy way to get noticed but I think it’s just been a long road of meeting people, sharing on social, and having my guests also promote.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
Breaking up with my co-host. We had started on a journey together but about a year in, his life demanded his attention in other areas, and it was clear that we needed to part ways. I had done all of the booking, production on the podcast, and most of the weekly tasks of promoting on social and editing the website but finding the courage to continue to produce a show alone was definitely a struggle. My co-host was not only the ying to my yang, but he added a lot of color and comedy to the show. There was definitely a lot of wondering if people would simply stop listening to a show without him. But luckily, the drop-off wasn’t too severe and while I miss working with him dearly, it’s been incredibly rewarding to have guests and listeners write in and tell me how fun and funny they think I can be, too.
How do you stay focused?
I’m a type-A Virgo. I don’t know anything else.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
I think that podcasts are so deeply personal – you either like the host or you don’t. So, I try to not focus too much on what the competition is doing and instead focus on guests and topics that I find interesting.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
NOT GIVING UP. About 50 episodes in I was feeling so down that I wasn’t getting a million listeners a show. And then I had the very lucky opportunity to talk to a friend-of-a-friend who happened to have a very successful podcast, and he said to stick with it. That it wasn’t until hundreds of episodes in that he was getting such high numbers. Lately, I’ve been getting emails from strangers who have heard the show and want to recommend a guest or come on the show themselves – it’s the best!
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Don’t give up. No one wants to waste time on a failing business, but there is no such thing as an overnight success. There can be an overnight one-off for sure, but success takes time, finessing, and the ability to stick with it.
What’s your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
Rent-the-runway. Even when I don’t need something the idea that I can “shop” an unlimited closet prevents me from wasting so much money on things that I only wear or use once.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
I belong to this collective of women entrepreneurs (Dreamers and Doers) and I find that the collective wisdom and willingness to help is priceless.
Who is your business role model? Why?
My father. At 77 years young he is still coming up with new business ideas – and actually executing on them.
How do you balance work and life?
Life comes first. There’s plenty of times that work is going to demand my attention (and win), but I’ve seen too many people who have sacrificed everything in their lives for their business, and to be honest, they don’t seem really fulfilled. I guess I live by the “work hard, play harder” motto.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
Travel. I love New York City, but I literally need to leave it to calm down. I’ve been extremely fortunate in my life to be able to see a great deal of the world, and this has been a particularly challenging year with Covid-19 and the fact that I couldn’t hop on a plane and getaway. Also, Homescapes and Gardenscapes. Between the two apps, I’m on level 4,000.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
I’ve got guests booked for the next 6 weeks (which is the most I’ve had in a while). I’ve also planned a few local getaways. But I don’t really have a plan and I’m okay with that because it works for me. Plus, everyone who answered this question in late 2019 got it wrong.
How can our readers connect with you?
Of course, I would love for them to listen and subscribe to the show. The Art Beauty Podcast is on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and YouTube. They can also feel free to write me at hello@artbeautypodcast.com – I love hearing what they like, and also what they don’t like (so long as we spark a conversation, not a fire).
Co-Founder and business guru Roxana Pintilie has been the driving force behind the business that fuels the Warren Tricomi Brand. Roxana joined the Warren Tricomi team in opening the first salon in Midtown Manhattan in 1990. In 2008, they launched the luxurious Plaza Hotel flagship location and today the team leads a thriving business of 5 salons in the U.S. and 9 international salons, each designed uniquely to fit its geographic location with a modern twist.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I was born and raised in Romania. That’s where I eventually went on to study economics and philosophy in college and I opened my first business which was an art gallery. I then moved to NYC at the age of 21 to study Law and English. I opened my first spa/salon in 1983 and I met my two partners in 1988 - that’s when Warren Tricomi was born and the rest is history!
What inspired you to start your own business?
Ever since I can remember, I have always worked for myself. I don’t know any other way. I see business opportunities in everything. It is just the way my mind is wired!
Where is your business based?
NYC, Greenwich CT, East Hampton Japan, and India.
How did you start your business?
I sold my art gallery in Europe and all my assets. I hired an architect, a real state broker, an accountant, and an attorney. I ran the numbers, hired and trained staff, then opened the doors.
What were the first steps you took?
I found the right space/location and ran the numbers!
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
Word of mouth - when people love their experience at your business, they talk about it! Our priority is always the client experience and we make sure we go above and beyond their expectations every time.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
I am now facing the biggest challenge of my career and the industry. The post-COVID world is uncertain, to say the least. We have had to pivot in many unexpected ways to earn income during the lockdown and keep our business afloat. It is a continuous challenge to adapt to these fast-paced times, adhere to new guidelines, and grow our business again in such a different environment.
How do you stay focused?
I make a to-do list every day for various areas of the business. I get very clear and specific about what I really want to achieve and what exactly needs to be done to get there. Action is better than perfection!
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
We build spectacular spaces and offer the best products/services and standard of experience available in our category. We are trendsetters and always take the lead. We pride ourselves in being creative, passionate, innovative, and hardworking.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
We’ve always believed the client experience speaks for itself which is why word of mouth has been especially effective for us over the years. Another effective avenue has been our digital marketing - everything from our website to our emails to our presence on social networks is continuously strategized to meet our bottom line.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Never give up. It sounds cliché but you need resilience to push through all the obstacles that are going to come your way constantly. I don’t look at obstacles or roadblocks as “problems” - I look at them as opportunities to learn. All problems are the sources of information that will lead to solutions. That excites me and it should excite every aspiring and new entrepreneur if they plan to succeed. Another piece of advice that goes along with practicing and mastering resilience is always keeping an open mind. Never stop learning. You cannot stay stuck in one place. You must keep learning to keep going. Learn everything from anything. Your brain is like a sponge, push it to the limit - you’d be surprised where it takes you.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
I am a numbers person my favorite app is Tableau because it helps me to analyze data coming from my business. My favorite book is “I Love Capitalism An American Story” by Ken Langone. Coming from a communist country, I am grateful to be in a free and capitalist country like America. I relate to the book entirely and like Ken, in his own words, “I am the American dream.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
My phone! Google search and a host of apps and software solutions come in handy but without my phone, I’m toast. I do everything on my phone.
Who is your business role model? Why?
My mother is my greatest role model because she had exceptional determination and ambition in her own career, but also took time to help those less fortunate.
How do you balance work and life?
Not everything is equally important. I know what my values are — and which ones take precedence. I stay focus on the things I can do. I get real sleep. I spend time with family and loved ones when I need to disconnect.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
Reading up on technology and finances, watching documentaries and foreign movies, taking long strolls on the beach, and spending time with my family and friends.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
Rebuilding and growing my business as well as developing new streams of technology-driven revenue.
How can our readers connect with you?
They can contact me at rox@warrentricomi.com, as well as following us on social media! We’re on Instagram and Twitter @warrentricomi, as well as Facebook and Linkedin.
Legendary Warren-Tricomi Salons co-founder Edward Tricomi is known for demanding excellence in everything he does. The roots (no pun intended) of his renowned career began after a suggestion from his sister that he try cutting hair to supplement his income as a musician. Decades later, Edward is perhaps the most iconic and influential hair historian of our era. He has worked for years designing hair for fashion shows including Valentino, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Gianfranco Ferre, Emanuel Ungaro, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I started out as a musician and was around 17 or 18 years old and I needed a spare job. My sister and my cousin were hairdressers and my sister suggested it would be a job I could do without it taking the time up with my music.
What inspired you to start your business?
At the time I had just gotten married and had a child and I didn't want to always be commuting since I was a freelancer.
Where is your business based?
Our flagship location is at The Plaza Hotel along with 5 other locations in New York City and we have 9 international salons.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
One of my first jobs was for a Vogue shoot and got interested in architecture from photographer Deborah Turbeville - the design for our location on 57th was an homage to her since she was into stucco and distressed buildings. I wanted to make them not look like hair salons, but to engage all your senses.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
Be at the forefront of technology and social media - we had one of the first websites in the country. If you believe in art, the money will follow like a shadow.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
Over the years, learning how to manage the people who became my employees. With over 20 salons all over the world, luckily I only have to directly manage the 6 locations in the New York area. Keeping up with the maintenance of all the salons can also be challenging.
Now- Manhattan salons are the hardest hit by the current pandemic 30-40% of the population in the city has left the area and most of the clientele have the means to be away for long periods of time. We’ve gone above and beyond the recommended guidelines - from UV lights in our air filtration systems and employees wearing PPE and getting tested every 14 days - you can operate on someone in here and not get an infection! Getting back to business is the current challenge.
How do you stay focused?
Hard work! I made the decision to be the best in the world and put everything I have into it.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
I've always stood out in my life, even when I was a musician. I studied the history of hair, fashion, architecture, you name it. My grandfather was a fashion designer and my father was an engineer, so I grown with a different perspective on the way I view hair than my competition. For cutting hair, you have to have the ability that works with everything involved - especially on a set. I call it the ‘hip-ness factor’ - what the client is wearing, their personal style, lifestyle, face structure, and what types of styling the hair itself can handle.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Being on social media.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
You need a good team behind the scenes - lawyers, architects, people who know the business, marketing. You need to learn how to manage people, how you speak and teach them, and how to teach the people in your chair. Create an environment of excellence where your people can thrive, and where everyone can work together.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
Google and Pinterest have hundreds of styles from all over the world. It will remind me of different styles and techniques and is a source of inspiration for future projects.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
Read a lot, stay educated, and learn from the people around you even if they have a different background than your business area. From reading about Thomas Edison and Bruce Lee, and even from my father’s engineering background I’ve learned to have as few moving parts as possible to the way I work and my business to make sure everything runs effectively.
Who is your business role model? Why?
Vidal Sassoon - We were raising money for the damage done by hurricane Katrina, and Vidal told me that I was the most natural hair cutter he’s ever seen - it was very kind of him and I will never forget it.
How do you balance work and life?
Now I am working more behind the scenes, but make sure to give yourself a break every once in a while. Before I would have 30-40 clients a day but I would make sure to give myself a couple of days or a week to recharge.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
Music is still a passion - I create something every day, and I’m now working on a new product line and writing a TV series.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
The upcoming product line and the TV series I'm working on.
How can our readers connect with you?
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin
Instagram: @warrentricomi
Twitter: @WarrenTricomi
Facebook: Warren Tricomi Salon
Linkedin: Warren Tricomi Salon
Sharon Becker is an NYC makeup artist who also does studio hair. Her boutique makeup and hair agency, SB Beauty, provides services for weddings, international elopements, red carpet, and special events in NYC, Martha's Vineyard to Montauk, and internationally. She has worked on hundreds of weddings, in blizzards, heat waves, and family maelstroms.
Publications include Cosmopolitan, Men's Journal, Billboard, AARP Magazine, Imirage, Volant, Galio, XEX, Haute, Rue, and Gladys.
Her bridal work is featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, Bride’s, and NY Magazine Weddings. Blogs include Catalyst, Hey Wedding Lady, Style Me Pretty, Twirl, Green Wedding Shoes, 100 Layer Cake, Well Wed, Ceci NY, and more. www.sb-beauty.com.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I have a BFA in Drama from NYU and needed a job - so I got a holiday sales gig at Macy’s - they put me at the Prescriptives counter. I rarely wore makeup and didn’t know anything about it, but I LOVED learning about products, solving the puzzle of what a client needed, meeting folks from all over the world, and hustling! An artist/entrepreneur was born!
What inspired you to start your business?
Through my auditioning and acting, I knew that I could work for myself successfully. I was responsible and organized in my acting pursuits, and did not need the structure of an office environment to do my work. Later, I worked in offices for years to develop business skills, so I know that side (and it has its benefits) but I do not need it to get my work done. Actually, working in offices was so beneficial to me, because it inspired me to start my business and be my own boss!
Where is your business based?
We are based in NYC, and can travel locally, regionally, and internationally. Have tools, will travel!
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
A dear friend, who is a graphic designer, created a logo for me. Another friend had heard of a website platform for artists, so I gathered up whatever images I had and created a website (way before SquareSpace was created). Printed up a card, emailed everyone I know with the news that I was going out on my own, and that was my start!
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
Everything is networking! Whether it’s meeting colleagues at an event and following up with a 1-1 coffee date, or making sure that all of your clients are thrilled with their service and following up for a review, every impression is a networking opportunity.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenges have always been technology! I’m great with my hands and my head, and machines have been a roadblock. So, iPhone/computer/printer/websites/database. Now I’m smart enough to ask my question to YouTube and see if I can find a video on how to solve my problem. I also have an off-site tech guy who I pay to help me solve computer issues. My business is fast-paced and I cannot be slowed down by a less-than-optimized system. Therefore, I try not to be too ambitious with machines and pay people to help me!
How do you stay focused?
When you work for yourself, live by yourself, and are solely responsible for paying your own bills, it’s really easy to stay focused! If I don’t hustle, I don’t pay rent and save for retirement. Simple equation. Also, I have some easy tricks: unpack/clean/repack my kit every time I come home from a job; block out a few hours to get deep work done when I’m not with a client; optimize my lifestyle for simplicity, like eating and dressing simply.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
Me! My taste, my values, my hand - clients are buying me. Also, we deliver GREAT services.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Doing makeup on or near taste-makers or decision-makers, so they can experience my work or see how others experience it in real-time. Once I get my hands on someone’s face, they are mine!
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Think really hard about what talents you have to offer, and do that, only that, and do it extremely well. Don’t veer from it. Once you know what you want to offer, think about your values, what you’re willing to sacrifice, what you want to share of yourself to make the world a better, more beautiful, more just, etc place for everyone. Then, take action steps that set you up for long-term success.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
I listen to a lot of podcasts because I’m always running around the city and crave stories, news, and info. Walking, biking, riding the train or bus, I’m always on the move. For podcasts, I enjoy What’s The Tee with RuPaul and Michelle Visage; Fresh Air, Stay Tuned with Preet Bharara, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, and WTF with Marc Maron. My nerdy side comes out on podcasts and when I listen to NPR all day.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
I do love an Excel spreadsheet! Since I’m a visual person, it helps me see what I’m thinking about, and get sorted. Just started using Dubsado for my bookings, and that could be helpful (once I’ve learned more).
Who is your business role model? Why?
I don’t really have one, but my mentor is my friend David, who has been cutting my hair for over 20 years. We are close and he has been instrumental in my success, especially with my fashion and commercial work. He is far more experienced than I and has finely attuned tastes, so I trust him.
How do you balance work and life?
Who says I do? Hahaha. A few years into my business, I realized what my natural calendar break times are in the year, and I schedule those as my vacation times. This has been a wonderful opportunity to plan trips to warm and exotic locations, and give myself something to look forward to!
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
My boyfriend and his dog live in NJ, so most Saturday nights after I finish work, he picks me up at the train in NJ and we have a low-key dinner and maybe a movie with the pooch. On Sunday, we do suburban things, like walk the dog, visit the farmer’s market and a big box store for errands, and read the NY Times. Other than that, I love to watch YouTube: makeup tutorials, all things Drag Race, comedy, and news bits. Also, I’m a big reader, so I read before bed.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
At this time, it’s hard to plan 6 months ahead because of the global pandemic, but I do plan to finish the relaunch of my second website, shoot more makeup videos and build my affiliate sales platform, and spread the love with my Virtual Makeup Lessons.
How can our readers connect with you?
Weddings: www.sb-beauty.com @sbbeautynyc
Fashion: www.sharonbeckerbeauty.com @sharonbeckerbeauty
Tamar is an author, mother, and founder of TAMAR, a fragrance brand designed for who you are, not who they want you to be. She's determined to show the world that the key to happiness and self-improvement is loving and accepting your most authentic self first (and smelling good doing it). You can find more on Tamar and her story at tamar.com
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I consider myself a professional hustler; I’ve worked in the startup world for quite some time and was Mashable employee six as well as an early employee at several other companies. It gave me a great start in understanding business operations from all facets and really, in being a generalist, since I was able to dabble in so many different parts of the business. I’m also a writer; I authored two books on completely different topics (genetic genealogy more recently and social media marketing in 2009!).
What inspired you to start your business?
I never thought I would ever start my own business, but I had a calling a few years ago after hitting my rock bottom. I hadn’t been aware of it at the time, but I had a lingering mild-to-moderate postpartum depression that began after the birth of my firstborn that lasted nine years through the birth of three more children. In 2018, after suffering a trauma, I realized that I was in a deep, dark place. I spent a big portion of several months going through the motions like there was this dark cloud following me.
And then one-day things changed. For whatever reason, I opened a cabinet and found a vial of perfume against the corner of it and decided to be selfish and put it on.
When you’re depressed, you don’t care about what you look like (my clothes of socks and crocs and sweats would indicate I was not invested at all in my appearance). You also don’t care what you smell like. I wasn’t putting on perfume to smell good for anyone out there.
Instead, I put it on in an inquisitive way. And that mindset changed everything for me. It awakened my dormant sense of smell is the most powerful way possible. I felt alive again. I was excited by this scent for myself and revisited sniffing my wrists throughout the day.
The thing is, I had tried it on before. It wasn’t a miracle scent. But it was part of the mindset I had going into it that saved my life. And it did. I was more motivated to do things, to take control of my life, to be invested in self-care, to try a lot more scents, and to be a better person. I realized this approach toward the scent, especially in the world we live in today where we’re at home, is so important, because it can truly bring happiness and ground you as a human being.
The fragrance market is oversexualized and all about beauty from beyond. But there’s an element of beauty from within that isn’t being expressed, and I think people, in approaching scent with this mindset, can become happier and healthier versions of themselves.
And that was my impetus to start a wellness fragrance brand, a unisex artisanal fragrance that ties into the lifestyle of the wearer (and not the observer).
Where is your business based?
I’m based in New York and have been preaching remote work before we were all forced to work from home in our quarantines. I never had plans to have an office.
Our team is located on both coasts in the US.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
It all really started with the idea that I needed to do this. I spoke to a bunch of people who validated the idea, and then I spoke with someone who would be my “nose” behind the scents I created and he was willing to take the ride with me. After that, I filed corporate paperwork and started recruiting my team, which is hard because admittedly I am bootstrapping and we’re all starting from zero right now. You really need to find someone who believes in the idea and the mission, and fortunately, I have found some incredible people but it took longer than usual.
I hadn’t initially planned on calling the brand TAMAR, but it was Thanksgiving 2018 when I was readying the concept. I pitched the idea to my sister at our dinner table; my brother-in-law, Steve, said “you should call it TAMAR.” Fortunately, I already owned tamar.com since that’s my first name, and it wasn’t more than a resume and a landing page for the books I wrote, so it was easy to convert into a company website.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
I’m still pre-launch, but my awareness to date has been through self-promotion, a landing page email list capture that is intended to build community, social media marketing (paid and earned), and public relations. I also run a podcast, The Common Scents Podcast (tamar.com/category/podcast), that I use to let people tell similar stories to mine (an unexpected career change, rising above the ashes, and embracing self-care)
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
I think my biggest challenge overall is fear. What I’m doing is not easy at all and I am afraid to fail. Bearing in mind I’ve put more than a year of work into this project, I want nothing more than for it to become extraordinarily successful. I’m still trying to convince myself that I will succeed. I think imposter syndrome is real for all of us. What I do is force myself to overcome the fear and I read a lot of books that help me get over this hurdle. But often, it’s a step forward and two steps back, as I think it is with anyone who is a human. It’s cyclic. I am overcoming them daily, but I am also finding the fear overcoming me too!
How do you stay focused?
I believe that focus is a product of the passion you have for the work you do. I am focused because I know I couldn’t throw away more than one and a half years of work. I set goals, I have a weekly female founders accountability meeting with a few incredible women, I have a task list that I work on daily, and I aim to get things done, maintaining Inbox Zero while I work on everything I need. I use an app to journal what I accomplish every single day (see below in the “my favorite app” question) and set specific mini-milestones.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
My competition is focused on sexual and sensual. I’m about “selfish” ness. We’re doing it for ourselves because we deserve to feel good.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Interestingly enough, I’m not taking the formal approach toward starting the business. A lot of my business comes from being super authentic with who I am. I am human. I think a lot of people believe in the brand because of who I am as a person. I had the coronavirus; I actually live in the first community in the United States with confirmed community spread (and I got the coronavirus through this community)! I have shared several very down-to-earth stories on Medium (medium.com/@tamar). I’ve been giving back to the community in incredible ways, making sure people are being fed, keeping businesses open because there are people in my community who are interested in supporting them. I know my efforts will pay it forward when I officially launch. I’m not actually doing it for that, though! But this is who I am, and this is the brand I want to create.
This has built upon public relations and word of mouth marketing strategy that will be instrumental with my launch. Additionally, I’m working to partner up with other brands, leverage social media marketing, and building a strong content play. Since I’m pre-launch, I cannot tell you what has officially translated to the biggest conversions. I think all of these together will make a difference.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
LET GO OF YOUR FEAR. When we look back, no one regrets the risks they took, they regret the risks they haven’t taken. This is why I moved forward on this, but I don’t think I would’ve had the guts to do it beforehand. The more self-improvement books I read, the more I revisit this same message. And here I am, following it as best as I can.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
I think I’d have to say three things here: I love Robin Sharma, the author, who writes a lot of books that have really propelled me forward. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, The Leader Who Had No Title, The Greatness Guide – all of his books are so helpful in ensuring I don’t give up but stay humble.
I have to throw out Fearless Motivation (https://www.fearlessmotivation.com/). It’s not a blog and it’s not a podcast but by far, this is the BEST thing you can ever listen to when you’re trying to focus on self-improvement. I reserve it for when I run because I want to become a better runner. It’s truly inspirational preaching that helps tremendously with self-esteem and the drive to move forward.
Finally, my favorite app is Daylio. This is an iOS and Android app that can be used for both business and personal purposes; it is a journaling app that also helps me stay accountable in doing things I’ve been committed to. I started using the app in 2018 when I was actually in my rock bottom, but I was also climbing out of it. I personally use it for remembering what I do daily, but also to stick to specific goals I’ve set: for me, it’s been running and reading, which I do daily. At the time of this writing, I’ve done that for 467 days straight without missing a beat. (You can set streaks and reminders to stay focused. I guess I could say that I have been.)
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
This is so incredibly difficult to answer! I think everything here points back to Facebook, which I use for both personal and business purposes. My Facebook experience is curated into groups, and I find that the best resources come from the groups I am most active in.
Who is your business role model? Why?
I think my role model is Craig Newmark. He created something useful out of something that we already were doing: communicating via email, and he’s so humble, down to earth, and responsive (in near real-time!). I’d like to think my launch is not so incredibly foreign (fragrance already exists); we’re just pivoting in the way we use it right now. Plus, responding to customers directly and doing so in real-time has always been a philosophy I embody (I even ran a consultancy on this core value of mine; realtimeemail.com). I truly hope this brand takes off as Craigslist did!
How do you balance work and life?
I’m responding right now in the heat of a two+ month quarantine (ours started on March 3rd because as I said, we had an early confirmed case of community spread). It’s been really hard because work now embodies volunteerism on top of my day job. Still, I’m committed to running (or even walking – recovery from coronavirus has me doing things at a much slower pace; I usually take 20-30 minutes to myself in walking around my driveway at 11 pm these days!) and reading.
If we were in a normal situation, I’d take my kids to school, then drive to the gym and work out. Sometimes I’ll get work done in the parking lot in my “remote office” since some gym classes don’t start right away. After that, I will get home, shower, grab a bite to eat, and focus on work all by myself until I have to pick up my kids from school. I’ll focus on the kids for a bit, then resume a little more work, then on whatever else I need to do until late at night. Then I’ll go to bed after reading and doing a Duolingo lesson (I’m trying to learn Spanish right now).
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
I’m still in this mode that decompressing is inordinately difficult because we’re all in times of such uncertainty. I think letting loose comes from my runs and the occasional karaoke I do on my iPod. I used to be very shy and afraid to speak up, especially in conversations on social media, but fragrance made me decide to try to sing, and when I sang, I decided my voice was worth being heard. I find it almost strange to admit that fragrance spurred a domino effect that has helped my mental health tremendously, in giving me confidence.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
I’ll be launching a crowdfunding campaign to help validate this claim to a wider audience, continuing with production and logistics, and continuing to create content that supports the brand and the lifestyle I am trying to have the brand embody. It’s not just about fragrance, but a movement through the podcast and hopefully books and more.
How can our readers connect with you?
You can subscribe to my mailing list or learn more about the product or crowdfunding campaign at tamar.com. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram: @tamaressences.
THANK YOU!!!!
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mira Peterson, founder of JUNO & Co.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
My parents immigrated from the Philippines in the late ’70s and my sister and I are the first generation Filipino-Americans in our family. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, with a brief stint of International High School in the Philippines. My family and I returned to California (but San Francisco) in 2000 for college.
What inspired you to start your business?
I’ve always had the idea of opening up my own store. When I graduated from Merchandising at the Academy of Art in 2008, I initially wanted to have my own art boutique that showcased local San Francisco artists and designers. But because it was so hard to get a loan at the time, I found myself falling into a career as a beauty store manager and a beauty writer. I made so many connections as a Beauty Editor and it opened up so many doors for me in terms of connecting with other Beauty Entrepreneurs. It seemed only natural that the next step was to co-find a beauty company as CMO - which combined my love of writing, beauty products, community, and boutiques.
Where is your business based?
It is based in the Bay Area. Burlingame, California which is 20 minutes away from San Francisco.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
I met our CEO Kyle when I was a Beauty Editor for Examiner. He was opening his fashion boutique in the Westfield Mall in downtown San Francisco and I was covering the event. We stayed in touch over the years through SFFAMA which is the San Francisco Fashion and Merchandise Alliance. After four years at IPSY, I was pretty burnt out and taking a break. Somehow Kyle learned that I was available and he reached out and told me of his new company idea. It was going to be a beauty product based on the community. I was almost immediately on board, after that the rest is history.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
I have always been a community-centered person when it comes to business. It was what I was most passionate about when we were starting IPSY back in 2011 and it is still what I am most passionate about today through JUNO & Co. The endless possibilities of connection and communication thanks to the online world have really helped create loyal fans and followers that are equally as passionate at creating amazing things.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
My biggest psychological challenge was gaining confidence and overcoming the guilt of wanting to do something bigger/”taking gambles” with my career. Having a family with a culture that deems success with titles like “lawyer”, “doctor”, etc., it was hard for me to not feel selfish pursuing a passion and finishing a degree at an Art college.
At some point, you just have to ignore the outside interference and go with your gut. Katherine Hepburn has a quote that has always resonated with me when I start doubting my decisions, “If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.” As I get older, I’ve grown to know that it shouldn’t be another job just to get people to understand or like me.
How do you stay focused?
I have kids. Two boys. They are more than enough motivation to stay focused and keep doing what I do. It sounds cliche but it’s definitely for them. If I didn’t have kids I would probably living on coffee and oatmeal, traveling the country with a smart car and a second-hand camper somewhere.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
I am a believer that there is enough abundance in the world for everyone. We all have something special to offer. So, I don’t really look at other brands as the competition but as an inspiration. I am all about collaboration and not competing. This is what our mission is, at JUNO we are affordable luxuries that are accessible to all and that are also made with all of our community conversations in mind.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Direct to consumer communication has been key. We are excited and proud of our #junobabe community and we love to hear their stories and suggestions.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Follow your dreams. Make a plan, break it up into smaller goals that will eventually lead to there. Looking at the big picture can be overwhelming and our ideals of how to get there can be unrealistic. If you simplify it, make goals that are achievable, one day you’ll wake up and realize that even if it didn’t work exactly or as easily as you would have liked, you’ll still be happy with how far you’ve come. If you’re not, start over. It’s never too late.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
I can not say enough about the Goodreads app. I am a big promoter of reading and reading a lot. Reading keeps the mind sharp and the imagination limitless. Goodreads keeps me accountable toward a reading goal every year. After a long hiatus of only reading 2-3 books a year, I was able to read way more last year with a goal I set for 30. I became so obsessed I hit 42 books. This year I am doing 50 and according to the Goodreads app, I am one book ahead of schedule. It also suggests new books to read with a Tinder-like swipe feature and has your friends and family (those on the app) connected so that you can see what they are reading and what goals they are up to, as well.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
I am a part of a lot of professional online communities but the two that I love most and have found useful are communities like Create & Cultivate and Girlboss. Both are an excellent resource for any questions or guidance that one would need and I wish they had it when I was just starting out. You’ll encounter people from all levels and the topics help to keep work things in perspective in terms of what’s going on outside of your business and what you can do internally to help it improve. Plus, networking is always awesome.
Who is your business role model? Why?
Gosh, I am always at a loss at this question because I can never just pick one. But if I had to, it would be Michelle Obama. She isn’t exactly a business model but a life model. Reading her book Becoming, I found myself in tears multiple times. It is absolutely beautiful how graceful and amazing she has dealt with every single thing life has thrown at her. How she makes everything look effortless and easy when it is far from it. And how, despite all the sadness and evil the world has shown her, she still manages to discover and create the positivity and goodness in it.
What is your beauty routine? What are some of your favorite products?
I have a pretty minimalist daily beauty routine. It consists of a gentle face wash prescribed by my dermatologist, my Curology formula and Grape Seed Oil which was recommended by a dermatologist colleague, Hadiyah of Fairy Glow Muva. The JUNO Moonshine is what I wear outside when I have to work or run errands, it smooths & blurs imperfections, keeps things moisturized with Hyaluronic Acid, and Avocado Oil, while letting the skin breathe. And I add brows with Em Cosmetics Universal Taupe Brow Cream.
I used to think that the more products I used the quicker and better results I would see. It turns out that pairing down and sticking to the basics is what my skin was craving this whole time. Naturally, I still like to splurge and check out trending products every now and then though.
How do you balance work and life?
I don’t. Hahaha. Well, it definitely doesn’t feel that way. You just do what you have to do. Embrace the craziness and enjoy the downtime when you can. Work your ass off when you need to. Find bliss in the moments in between.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
I do yoga. I try to meditate as much as possible. I also try to plan one family vacation every six months locally and one internationally at the end of the year so that we always have something out of routine to look forward to.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
We have so many incredible collaborations and new products these upcoming six months. My head is spinning just thinking about it. But they are so good and I am so excited. We are stepping into the color realm starting with lipsticks and eyeshadows. So now it’s not just complexion perfecters but every step and detail of a whole look.
How can our readers connect with you?
I am actually always on the JUNO & Co. Instagram account @thejunoco. Sourcing and scheduling the content. This means I also see most of the messages and I try to respond with a heart or double-tap as much as possible. I can often be reached through there or my Juno e-mail at mira@thejuno.co
Stacy Blackman earned her BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from Kellogg at Northwestern University. Following business school, she tapped into her flair for invention and began building businesses, launching WebWisher, which is now part of The Knot, a publicly-traded company, and eventually launching Stacy Blackman Consulting, the leading admissions consulting advisory.
Stacy’s latest venture, Stryke Club www.Stryke Club.com launched in January 2020 and is an acne-fighting skincare line for boys. Stryke Club was recently invited to participate in the Target 2020 Beauty Accelerator and has big plans for the coming months.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
After college at the University of Pennsylvania, I moved to San Francisco to work in private equity but itched to do something more creative. I wanted to have a hand in running companies rather than just analyzing the numbers behind them.
I went to the Kellogg business school at Northwestern to help transition into a marketing role at a consumer products company, but after my summer internship decided that big company life was not for me. During my second year in business school, I partnered with two classmates and dear friends and launched an online registry called WebWisher. We sold that company within a year; it’s now part of theKnot.com and has expanded to a multi-platform business in 15 countries. Next, I started an educational consulting company: Stacy Blackman Consulting, which is now the leader in its field.
I have a fantastic team in place running SBC and a few years ago started to contemplate building a consumer products company. I wanted to do something meaningful and just needed a great idea.
What inspired you to start your business?
My son was ultimately my inspiration. I was at lunch with a friend; between us, we have seven kids. We were discussing that our girls’ bathrooms are overflowing with products, but our sons had nothing. When the boys started to sprout a few pimples, we realized there is truly nothing developed specifically for a teenage boy. In some ways, self-care for boys was considered to be shameful. Most boys were borrowing pink, highly-scented cleansers from the girls, using embarrassing medicinal zit creams from the ’80s or using nothing at all. In this selfie generation, kids were always online and growing increasingly self-conscious. We knew our boys deserved better and decided to create something to meet that need.
Where is your business based?
The business is based in Los Angeles.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
We started before we were even close to “ready” and just put one foot in front of the other. Because I have a partner who is a dermatologist, we knew exactly what ingredients we wanted to use in our formulation. But she is not a chemist or a manufacturer. For that, we started tapping into contacts, asking lots of questions, and hitting up good old Google! We needed to find the perfect manufacturer. It took us well over a year to perfect our formula.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
We have been very clear about our key benefits: Stryke Club is clean, simple, effective, and “locker room worthy”. The boys and their moms are our biggest advocates. On and offline, they tell and show the results. They are excited to show up in front of the camera and are excited to display our products on their bathroom counters.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was educating myself on consumer products and the skincare industry. That’s still a work in progress. Now, I am also learning about the retail landscape, and the various options and entities. Doing these things meant that I had to overcome self-doubt and just believe that I can navigate anything one step at a time. It’s not a straight line. It’s messy and full of ups and downs and crazy mistakes that we laugh about now. At the end of the day, I now have increased confidence that I can learn and do hard things!
How do you stay focused?
I am a slave to my calendar and very carefully plan out my day the night before. I make room for all the highest priority tasks plus things like a workout and lunch with a friend, or time with my kids. I schedule the work and the play to make sure that both happen.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
At this point, there simply are not many options designed with teen and tween boys in mind. When we differentiate from unisex products, we highlight that we are founded by a renowned pediatric dermatologist who developed and tested our formulas and has used these ingredients in her clinic for over a decade and knows they work. Our unique mix of ingredients is not found anywhere else on the aisles you generally browse. They are clean, simple, and effective, and our lifestyle brand is built “for the boys,” and meant to be a point of pride in their routine.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
At this point, we are only sold on our website and the Internet has been an amazing way for us to efficiently tell our story, reach our customers, and grow our business.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
“Begin before you are ready”. I am not big on huge business plans and models stuffed with unknowns and made up numbers. And I know that there will never be enough money, time, or knowledge to be truly ready to start. You just have to go. Start right where you are, take one step, and go.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
App – these days it’s Shopify. Those “ka-chings” truly are music to a small business owner’s ear! Other than that, I really do like Instagram. I love to refer to Instagram for inspiration surrounding style, entertainment, food, design, etc… it’s just a fun place for me to source ideas.
I don’t really follow any blogs right now – I am much more of a podcast fanatic, as I listen in the car and on walks, or sometimes before bed. Some favorites: Unfck Your Brain, Armchair Expert, Second Life and How I Built This.
My favorite book right now is probably the “Great Alone”. Such a beautiful story plus great history on Alaska which I visited for the first time a few years ago.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
My favorite business resource by far is people. I have developed an incredible network through the years and find that the conversations and inspiration I can source from my expanded crew is invaluable.
Who is your business role model? Why?
I admire Jessica Herrin, the CEO of Stella & Dot Family of brands. I worked with her when I first sold my dot-com out of business school and even then, she had that killer energy and instinct. She continually reinvents, pushes to improve, and just doesn’t stop. She also has a true love of what she is doing and I think that is infectious. I have learned a lot by listening to her over the years.
What is your beauty routine? What are some of your favorite products?
I love playing around with different beauty products for fun and self-care but I am pretty minimal when it comes to makeup. When I find a product that I like, I am crazy loyal!
My beauty routine is to cleanse at night using my Clarisonic and our Stryke Club Face First cleanser. Even though it was created for boys, there is nothing on the market that matches it! It is super clean and simple, anti-inflammatory, unscented, no crazy preservatives. It does not dry or irritate my skin. I like to use Vintner’s Daughter Serum after I wash and I often follow up with BeautyCounter CounterTime moisturizer.
In the morning: I shower with Stryke Club Everywhere Wash which I use head to toe for a good, simple clean. I follow my shower with Olive & M body oil. So lovely and easy to apply. It just feels good!
And then…sunscreen rules above all: I love the Elta MD mineral sunscreen, on face, neck, chest, hands…everywhere that will see the sun!
How do you balance work and life?
I generally get my work done when the kids are in school or doing homework and am very present and turned off from work when they are around. I’m no Martha Stewart and don’t do a lot of domestic work but will rarely, if ever, trade showing up at a sporting event or a school activity. I prioritize the things that I do when I am physical with my kids as opposed to things that I do for my kids that perhaps someone else can take care of.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
A walk or a hike, sometimes with a friend or my husband, sometimes with a great podcast, always with my dog.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
We have SO much planned for the next six to 12 months and it’s keeping all of us insanely busy. Unfortunately, I cannot get too specific but it includes new products and new channels for Stryke Club. We are incredibly excited about the company’s opportunities and growth!
How can our readers connect with you?
I am personally on Instagram @StacyBlackman
Stryke Club is www.StrykeClub.com
Instagram @StrykeClub
Facebook @ShopStrykeClub
Twitter @ClubStryke
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