Carolyn Aronson is the Founder, CEO, and sole owner of It’s a 10 Haircare, one of the few independent, Latina-owned professional haircare brands in the world. A self-made entrepreneur, Carolyn worked as a stylist and salon owner for more than 20 years before founding It’s a 10 Haircare and continues to hold cosmetology licenses. As CEO of the company, Carolyn is dedicated to growing It’s a 10 Haircare’s portfolio to a full, head-to-toe experience. She recently released It’s a 10 Hair Tools and Ex10sions, a professional line of tape-in extensions. In 2020, Carolyn announced the launch of Be a 10 Cosmetics, the company’s expansion into the makeup industry.

Carolyn joins me today to discuss how working as a hairstylist inspired her to launch and build It’s a 10 Haircare organically. She describes how she gave away free samples in the early days of the company to get the word out and how experiencing failure with her first business motivated her to keep going. She shares tips on buying out your business partner and explains why shareholder and operating agreements are essential. She also underscores the power of organic traction and passionate influencers and highlights the value of knowing your customers’ needs.

“I believe in having people try, use, and love products and show it on YouTube. Organic passion behind products is the best way to drive people to your website.” - Carolyn Aronson

This week on SocialFly’s Entreprenista Podcast:

How Carolyn’s frustration with the hair product industry led to her founding It’s a 10The lessons she learned from failing her first businessWhy Carolyn didn’t have any qualms about starting another business after the failure of the firstHow contracts and shareholder agreements can help as a guide through challenging timesHer tips for buying out a business partnerCarolyn’s vision for the future of It’s a 10How having an Ecommerce platform allowed It’s a 10 to weather COVID-19Marketing tips for driving traffic to an Ecommerce siteWhat it’s like to be a woman of color in a male-dominated industryThe value of outsourcing and subcontractingCarolyn’s process for conceptualizing a product line and bringing them to lifeHer advice for women who want to start a product-based businessThe secrets to mastering the art of prioritization

Our Favorite Quotes:

“You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Find companies and vendors, and have multiple services under one roof so you aren’t scattering as much.” - Carolyn Aronson“Anytime you’re in business with someone, it’s crucial to have solid contracts and agreements. They can guide you on what should happen when others want something else to happen.” - Carolyn Aronson“When things get tough in business, network. Pick up the phone and ask for help, advice, and connections. That’s what helped me through hard times.” - Carolyn Aronson

Connect with Carolyn Aronson:

It’s a 10 HaircareIt's a 10 Haircare on LinkedInIt's a 10 Haircare on InstagramIt's a 10 Haircare on FacebookIt's a 10 Haircare on TwitterIt’s a 10 Haircare on YouTubeIt’s a 10 Haircare on PinterestCarolyn Aronson on LinkedInCarolyn Aronson on Instagram

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