Not everybody should become an entrepreneur today!  Many are best served working inside a beauty company.   Navigating your career can be tricky so I assembled two of my most favorite people to help bring you the kind of sage advice you need to thrive!    I spent 14 years of my own career working for multiple companies and it was the BEST training guide I needed to prepare for my current place in life. Shawn Tollerson has been my boss in two of those companies. She brings 25 years of experience at all levels of beauty organization from brand manager, Dir Marketing, VP, CMO & CEO. She's one of the G.O.A.T.'s in the multicultural beauty industry and is serving up her keys to success. I also invited my good friend, Teneya Gholston, who is Senior Director of Marketing at Revlon who has also built an impressive career inside of an organization and leads teams that execute.   This episode not only brings the fire, but also huge laughs and real, practical advice that you can execute NOW. Regardless of where you fall in your current organization you need to hear what these ladies are sharing.  Buckle up....you're going to enjoy this one. I did!   If you want to connect with either lady be sure to connect with them via LinkedIn.   

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship

Ep 020 - Interview with Shawn Tollerson & Teneya Gholston: Thriving as an Employee Inside a Beauty Company

Understanding the role of public relations as part of a beauty brand's marketing mix is a tough and sometimes confusing topic. What is PR? How is it different than other forms of advertising? What should I expect when I hire a PR agent or team? Well I've got a veteran in the space who is here to answer these questions and how beauty brands can successfully approach PR. Stephanie Scott-Bradshaw is an agency owner with more than a decade of experience supporting both large and indie beauty brands. You need this info in your life! Check out Stephanie on Instagram @StephScottRocks and her company @FirstAndLastPR.

Ep 019 - Interview with Stephanie Scott-Bradshaw CEO First and Last PR on Public Relations in the Beauty Industry

As part of every beauty brand experience you are going to receive customer complaints about your product.  As an owner or someone who works in customer service you should get ahead of the issue by having a process for handling the issues as they come in. Don't let someone else's concern or anger set you up to be sued and manipulated out of money. I'm shelling out 8 quick tips that can be implemented today to save you $ and peace of mind. Enjoy!

Ep 18: 8 Quick Tips for Managing Customer Complaints

What would you do if Oprah Winfrey funded the start of your business? Well find out what one woman with an idea, passion and the guts to take multiple leaps of faith did in this new episode of Driving the Business.    It's rare to find entrepreneurs that will get real and raw with you. But Kiley Russell did both during this candid interview sharing intimate details of her highest successes as founder of Big Girl Cosmetics who went from batching body butters in her kitchen, to winning a car in one of TV's most historic moments, to launching her beauty brand in Macy's department stores, to shutting it all down and re-starting to achieve personal happiness. You can't miss hearing this incredible journey. Kiley and I go way way back but I have not heard the details of this amazing journey so listen in and take notes as you dream big or manage your own beauty brand. Follow Kiley on IG @thekileyrene or the brand @biggirlcosmetics.

Ep 017 - Kiley Russell Big Girl Cosmetics & The Untold Story of Department Store Distribution

The REALITY is that Black women founders are getting a dismal 0.002% of all venture funding. Hear what beauty brand founder Kim Roxie decided to do when she found out this startling statistic while also working to pivot her own color cosmetics line - LAMIK Beauty.  We get REAL and talk about what it was like for Kim to shut down her store in order to pivot. Her quest for education and participation in multiple accelerators has given Kim a new level of confidence and fire to not only fuel her own business but to help other Black women business owners.  Her story is soooo compelling and one that should resonate with any business owner who has ever had to ask for money to start or grow their business. Kim is knee deep in the fight with her own crowd sourcing campaign designed to bring other Black women (and people who support them) to the forefront of business ownership.  Find out more about Kim's campaign at iFundWomen.com  Kim Roxie can be found on Instagram & Facebook @LAMIKbeauty and @thekimroxie  

Ep 016 - Interview: Kim Roxie of LAMIK Beauty - What She is Doing When Black Women Founders Only Get .002% of Venture Funding

I sat down with Craig Brimm who has successfully managed a creative career spanning two decades in the advertising world. Craig has created content for many titans in the industry like McDonald's and Toyota while also curating TV and ad campaigns for many of the largest beauty brands.  We talk how the role of the ad agency has shifted, how he has managed moving in and out of full-time entrepreneurship, what it’s like having his wife as a business partner and how he manages the chaos of life.

Ep 015 - Interview with Craig Brimm: Ad Agency Owner, Beauty Brand Content Creator & OG Entrepreneur

This is a new episode formatting I'm trying out.  Life reflections that may or may not be directly related to the beauty business or entrepreneurship but are reflections that have proven immensely valuable for me in navigating this thing called adulting. In this episode I'm reflecting on how I have handled the big problems of life and embracing that there is no easy way out, no cheat sheet and no savior that's ever coming to "save" me. It’s a hard pill to swallow but there is complete magic in embracing this truth. Hope you enjoy.

Ep 014 - Nugget: Nobody's Coming to Save You

Get ready to have the FIRE brought to you in this one. I talked my way into an interview with one of the industry's busiest, most celebrated hair stylist and salon owners - Pekela Riley. She is teaching a MASTER CLASS in this discussion on her journey in the beauty industry.  We get insight into the curvy road that's led to her success and how hard work combined with humility have been her secret weapon. Hearing the strategy she took from turning her salon Salon Pk from a booth rent environment to a commission based salon where stylist make 6 figures is MIND BLOWING and worth your attention. Pekela also shares how she has landed a celebrity clientele of people like Gabrielle Union, Regina King & ISSA RAE into her hands with her signature styling. Her book recommendation is Unfuck Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life by Gary John Bishop. Follow Pekela on Instagram @PekelaRiley and her salon @SalonPK.

Ep 013 - Interview with Pekela Riley: Celebrity Hair Stylist & Ulta Beauty Pro Team Member

19 years of selling beauty products at live events and trade shows and I have the inside cheat sheet for you. This episode is filled with tangible tactics that you can execute and realize the kind of long term revenue that you should get from investing in a trade show. See how products sales, discounts and free giveaways play into your success. There is a real soap box moment here on why I HATE giving away free samples at trade shows. Hear why. Finally I lay out your email marketing strategy and how you can win the long game with a little pre-planning and prompt execution. 

Ep 012: Your Guide to Executing Trade Shows

It's been way too long! But I'm back in the studio and ready to help you drive the business. First thing...let's catch up on life and what's been happening with me the last few months. In this catch up episode I talk about the insanity of running my own small, growing business; how celebrating small customer victories keeps me AMPED UP; and how the song Baby Shark saved my life last weekend. Plus, no matter where you are in your beauty journey I share why right now is the PERFECT time to start or kick your business into high gear. I've missed you gals/guys and am looking forward to kicking these next batch of episodes off. 

Ep 011 - Let's Catch Up

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. 

Ep 010 - A Discussion on the Hustle & Grind of Entrepreneurship with Transient Intellect Jason

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 info@anthonystandifer.com.

Ep 009 - Facing Disappointing Nos & Cosmoprof 2018 Review

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!   

Ep 008 - Instagram's IGTV & How Email Marketing Can Change Your Beauty Business

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.

Ep 007 - Karonda Cook: Is Your Beauty Brand Ready for Retail Distribution

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.

Ep 006 - Industry Shows & Why Every Entrepreneur MUST Have a Tribe of Advisers

ATTENTION all beauty brand owners, employees, entrepreneurs, suppliers, influencers or anyone interested in understanding the true BUSINESS of beauty welcome to Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship podcast. We're providing the inside tips, secrets and advice needed to move your brand or idea forward in a complex but lucrative industry. We tackle marketing, sales, manufacturing along with the joys and perils of entrepreneurship.

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Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship

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