Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship

Surround yourself with smart, ambitious people. The team that helps me produce this show - the transient intellects - are a talented group of people that truly embody driving the business. While working through a technical challenge my audio engineer, Jason, and I get into a thoughtful conversation about the hustle and grind of entrepreneurship. It get REAL as we both share the experience of our journeys. You. Don't. Want. To. Miss. This. After you listen to this episode email me and share where you're at in your hustle and grind within entrepreneurship - early on, mid-struggle, reaping the rewards or starting all over.

After watching a young man's response to a disappointing professional set back I'm reminded how important perspective is in life. I share a hard no I received in my career and what my response was after the initial shock and disappointment. Check out the video from Zakeel Gordon on LinkedIn - here - to see for yourself and prepare to be moved! Next up, I share my review on Cosmprof 2018 in Las Vegas and how beauty brand owners (small and large) can best navigate such a large show with 36,000+ attendees, 1200 booths over 3 days. How to make a plan in advance of attending the show so you get maximum results. How to leverage the education offered at the show. How to get invaluable show hacks from exhibitors at the show that are your current or future competition. And why you can't let your "feelings" get in the way of that dreaded word "networking". There are some good show hack in this one. So get ready for this short but good one. You can always follow me on Instagram and Facebook @mSEEDAnthony or LinkedIn at Anthony Standifer. Questions? Email me at [email protected].

I'm baaaack and excited to be back in front of the mic and sharing with you. In this episode I share whats been happening with me the last few weeks...and its happens to EVERY entrepreneur. I then highlight one of Instagram newest launches with IGTV and what it means for consumers and advertisers. Finally we dive deep into the details of how email marketing is your best, low cost tool for new customer acquisition and customer retention. We cover the 4 best email marketing platforms I recommend along with the do's and don'ts of content. Insight: I misspelled the word Klaviyo during the recording....too many gin & ginger ales. Make sure you're ready to take notes...enjoy!

Y'all this episode is pure FIRE. I'm bringing you the inside track on what retail buyers are looking for when assessing new brands. Karonda Cook is the former Director of Merchandising for Sally Beauty who successfully grew her beauty categories double digit while sitting in the driver's seat. She is teaching a full Master Class for FREE here. We talk brand owner misconceptions about retail distribution and what you can do NOW to make sure you are ready to sit before a retail buyer. Get your notepad ready for this one. You will thank me later. Mrs Karonda Cook is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of The Jane Group, LLC., a consulting agency specializing in retail and brand strategic planning. Prior to founding The Jane Group, Karonda was Director of Merchandising for Sally Beauty and led merchandising initiatives for the multicultural hair care, styling tools and accessories categories. Book recommendation is Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson. A super short, super easy read that gives perspective on how to move forward without fear. Follow Karonda on Instagram @Pixitivity her website janegroupllc.com.

Today's episode is more of a rant that the typical structure of other episodes. I tackle upcoming industry shows you should attend and why. Then I deep dive into why EVERY entrepreneur should have a tribe of advisers and how you can build yours without having Oprah on speed dial. Get ready because this episode could be a game changer for you.

My thoughts on Revlon's new first female CEO, Debra Perelman. I then dive deep and provide the cheat sheet for engaging with a private label or contract manufacturer in the beauty space. Before a manufacturer can answer the question of "how much does it costs to do business with you," be prepared to answer three key questions around formula, packaging and order quantity. Learn the terminology and know what to expect so you get what you want. Follow me on social media @mSEEDAnthony for more info on how you win in the beauty space.

Gerilyn Hayes is a professional writer. She hosts CurlTalk TV and is the Senior Copywriter for NaturallyCurly, a large online media beauty platform that is focused specifically on the needs of the curly hair consumer. Gerilyn shares how she transferred her childhood love of words and reading into a career that has spanned throughout multiple industries leading her to beauty and fashion. We talk about how the role of copywriter and content creator translates beyond the written word and moves into other mediums as a necessity to have better communication with consumers. Gerilyn drops incredible knowledge on how beauty brands can best work with a media platform's followers/community is through relationship building! She explains how this is done. The role of influencers and micro-influencers is also touched. Gerilyn's book recommendation - Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy Find Gerilyn on Instagram and Twitter @GerilynHayes. Follow Naturally Curly on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter @NaturallyCurly Website - www.anthonystandifer.com Send questions or comments or feedback to me at [email protected] Follow me on social media - Facebook, Instagram & Twitter @mSEEDAnthony. LinkedIn @Anthony Standifer

If you have ever wondered what goes into a marketing plan that allows you move quickly and efficiently in the market with your idea then this episode is for you! I outline why its a must that you have a plan followed by the basic elements that need to be included. If you are an existing brand owner who's been out there a while or just starting there is some value here for you. I start off ranting about J Lo's new cosmetic line and why most celebrity branded lines fail.

SHOW NOTES:

5:35 - This is a clear need for a marketing plan 6:25 - 1. You need a documented road map 6:42 - 2. No one can help you without a documented plan 7:28 - 3. No one will ever invest in your brand without a business/marketing plan 8:18 - 4. The plan makes you accountable to the process 9:12 - What does the marketing plan look like? 9:55 - The 4 Ps to a marketing plan - product, price, placement and promotion 10:20 - The question product section should answer - What problem do you solve? 11:48 - The question price section should answer - How is your product priced against your most immediate competition? 14:22 - The question placement section should answer - Where do you ideally see your brand sold in the market place? 17:49 - The question promotion section should answer - How do you intend to drive consumer demand? 27:14 - Whatever promotional activities you are thinking about should be document and budgeted for as an expense 27:40 - At the most basic level make part of your marketing plan activity summary simple by creation two grids. one for January - June with then a list of activities and the cost of those activates. The second grid is July - December with a list of activities and the cost to execute those activities. 28:46 - You have to forecast or guess-timate your sales by month based on executing your activities. 30:54 - A quick recap of the marketing plan 32:10 - Once a draft plan is complete share it with one or two people to answer the question is my vision and path forward clear. Website - www.anthonystandifer.com Send questions or comments or feedback to me at [email protected] Follow me on socual media - Facebook, Instagram & Twitter @mSEEDAnthony. LinkedIn @Anthony Standifer