Most beauty founders don't fail because of bad products.

They struggle because they try to do everything themselves for too long.

In the early stages, that hustle is necessary. You're the marketer, the operations manager, the customer service rep, the strategist, and the CEO all at once. But at a certain point, if you want the business to grow, you have to start building leverage.

In Episode 40 of Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship, I break down the five roles every growing beauty brand needs to scale without burning out or crippling the business financially.

We talk about how to think about hiring differently, why you should focus on capabilities instead of just people, and the key functions that start unlocking the next level of growth inside your brand.

If you're running a beauty brand that's starting to gain traction and you're feeling stretched in every direction, this episode is for you.

Press play, grab a notebook, and let's get to work.

Want your beauty brand in Walmart or Sephora? Here's what you need to know first.

Taking your beauty brand from direct-to-consumer (DTC) into big-box retail sounds like the dream. Target. Sephora. Walmart. National shelves. Bigger visibility. Bigger orders.

But what most founders don't see is how complex, expensive, and risky that leap can actually be.

In this episode of Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship, I break down what really happens when a brand moves from DTC into retail, from the two sometimes competing perspectives that show up (the brand founder and the retailer). We talk pricing pressure, margin erosion, supply challenges, inventory risk, and the unspoken expectation that you, the founder, are still responsible for driving demand once you hit the shelves.

If retail expansion is on your vision board, this episode is about preparation, not fear. Knowing the rules before you play the game can save you time, money, and your brand.

Lean in, take notes, and listen before you make the jump.

Why does your business still feel stuck when you're working nonstop?

What if the problem isn't your team, your market, or your strategy?

What if it's you?

In this episode of Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship, I break down one of the most common and uncomfortable growth challenges founders face. Becoming the bottleneck without even realizing it.

We get into the three clear signs that you're slowing your own growth, why control often gets mistaken for quality, and how living in constant reaction mode quietly kills momentum. More importantly, I share a simple, practical framework to help you step out of the way so your business can finally move forward.

If everything still runs through you, your days feel chaotic, and growth feels heavier instead of freer, this episode will hit home.

Like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next. Let's get into it.

Why does one moisturizer cost $15… while another sells for $65? The answer isn't as simple as it seems.

In Episode 37 of Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship, I break down how contract manufacturers actually determine pricing and the behind-the-scenes factors most founders never see. From ingredients and packaging to labor, volume, and logistics, this episode walks you through what really drives cost.

If you're already working with a manufacturer or thinking about launching a beauty brand, this is a must-listen. Clarity here can save you money, time, and a lot of frustration.

Thanks for tuning in. Catch the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeart. Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next. Let's dive in.

I'm so glad you're here. After a little break, we're back with a fresh new chapter of Driving the Business. In this episode, I'm catching you up on the journey, sharing what's new, and diving straight into the five things every beauty entrepreneur should know before they start.

If you're dreaming about launching a brand, stuck in the planning stage, or trying to figure out if entrepreneurship is really for you, this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and a push to finally get in motion.

Thanks for tuning in. Catch the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeart. Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next. Let's dive in.

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.

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.

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 [email protected]. Mention the Driving the Business podcast when emailing.

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.

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 [email protected]. Check out www.beautyindependent.com. Find me on Instagram and Twitter @mSEEDAnthony, LinkedIn & at Facebook Anthony Standifer. Reach out via email at [email protected].

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 [email protected].