Home Podcasts Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship

Anthony Standifer 40 Episodes Mar 16, 2026

This podcast explores the business side of the beauty industry, offering insights for brand owners, employees, entrepreneurs, suppliers, and influencers. Topics include marketing, sales, manufacturing, and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. The goal is to provide practical tips and strategies to help listeners move their beauty brand or idea forward in a competitive market.

Episodes

Ep 040- The 5 Roles Every Growing Beauty Brand Needs Mar 16, 2026 29:54 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

Ep 039- The Real Cost of Going Retail: A Founder's Guide to Big-Box Expansion Feb 9, 2026 29:46 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: Beau

Ep 038- Get Out of Your Own Way: How Founders Accidentally Stall Growth Jan 12, 2026 22:18 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 sign

Ep 037- 4 Components That Beauty Manufacturers Use for Pricing Dec 22, 2025 23:25 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 wh

Ep 036- The Comeback Episode:Things No One Tells You Before Starting a Beauty Brand Nov 24, 2025 16:05 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 r

Ep 035 - Interview with Jason Mercer: Key Insights from a Venture Capital (VC) Investor for Raising Money Jul 26, 2023 01:03:27 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. Jas

Ep 034 - Interview with Winnie Awa: Why Brad Pitt Should Not Launch in Beauty & The Journey to Data Driven Haircare Jun 24, 2023 01:02:25 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

Ep 033 - Interview with Justin Dawkins: Silicon Valley Bank & Its Impact on Beauty Mar 24, 2023 01:08:18 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 fo

Ep 032 - 8 Incredible Lessons After 8 Years of Entrepreneurship Feb 21, 2023 42:02 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

Ep 031 - Diversity & Racial Inclusion in the Beauty Media Landscape with Claire McCormack Sep 28, 2022 47:47 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 th

Ep 030 - Why Taking a Non-Traditional Path to Skin Care is Both Insane & Necessary with Jayme & Nick Valo Sep 14, 2022 53:53 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 mean

Ep 029 - How Leveraging a Sales Management Firm Increases Your Chances of Success in Retail Distribution with Demar Roberts Aug 30, 2022 53:59 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

Ep 028 - Therapy for Entrepreneurs When Friendship Is Not Enough Aug 17, 2022 56:49 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 chi

Ep 027 - Launching Your Beauty Brand's Minimal Viable Product (MVP) Aug 3, 2022 35:53 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

Ep 026 - How I Realigned My Purpose for this Podcast Aug 2, 2022 20:15 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 tha

Ep 025 - How a Virtual Assistant Changed the Game for Me & My Hiring Process Sep 17, 2021 39:26 I admit at first I was admittedly against the idea of hiring a virtual assistant. I did not see how their could be value in having an assistant that I would never see. And then the great ponderosa hit aka COVID-19. In today's episode hear about how wrong I was in my initial assumption and how having a virtual assistant has been a game changer for me and my business. I do this in a direct con

Ep 024 - 5 Tips for Pricing Your Products with Profit in Mind Aug 27, 2021 35:28 As a beauty product manufacturer and brand consultant I have worked with more than 200 brand owners over the last 7 years the topic of pricing and I've come to a huge conclusion. Pricing products is an emotional process for brand owners that leads to all the questions. What if you over price your products and no one buys? What it you under price your products and miss out on additional dollars you

Ep 023 - Interview with Christian Maxwell: Insider Tips on Social Media Influencers & Content Creators Apr 13, 2021 01:13:21 Calling all social media influencers & those who engage them. This is the content you need. The concept of brands paying content creators and social media influencers is a cumbersome, ambiguous process and both side need help. Influencers are trying to figure out how to attract and scale their reach so they attract brands to pay them. Beauty brands (particularly the indie brand owners) a

Ep 022 - 6 Questions to Answer Before Speaking with a Manufacturer Mar 23, 2021 33:18 Working with a manufacturer can seem like an overwhelming, daunting project. But it does not have to be. After 6 1/2 years and literally more than 1000+ discussions with potential customers I have compiled a cheat sheet that will quickly move you to front of line with any private label or contract manufacturer you're considering. 6 questions that once answered will give you the confidence to e

Ep 021 - 2020: A Sh*t Show & An Opportunity Mar 16, 2021 43:41 We are coming up on the 1 year anniversary of COVID-19 shutting down the world and it's been almost a year since my last episode. We've got a lot to catch up on. I don't want to act like it's "business as usual" which is why I'm getting raw and vulnerable about the last year of my own life. It's been a hybrid of the CRAZY & AMAZING! We also talk about what a tremendous opportunity right now is f

Ep 020 - Interview with Shawn Tollerson & Teneya Gholston: Thriving as an Employee Inside a Beauty Company Apr 3, 2020 01:21:17 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

Ep 019 - Interview with Stephanie Scott-Bradshaw CEO First and Last PR on Public Relations in the Beauty Industry Mar 18, 2020 01:03:17 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

Ep 18: 8 Quick Tips for Managing Customer Complaints Feb 28, 2020 20:58 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 implement

Ep 017 - Kiley Russell Big Girl Cosmetics & The Untold Story of Department Store Distribution Oct 11, 2019 01:01:08 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 foun

Ep 016 - Interview: Kim Roxie of LAMIK Beauty - What She is Doing When Black Women Founders Only Get .002% of Venture Funding Aug 20, 2019 43:40 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 participatio

Ep 015 - Interview with Craig Brimm: Ad Agency Owner, Beauty Brand Content Creator & OG Entrepreneur Jun 20, 2019 01:03:23 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 entrepreneur

Ep 014 - Nugget: Nobody's Coming to Save You Jun 20, 2019 21:06 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

Ep 013 - Interview with Pekela Riley: Celebrity Hair Stylist & Ulta Beauty Pro Team Member May 24, 2019 01:21:19 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

Ep 012: Your Guide to Executing Trade Shows May 10, 2019 48:47 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 gi

Ep 011 - Let's Catch Up Apr 25, 2019 34:46 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,

Ep 010 - A Discussion on the Hustle & Grind of Entrepreneurship with Transient Intellect Jason Sep 6, 2018 36:28 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 j

Ep 009 - Facing Disappointing Nos & Cosmoprof 2018 Review Aug 21, 2018 36:43 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 V

Ep 008 - Instagram's IGTV & How Email Marketing Can Change Your Beauty Business Jul 16, 2018 37:42 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 cust

Ep 007 - Karonda Cook: Is Your Beauty Brand Ready for Retail Distribution Jun 13, 2018 44:05 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 distri

Ep 006 - Industry Shows & Why Every Entrepreneur MUST Have a Tribe of Advisers Jun 7, 2018 39:54 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 005 - How to Engage a Manufacturer to Get Your Beauty Products Made Jun 1, 2018 45:47 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

Eps 004: Gerilyn Hayes - NaturallyCurly.com Senior Copywriter on Career & How to Engage Media Platforms May 18, 2018 42:43 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

Eps 003 - From Cosmetic Chemist to CEO: The Journey Towards Launching mSEED group May 7, 2018 49:12 Our first podcast could be no one else other than my business partner, Erica Douglas. On this episode we talk about Erica's journey from cosmetic chemist to CEO of mSEED group. We dive deep into how the idea for the company's unique business model, as both a contract manufacturer and marketing agency, came as rejection from a grad school project. Hear details on how Erica found her co-partner (me)

Eps 002: How to Build Your Marketing Plan & J Lo's Cosmetic Line Apr 26, 2018 35:09 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

Eps 001: Who The Hell Am I & Why You Need This Podcast Apr 23, 2018 17:42 Introductory episode for Driving the Business podcast. Find out who is Anthony Standifer and why this a MUST podcast if you are a beauty brand owner, entrepreneur, employee or someone connected with the beauty industry.

Driving the Business: Beauty Brands & Entrepreneurship

Episodes

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