Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Teolaa Taylor, CEO of Bubbles&Lips Cosmetics, located in Hamilton, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Bubbles&Lips Cosmetics is a skincare company that makes & sells hand/homemade soaps, lip glosses, body butters, lotion bars, face masks, beard oils, lip balms, hydrating face & body oils, body washes, etc. Since we have recently expanded our brand when adding our BLC Men's Collection. We currently cater to both men's & women's skincare. We focus solely on looking good & feeling good! Hence our slogan is "MIND, BODY & SOAP." We've chosen a Jamaican theme when starting our business because of how connected our CEO's roots are! Therefore, all of our product names and even some remedies are inspired by Jamaican culture. All of our products are handmade with passion.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Teolaa and my inspiration to start this business was because I was always having trouble with finding the right soaps, lotions & lipglosses due to my super sensitive skin. It came down to literally just me searching for the best route to find great quality yet affordable products that will help with my dark spots, eczema; you name it! The main goal was just to find the right products that work for my skin without my skin breaking out or having skin discolorations. I thought to myself, why not become my own source. I decided to also go with vegan & cruelty-free products because not a lot of skincare companies now are very affordable & vegan friendly or cruelty-free. I thought, why not cater to everyone in a reasonable way. Let's face it, skincare can get super expensive at times, so why not have this be a nice way to become an outlet for people like myself who have trouble in these areas of findings. Being able to spread the knowledge through my products was my way of keeping myself consistent in staying in this business each & every day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was, without a doubt, getting my first wholesale order. Having a black-owned beauty supply store place wholesale orders from my business and now having my products on display at their store location had to be the greatest feeling.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is the ability to be consistent even on bad days. It definitely takes someone who is willing to be compatible & remain positive with every aspect of the business to keep it running.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Looking back at when I started my business, there were a few important moments that stood out to me. The top 3 tips that I would give anyone looking to start a company would be to know exactly what you're selling definitely, choose your target audience (consumers/customers), and be sure to write everything down on paper because you will need to look back at these notes in the future. Also, when running a business, you will need to have a business (general & financial) plan because that is key to keeping any business going! Lastly, PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE! I always say "self-promotion is the best promotion" because even if you don't have anyone else promoting your business, as long as you believe in & promote your business, you'll be able to grow!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

What most people don't get told when entering the business world is that it is tough at first! There will be days where you feel like giving up & just days where you feel defeated, but if it is a passion, it will outweigh those bad times. So, push through! For upcoming business owners, you've got this! We believe in you!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://bubbleslipscosmetics.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bubbles.LipsCosmetics/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bubbles.lipscosmetics/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bubbles_Lips

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.