Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brandon O'Neill, Co-Founder of Zone Luxury Beauty Inc., located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

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

Hi! We're Buff Experts, and we help people with common body skin issues like body acne and hyperpigmentation transform problematic skin into glowing, healthy skin. We're obsessed with body care and noticed a lack of good-quality body care products to treat common skin conditions like vulva care, ingrown hairs, razor bumps, body acne, and hyperpigmentation. So, we created our own line: Buff Experts, a targeted body care line for expert results.

Buff Experts is a juicy, bold, and plant-powered collection of cruelty-free body care products for skin from the neck down. We're Canadian and proud of it! Our product formulations are rooted in professional spa foundations of efficacy and safety, so you'll experience visibly healthier body skin. We focus on clean, high-quality botanical ingredients, which means you get expert results without added chemical nasties. From pH-balanced cleansers and exfoliating tools to intensely moisturizing oils and creams you can't live without, we guarantee you'll feel fresh, soft, and smooth all over. Once you start using our products, you can say buh-bye to problematic body skin and hello to smooth, soft and clear skin!

Tell us about yourself

I am a former Olympic athlete and have had problematic skin for as long as I can remember. My wife and co-founder Sina introduced me to better skin care products and a proper routine to help alleviate all my concerns. I, for a long time, thought my skin was just the way it was, and I had to live with it. Once I saw that was not the case, it became important to me to make a difference. Having dry, inflamed, itchy skin was not only painful but made me feel self-conscious, and once these issues went away, I wanted to help others.

We got the idea for the business when Sina could not find skin care products that she could get behind and recommend to her customers at her wax salon, Buff Wax Spot. We thought it would be amazing to make our own, and then we could control what ingredients were in them and really target the problematic skin conditions that she would see on a daily basis.

The motivation for doing what we do comes from the fabulous reviews and responses to our products. The difference they have made in our customers' lives is truly inspirational.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our biggest accomplishment, I believe, is creating products with clean ingredients that we are so passionate about. Marketing and getting your products to everyone is not easy. Seeing the reviews and responses from those who have used our products confirms that we have some things that make a difference and do exactly what we hoped they would when we started.

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

All the mistakes you make along the way. Every day is a learning process, and each new task brings challenges. Looking back, if we knew what we know now, we would have saved a lot of time and money. It's all part of the journey. It makes you feel good when you find something new, whether it's a more efficient or less expensive process or working with new people that push you and your brand to the next level.

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

  1. Do your research and know exactly what product or service you want to bring to the market. Know your competition and price range, and have goals for where you want to be.
  2. Always be willing to learn. Talking to as many people in as many industries will provide you with the information you need. More often than not, it'll be information you didn't think you needed.
  3. Surround yourself with a good team. This is crucial to reaching your best.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://buffexperts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buffexperts/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buffexperts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buffexperts/

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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