A skin care line that actually works - Velvette
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care & cosmetics, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joyce Tse, co-founder and CEO of Velvette, based in Calgary, AB, Canada.
Tell us all about your business...
We're Velvette, and our mission is to help you achieve velvety, soft skin! Founded by a certified Cosmetic Chemist (me!) specializing in natural and organic formulations, we've created a collection of customized face, body, hair oils, and beauty tools for each skin type and application that are both good. For you and the planet!
What's your background and motivation to grow as a solopreneur?
A few years ago, my sister, Jenny, struggled to find a solution to clear up her blemishes. With my cosmetic science background, I was up for the challenge to create products to help Jenny's skin. It was. It was no easy task! Together, we researched and analyzed the benefits and properties of over 200 different plant oils in-depth and tested them meticulously for their textures and performance. After months of development, we came up with not just one product but eight. Six face oils, one body oil, and one hair oil! What made these different from others on the market was that they didn't feel sticky or greasy and instead felt velvety soft. We then decided to name our brand Velvette, just like the silky smooth feeling our products left our skin feeling! It's so encouraging to hear how much impact our products have made on those who support us. Without a doubt, it's our customers who keep us motivated each day to do what we do the most!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Getting featured on Forbes, Hello Giggles, and other publications was exciting for us. Still, I think the most significant accomplishment is knowing the individual impact we make with our products to everyone who uses them!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a solopreneur?
There's that quote, "I didn't want to work 9-5, so now I work 24/7" that is entirely true! Once you start your own business, personal life and work blur together, and you end up thinking, talking, and acting on business decisions and tasks all day! I'm no stranger to impromptu 3 am work sessions or even having to hop on calls during the middle of a vacation. That's why if you start a business, you have to make sure you are passionate about it and can come to terms with it taking over a good part of your life!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start small, build MVPs (minimum viable products), and don't be afraid to pivot if you don't see the results you want.
- Be passionate and resilient. Most businesses fail, and without these two traits, it's going to be hard to keep going in the face of the challenges you'll be sure to encounter.
- Time management is vital! You'll be wearing many different hats and multi-tasking every day. Everyone has different ways to manage time, from journaling to phone calendars, but make sure you have a way to keep everything tracked.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow our Tiktok/Instagram/Facebook @lovevelvette for our latest news and promotions!
Where can people find you?
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.