Ep 027 - Launching Your Beauty Brand's Minimal Viable Product (MVP)

enAugust 03, 2022

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?

Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?

What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?

Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?

About this Episode

By far the biggest business challenge I hear from entrepreneurs entering the space or thinking of launching products is they don't have enough money to execute on their vision.

After hearing this statement no less than 200x's a year I have given some thought on how to translate the concept of a minimal viable product (MVP) from the tech world into the beauty product space.

Making it happen is totally doable and something I have seen crafty, resource strapped business owners do successfully.

In this episode I'm laying out all the details on:

The 3 type of entrepreneurs the MVP launch makes the most sense for and who should pass on it.
The core elements that are needed to execute a MVP launch
Why 50 products or product sets is the game changing number towards validating your success.
How leveraging the MVP launch can save you tons of money (that you don't have) and lead to accelerating your beauty brand's long term growth.

There's LOTS of proven information in this one.

Be ready to jot a few notes down or listen to this one more than once. There is gems of success in it.

Recent Episodes from Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

Ep 035 - Interview with Jason Mercer: Key Insights from a Venture Capital (VC) Investor for Raising Money

As business founders raising money can sometimes feel like a complex mystery with lots of questions.

What do investors want to see from a business owner?

How do investors evaluate who to invest in?

Should owners expect to give away equity when raising money? If yes, how much?

Well I managed to book time with a venture capital (VC) investor who reviews and assesses deals for a living.

Jason Mercer is a Principal at Cleveland Avenue, a Chicago based firm doing great work for local businesses.

I sit with Jason who gives a graduate level walk through on the questions above and much more.

If you want key insights that investors look at when investing in beauty and consumer good brands then this is the episode for you.

Find Jason Mercer on Linkedin.

Find Clevelend Avenue website.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enJuly 26, 2023

Ep 034 - Interview with Winnie Awa: Why Brad Pitt Should Not Launch in Beauty & The Journey to Data Driven Haircare

I love bold people! Winnie Awa is a bold Black woman doing amazing work in the beauty space as the founder of an AI driven platform that is serving curly haired women in the UK.

She is also someone who understands what it is like to pivot your professional career to pursue her passion.

She also is confident enough to speak her mind when something does not line up and gave her opinion when Brad Pitt launched a skin care brand.

I have a full candid conversation with this entrepreneur to talk all of the above as well as what the human journey towards today's greatness has been.

You do not want to miss listening to this episode.

Follow here beauty platform @HeyCarra and find Winnie Awa on LinkedIn.

Find today's episode of Driving the Business on Apple Podcast, Spotify & iHeart Media. Search for Anthony Standifer.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enJune 24, 2023

Ep 033 - Interview with Justin Dawkins: Silicon Valley Bank & Its Impact on Beauty

Does the Silicon Valley Bank or SVB discussion completely confuse you?

This is the podcast episode for you.

Do you see the direct impact of how the tech community's turmoil is going to impact beauty and consumer product good investments?

This is the podcast episode for you.

Would have a simple explanation of what's happening in the financial world help you?

This is the podcast episode for you.

I snagged time for the very knowledgeable Justin Dawkins who lives inside the investment community as managing partner of Collab Capital who raised an incredible $50M during the pandemic with the sole purpose of investing in Black founders.

He and I break down the very nature of what a bank does and how the banking ecosystem is supported. We then go step by step through how Silicon Valley Bank ended up running out of money and why the government stepped in.

There is also an impact on how the down turn in the tech community hits beauty industry investments this year and beyond.

Follow Justin Dawkins on IG & Twitter @JDawkinsATL and his investment fund @Collab.Capital. You can also email Justin directly at Justin@Collab.Capital. Mention the Driving the Business podcast when emailing.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enMarch 24, 2023

Ep 032 - 8 Incredible Lessons After 8 Years of Entrepreneurship

Things rarely turn out exactly like how I think they should when planning big things in life. For me starting a business meant the promise of ultimate freedom, success and tons of money. Managing a whole damn beauty manufacturing company has given me insight and taught me lessons that have been eye opening and incredibly helpful.

I'm sharing 8 key insights as a reflect back on the last 96 months.

If you're someone thinking of starting a business lean in closely as these are tips that I wish someone had shared with me before starting my own journey. If you're someone who has already started your own business lean in even closer as these are likely reflections that may explain some of what you're experiencing. Lastly, even if you're someone with no desire for entrepreneurship yourself, I share the value I found in working for other for over a decade.

This is a catch up episode and one to enjoy.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enFebruary 21, 2023

Ep 031 - Diversity & Racial Inclusion in the Beauty Media Landscape with Claire McCormack

Since 2020 I have leaned hard into having conversations about the impact of race in my personal life and business with my non-Black friends and associates. These conversations have been nuanced and complex yet extremely enlightening. I've recognized that my white friends/associates don't get many opportunities to discuss what its like to live as a minority in the US.

On this latest episode of the podcast I have an intimate conversation with beauty editor, Claire McCormack, about how race has played out in the beauty industry for me personally and how her organization - Beauty Independent - responded courageously in the midst of a social uprising.

Get ready for the realness. This was a beautiful conversation that has value for all.

You can find Claire McComarck on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @ClaireMcMack. Email is claire@beautyindependent.com.

Check out www.beautyindependent.com.

Find me on Instagram and Twitter @mSEEDAnthony, LinkedIn & at Facebook Anthony Standifer. Reach out via email at info@anthonystandifer.com.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enSeptember 28, 2022

Ep 030 - Why Taking a Non-Traditional Path to Skin Care is Both Insane & Necessary with Jayme & Nick Valo

I love talking with indie beauty brand start up founders and on this episode I sit and chat with a married couple who are taking a deliberate, disruptive approach to skin care with their line of omni sex products.

Jayme and Nick Valo of Valoie Skin Care give an intriguing discussion about the origins of starting a beauty line targeted at the recently coined phrase omnisex. We talk about the meaning of the phrase and how it differs from unisex.

Jayme is a serial entrepreneur who has had more than a few failures in launching businesses but she explains why she continues to launch new businesses in very diverse fields.

I dig deep into the details of how the couple balances being business partners in life and business. They share the power of wine and whiskey in their working relationship!

We talk in detail about the risks associated with not being a traditional male or female beauty brand and why it's both insane and necessary as a point of differentiation in a competitive market.

Find our more about the brand at www.valoie.com or on Instagram @valoieskincare

You can follow me on social media Instagram & Facebook @mSEEDAnthony on LinkedIn at Anthony Standifer. My email is info@anthonystandifer.com.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enSeptember 14, 2022

Ep 029 - How Leveraging a Sales Management Firm Increases Your Chances of Success in Retail Distribution with Demar Roberts

Somebody hand me my soap box cause I need it right now.

Going into formal retail chains without being prepared is the kiss of death or some very painful, expensive lessons!

20+ years of doing business with most every retail chain that sells beauty products and I have seen first hand how this game operates.

One of the secret weapons that indie beauty founders may enlist are the services of a sales management firm.

In today's episode of the podcast I sit down and chat with an industry heavy hitter, Demar Roberts, that has worked with 100s of brands as a sales rep.

He shares some of the major insights and strategies that are relevant for those wanting to meet with retailers and those that are currently in retail but want to improve. We talk about:

Pricing structures
Cost of being in retail distribution
How to build a team that makes you look good to a retail buyer

This was an awesome conversation filled with sooooo much good information that I know will provide value.

Demar Roberts

First Choice Sales & Marketing

droberts@firstchoicesale.com

@iamdemarlamont on IG

1-901-360-8967 office

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enAugust 30, 2022

Ep 028 - Therapy for Entrepreneurs When Friendship Is Not Enough

We are getting extra cozy and familiar for this episode. I've recognized in my own journey as a Black man living in America with abundant blessings all around me that everything is not ok.

While things in my business have been thriving and we've been shattering ceilings with fundraising and hitting revenue targets, on the other side I have had to stand and face some issues that go back to my childhood.

Enter daddy issues and the long impact that my connection with my own father has had on me.

In this week's podcast episode I've invited my own counselor - Michael Mays - to join in this raw discussion and to also share insights on knowing when the right time is for therapy.

I also share how one friend's well meaning advice sent me into a rage that later led to seeking professional help.

Michael Mays LCPC

Find him on Psychologytoday.com or therapyforblackmen.org

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enAugust 17, 2022

entrepreneurship

counseling

black men therapy

therapy for entreprenuers

Ep 027 - Launching Your Beauty Brand's Minimal Viable Product (MVP)

By far the biggest business challenge I hear from entrepreneurs entering the space or thinking of launching products is they don't have enough money to execute on their vision.

After hearing this statement no less than 200x's a year I have given some thought on how to translate the concept of a minimal viable product (MVP) from the tech world into the beauty product space.

Making it happen is totally doable and something I have seen crafty, resource strapped business owners do successfully.

In this episode I'm laying out all the details on:

The 3 type of entrepreneurs the MVP launch makes the most sense for and who should pass on it.
The core elements that are needed to execute a MVP launch
Why 50 products or product sets is the game changing number towards validating your success.
How leveraging the MVP launch can save you tons of money (that you don't have) and lead to accelerating your beauty brand's long term growth.

There's LOTS of proven information in this one.

Be ready to jot a few notes down or listen to this one more than once. There is gems of success in it.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enAugust 03, 2022

Ep 026 - How I Realigned My Purpose for this Podcast

I'M BACK!

But I don't want to do things exactly like we were doing them before. This includes how I show up for one of my passions which is this podcast.

The last 2 years have changed me.

I just do not feel like "business as usual". It took some time to really identify what was different and how I wanted to show up in the world.

For me it means still offering incredible value for those that are connected with the beauty industry or with product based entrepreneurship. I'm ready to celebrate the success and glow up that has occurred for many of us. Of course offering actionable tips on how to grow and scale your own business is still core.

Today's episode is a quick re-centering on what we're doing here.

It's real talk for some real times and I'm excited to be back in your listening ear.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship with Anthony Standifer

enAugust 02, 2022

Ask this episode Anything

What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?

Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?