Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marlene Wallach, CEO of Gleem Beauty, located in New York, NY, USA.

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

Gleem Beauty is a skincare company that I owned and operated. I created clean beauty products for women and men of all races and ages who want to take their skincare to the next level and feel the Gleem.

All Gleem Beauty products are made with a base of pure, organic, adaptive Aloe Vera. Unlike water, the base ingredient used in all Gleem Beauty products, Aloe Vera can penetrate skin tissue to encourage healing while delivering active ingredients. What's more, Aloe Vera is an effective anti-inflammatory. This is important given that inflammation is one of the leading causes of skin aging.

During my 17 years at Wilhelmina, one of the constants with my models were issues with their skin. Despite a plethora of options in an over-crowded market of products, no product seemed to address the issues in a consistent and efficient manner. As a result of those experiences, I saw a need for something that not only took care of the immediate problem but went to the next level and gave them a Gleem. Thus, Gleem Beauty came into being.

Tell us about yourself

I consider myself to be a "serial entrepreneur." I started Wilhelmina Kids and Teens and Wilhelmina Creative Management from nothing into a booming business. Before that, while I was living in southern California, I started a very successful film marketing business. And now, I have started Gleembeauty, and it's off to a roaring start as we begin our second year in the market. Interestingly, what ties all of these ventures together, other than my involvement, is that in each case, I was advised by people that the businesses would never be successful!!!

In the case of Gleembeauty, people said, "how can you start a consumer products company in the middle of a pandemic." Of course, as we now know, people were home looking in the mirror every day and realizing they wanted to upgrade their skin beauty. Plus, consumers were looking for new skincare manufacturers with new product lines due to their disappointment with their existing products. It was the perfect time to enter the beauty skincare market. In addition, most of the models I knew were out of work during the pandemic and were thus available and happy to do shoots and advertising for Gleem.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am most proud of the many people Gleem Beauty has been able to help deal with their skincare problems. All of the testimonials on the GleemBeauty.com website are from actual customers.

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

The hardest part of being the CEO of a startup business is that the business demands 110% of your time and leaves little time for anything else. I spend much less time with my boyfriend of over ten years. Fortunately, he is an extremely successful entrepreneur himself and his understanding of the situation.

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

  1. Passion for your project. You are about to commit the next five years of your life to do 100-hour weeks doing this project.
  2. Resolve to be a crisis manager. All startups have lots of crises, and you are the primary problem solver. Solving the crisis is always your responsibility.
  3. Planning, Planning, Planning!!! Success in business is 90% research and planning and 10% execution. A well-thought-out and researched business plan is the foundation for success.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Never surrender. All successful founders have one thing in common; they refuse to quit.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.gleembeauty.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gleembeauty
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gleem_beauty/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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