Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stefani Lawin, co-founder of Indie Beauty Brokers LLC, located in Boulder, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Indie Beauty Brokers is a full-service sales and brand management company that specializes in emerging beauty brands. We place these brands into national retailers such as Target, Whole Foods, CVS, Ulta, and more.
Tell us about yourself
I started in beauty as a cashier at Sephora, so I know retail from the ground up. That company was very good about hiring from within, and I became a corporate trainer helping open new stores. I moved to their HQ in San Francisco, where I owned all program development/training for skincare and haircare. After that, I moved to Benefit Cosmetics to learn more about color cosmetics and created all sales training materials for the field teams services Ulta, Bloomingdales, Sephora, Macy's, etc. I started consulting small independent beauty brands and met my current business partner in 2017 at a trade show. Her background was in brand development (she created her own brand and sold the patent to Loreal) and sales. Together, we knew a lot about the industry and officially started our business in 2018.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I like the tactile sense of the business. I like walking into my local Whole Foods or Target and seeing a product on the shelf that I helped get there. It's very rewarding. I also enjoy how beauty is very trend driven but also rooted in tradition and science. It's creative and analytical at the same time, which appeals to my brain.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Knowing when to step away and take a break. There's an everyday sense of "If I'm not here, it won't get done." It can get tiring after a while if not managed properly.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Ask for help. You can't do it all on your own.
- Be prepared to really grind it out for a couple of years before seeing a real return. It takes a lot of time and effort to build something sustainable and successful.
- Choose who you want to work with! My business partner and I seek out brands and retailers that align with our values. There are so many talented people and amazing products that aren't from a big corporation. We like taking on those brands and watching them grow and flourish in a national retailer.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.indiebeautybrokers.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiebeautybrokers/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/indie-beauty-brokers/
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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