Authentic Human Beauty - Conspiracy Cosmetics

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Olive Butler, founder of Conspiracy Cosmetics, located in Lumby, BC, Canada.

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

We are a makeup company that sells low waste, environmentally conscious, and vegan cosmetics. Our packaging is minimal and almost entirely compostable. We focus on selling products by partnering with local storefronts throughout the Okanagan and selling our products online so that there are more opportunities for customers to access our makeup products, no matter where they live.

One of our core values is authenticity. Our customers are people who are interested in living authentically as themselves through self-expression and their personal lifestyle choices. A lot of the marketing and narrative surrounding the makeup industry is shameful and creates a feeling of inadequacy. We aim to shift that narrative to be one of self-expression and authenticity.

Tell us about yourself

I'm an 18-year-old entrepreneur who lives in Lumby, BC. I'm passionate about creating positive change, which is the reason I began making makeup for myself in 2015. I was unable to find commercially available makeup that fit within my values and price range, so I started making my own! Since then, I have refined my recipes and processes to the point where I want to share them with others. I decided to start Conspiracy Cosmetics because I saw that there was an interest in a low waste, natural makeup company.

I've always been interested in doing work that is fulfilling and creates opportunities for me to continue to grow and learn, so starting up a business has been a great experience for me, especially because I can see that others are also passionate about the issues I'm working to address through Conspiracy Cosmetics.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'd say my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is having brought a business plan to life without sacrificing the ethics or standards along the way. Many times, because of the choices I've made around the values of my business, some things were much more complicated than they would have been if I had made a different choice. An example of this is how using less traditional compostable packaging takes more planning than its plastic counterpart. Not many makeup businesses use this packaging style, and it's less familiar to consumers.

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

I think one of the hardest things, but in some ways also one of the most rewarding and interesting things, is the need to be constantly flexible and ready to learn new skills. Owning and opening a business comes with many new and changing challenges since so much goes into starting a business.

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

My first tip is to access as many resources available to you as possible. Before I launched my business, I was a part of the North Okanagan Community Futures' Fresh Trax program and am now a part of their Enterprize Challenge. It's super helpful and inspiring to have the chance to connect with other entrepreneurs and learn from them. Another tip would be to open a business that has to do with something you're passionate about. This lets you do something you love and will help you stay motivated! My last tip is to have a super solid to-do list! This enables you to keep the bigger picture in mind and stay on track.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://conspiracycosmetics.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conspiracycosmetics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conspiracy_cosmetics/

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.