Seiky Stephanie

Selling to consumers is hard. Mastering the art and science of that process takes a lot. Selling to retailers is also hard. Mastering that process is what provides your trajectory for scalable success. Selling into beauty supply stores provides lower financial stakes and is an avenue that could be considered by most brand founders selling to Black consumers in the US. But how do you sell your products into the stores? You start by going into the local ones that are closest to where you live and the consumer you want buying your products. Typically stores are purchasing from other wholesale distributors but they do have the ability to one off purchase your products. They do however have to be sold that once they take your products into the store that they will move. That responsibility will reside with you as the brand owner so having some creative marketing plans in place before going into the store works to your benefit.

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Adult collectors have recently become the #1 demographic in the toy industry, surpassing preschool and 6-11 year old consumers. It's not because the kid's segment is shrinking. 1) Adults are engaging their fandom. 2) Collectors are embracing toys as a viable asset sub-class alongside trading cards, comic books, and original art.... So, it doesn't surprise me that we're hurdling toward the very first MILLION DOLLAR assets within the toy category. Compare toys to comic books where the highest graded grails will smash through $10 million this decade (Action 1, Superman 1, Amazing Fantasy 15 Spiderman debut, Marvel 1, Batman 1, Detective Comics 27)... or compare to trading cards where the highest graded grails will break $50 million (1952 Topps Mantle PSA 10 pop 3 or PSA 8 T206 Wagner pop 1)...or non-sport trading card games (PSA 10 Pokémon Pikachu Illustrator $5+ million, CGC 10 Magic The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus $3+ million)... or even traditional pop art where Warhol's Shot Sage Blue Marilyn sold for $194 million in 2022. Pop culture is no joke. It's investible. I'm not a proponent for putting all of your eggs in one basket. Diversify. Don't put more than 10% of your assets into any one category (other than your personal home). But in a world that seems to agree on very few things, content, fandom and collectibility is widely embraced. Two ideologies can have vastly different perspectives, but agree on pop culture. Pop culture brings people together... And, rare, high grade toys have been under-appreciated as a sub-asset under investment level collecting. I do believe this 1979 Kenner Star Wars Rocket-Firing Boba Fett Mailer J-Slot V2 / 2 Missiles AFA Graded 85+ has a shot to be the very first $1 million action figure. Maybe not this go around... but you never know. 15 days left in the auction and currently at $360,000 with buyer's premium. Oh... and if anyone knows where I can get my hands on a 1969 Rear Loading Beach Bomb in Spectraflame Hot Pink... call me. That's a grail in vehicles, and my best bet for another million dollar item. PS - My opinion. No guarantees in life except for taxes and RIP. ❤️.

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Here are 50 VC Firms funding female beauty founders. 1. Female Founders Fund Stage: pre-seed/seed Amount: pre & post-launch: $500,000 to $750,000. Portfolio: Cay Skin and Ceremonia 2. Harlem Capital Stage: seed Amount: $1 million to $3 million Portfolio: Beauty Bakerie 3. BBG Ventures Stage: seed/pre-seed Amount: $500,000 to $1 million Portfolio: Radswan, Starface 4. SoGal Ventures Stage: seed Amount: $2 million to $3 million Portfolio: Function of Beauty, Winky Lux 5. The 51 Stage: Pre-seed Amount: $25K-$1.5M Portfolio: Blume For the full list of 50 VCs, link in the 1st comment. #venturecapital #fundraising #cosmetics #beautyindustry #entrepreneurship

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The “sunset blush” trend is all over social media. In my latest segment for NBC 6 South Florida South Florida Live, I teach you how to create it using liquid and powder makeup products #makeuptrend #makeuptips #beautyexpert

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My feed has been so stuffed with Xiemu SNL sketch that I wondered if I was actually on the Peacock app and not LinkedIn for a second last week. In her brilliance, Lynsey Jones pivoted a full session at the Americas Apparel Producers Network annual meeting yesterday to have a discussion about this ad. In a packed ballroom of sourcing executives, factory owners, logistics professionals, and textile experts -- we got real about why SHEIN is winning in the US and how regional players compete with better products, safer materials, MUCH better labor practices, and disciplined efficiency drivers. Yes, yes, yes we talked about de minimus! But the conversation didn't stop there as it normally does. Some big ahas for me: 1. Shein leverages a huge number of digital design tools to flood the market with thousands of designs each month, which gives them speed and constant new styles. 2. Shein has the discipline to design from a boundaried set of materials so it's easier for their supply chain partners to produce with less inventory and varieties. 3. They are subsidized by the Chinese government, and in the US, our postal service provides their last-mile delivery, which is basically another subsidy from US taxpayers. 4. A lot of what is in this video is true, and I'm glad SNL is bringing this perspective to the masses. What else did you learn this week as this video has made the rounds? #SNL #SaturdayNightLive NBCUniversal #supplychain

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Quick mid-year check in on the macro situation for health & wellness focused #emergingbrands. Key point IMO: this remains one of the best times (literally) ever to be selling premium better-for-you products in the US. Consumer incomes, Inflation moderation, & wealth-effect are all good (and improving) driving very strong demand. Higher end shoppers are continuing to power right now. Continued bifurcation between high & low HH’s is real and not great, showing value & showing up in the right channels has never been more important. Retailers everywhere looking for great innovation and brands that can deliver real growth. The energy that was evident at #expowest was real and continues. I've seen no real evidence of any significant movement away from healthier options across HH income levels or channels. Consumers do seek value (always), but they want the products to meet their health needs too. Brands delivering both $ and unit growth are in the drivers seat. There could be pockets or categories I cannot see where this is not the case, but I think the big picture holds. The #emergingbrand financing environment remains terrible, especially at friends & family, seed & A rounds before scale. I'd have thought that would be better as the year has gone on but I've seen or heard no evidence of that yet. Seen lots of great brands you'd expect to raise easily just getting squashed. Investors remain cautious, careful, and outside the big deals you hear about everyone chasing, it remains a financing nuclear winter. Hope this changes soon because the macro environment is one of the best ever and there are some potential big brands of the future out there just needing the capital to scale. Please share if you see anything different, love to hear perspectives across the brand and investor landscape.

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Yesterday, Helen & Troy (ticker $HELE) a public conglomerate that owns brands like Hydro Flask & Revlon announced its acquisition of nail care brand Olive & June for $240m Olive & June is a near $100m nail care brand that has exploded onto the scene. Let's dive into the deal 👇 Olive & June was founded in 2013 by Sarah Gibson Tuttle as a nail salon in LA. In 2019, she launched nail care products and is expected to hit $92m in 2024 revenue playing in categories like nail polish, fake nails, and nail care - a market worth $2.3B. The brand benefitted from the COVID tailwind of everyone trying out DIY nails, with nail salons closed all over the country. Further, $HELE has disclosed the following metrics related to growth: - 2019 - $2m - 2024 - $92m - 2019-2023 CAGR: 144% - T3 year CAGR: 26% Putting all of those pieces together, it seems like Olive & June could have gone from $2m in 2019 sales to almost $50m just a few years later during COVID. This growth is obviously exceptional, and O&J decided it was time to cash in. They hired bankers earlier this year to run an auction process, which $HELE ultimately won out on - paying $225m + $15m earnout for a total deal value of $240m. $225m is cash at close 😱 $HELE paid the following multiples for the asset: - 2.6x sales - 11x EBITDA From a comparable transactions perspective, this is pretty vanilla. When I stacked Olive & June's exit multiples against a broader comp set of ~50 consumer M&A transactions, the valuation multiples were almost perfectly with the median, and for beauty theyre a bit on the low end. It's clear that $HELE, in the midst of its own turnaround, is trying to expand categories. It has experience in beauty with its Drybar, Revlon, Curlsmith, and other properties, but those are mostly to do with hair care. Olive & June represents a 'bold' move into a new emerging category with incremental distribution options. On the call this morning, $HELE said they expect O&J to experience 'double digit growth for the foreseeable future.' All in all, it feels healthy to see some more consumer M&A over the last couple months, especially another one in the lower 9 figure range. 2025 seems to be shaping up to be positive. In a few hours, I will be sending out the full deep dive on the $HELE acquisition of Olive & June in my newsletter Subscribers get exclusive access to deeper analysis, as well as data I use to perform analysis so make sure to subscribe at the link pinned to my profile if you're someone who wants to sharpen their finance mind within the consumer goods industry 😁

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🌱💼 News for health-conscious individuals! 🥦🍎 Just because a product looks healthy, doesn't necessarily mean it truly is. It's crucial to dig deeper and pay attention to the ingredients. While I haven't had the chance to examine the specifics of these new products yet, it's important to remember that processed is processed! To make healthier choices, I recommend sticking to the outside aisles of your grocery store. This is where you'll find fresh produce and whole foods that come straight from the ground. By doing so, you'll be closer to nature and can enjoy the benefits of wholesome nutrition. Let's make conscious decisions about what we put into our bodies and prioritize real, nourishing food. Remember, small steps towards a healthier lifestyle can lead to big changes in the long run. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further guidance on making healthier choices. Together, we can embark on a journey towards optimal well-being! #HealthAndWellness #Nutrition #HealthyChoices #RealFood #LifestyleChange

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There's a talent retention issue in the beauty world Not a lack of talent, to be clear We're seeing long-tenured employees quit their roles en masse Why is the happening? Beyond navigating FDA's MoCRA requirements, we have a wage problem According to Glassdoor, Payscale, and Zippia, the beauty industry has experienced 23.275% total wage growth across Manager, Director, and Vice President position levels from 2014-2024 Inflation across this same period has been ~31%, which outpaces the wage growth above These OG beauty industry leaders are leaving for one simple reason in most cases: We're not paying them enough Their 2024 salary is worth less than their 2014 salary when adjusted for inflation In the "The beauty market in 2023: A special State of Fashion report" by McKinsey & Company, we continue to see a healthy ~10% CAGR + EBITDAs of ~30% In other words, we can afford to compensate these key team members with what they truly deserve After all, they keep our consumers and organizations safe Qualitas Executive Group remains committed to driving efficient and effective quality and compliance solutions within the beauty industry If you're a beauty brand or manufacturer with a talent gap, or aren't sure where to begin assessing the state of quality and compliance in your organization, we're here for you We look forward to wage corrections (improvements) in this category very soon What talent trends are you seeing in beauty? Sources: Glassdoor, Payscale, Zippia, McKinsey & Company #quality #compliance #wages #HR #hiring #leadership #research #beautyindustry #cosmetics #manufacturing #qualitas

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I think about merch a lot Because it’s the only easy monetization opportunity for creators Hence SoundCloud creating their own merch storefronts for their artists I mean just look at Kamala Harris for President, 2024 Selling nearly $2M of the Harris-Walz camo hats overnight is incredible “More than an understanding, the campaign seems to have a knowing of what is hot and what is not,” this according to Thomaï Serdari, New York University professor of marketing and director of its luxury and retail MBA Harris is what I would call a fairly serious working woman and champion of all working women…. What if her fan shops sold on trend fashion for working women vs just brat or camo merch? And those hard working women got to earn commission too? I predict a surge in this category if she gets elected So it would be important to know about the 7M people searching for #peplumtop RIGHT NOW A 154% increase over just last week and that the demand is forecasted to steadily increase through next year with 97% confidence Or let’s get really personal and support her step daughter Ella Emhoff with a sweater capsule collab with Disneyland Resort and Target Just yesterday Emhoff recalled the first time she picked up a set of knitting needles "My mom taught me how to knit at a Disneyland Resort hotel when I was six years old with some kit from Target" What about the sudden spike in the Aritzia sweatsuit overnight? Harris will need to be comfortable in residence... But it will have to be an affordable version of course Because the spike in search is for the $40 Costco Wholesale #dupe of the over $200 set Creators and brands need operators who not only can read the (global/cultural) room like Harris' awesome social team, but who can also react in real time to the products they want They need operators who work with factories who have low to no minimums across all lifestyle categories Do you know how hard it is to sell 200 units a sku a month? Even Frankies Bikini’s #1 selling bikini last month only sold 103 units The fact that a bikini only entered the top 25 selling product of a bikini company in the middle of summer at #18 is a whole nother post Speed is important in social commerce but so is world building and monetizing the interests of your fanbase Nielsen just reported that there are now 3.3 BILLION basketball fans worldwide And 80% of 16-29 year olds are fans So please explain again why the only products the 2 hottest WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) get are sneakers and athletic gear It's time to know in detail what's hot and what's not to participate past just the transaction of a shoe lol I'd ask for the data receipts from the copycats who get paid for my social commerce content without crediting me #thegreatfashionreset #creatortomanufacturer #communitycommerce #contentistheproduct #creatorsarethestore

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I’m thrilled to be attending Cosmoprof Vegas next week and even more excited to see a major beauty magazine like Allure discussing CBD again. 🌟 Having worked in the CBD space, I can confidently say that the next big thing in beauty, wellness, and beyond is Trait Biosciences glycosylated CBD. This unique raw material offers enhanced stability, solubility, and bioavailability, setting it apart from traditional CBD. Say goodbye to oily CBD! Our futuristic breakthrough integrates seamlessly into beauty wellness formulations and beyond, providing superior benefits and opening up new possibilities for product innovation. Unlike encapsulated CBD, glycosylated CBD is designed for better absorption and efficacy, ensuring that the active ingredients deliver maximum benefits to the skin. We have already gone to market and are coming in hot with this revolutionary ingredient. The latest study mentioned in Allure highlights the potential of nano-encapsulated CBD to protect against UV damage and to help reduce the risk of skin cancer. This aligns perfectly with the advantages of glycosylated CBD in my opinion. If you’re attending Cosmoprof Vegas, let’s connect and explore opportunities for collaboration! This is what your brand needs! See you in Vegas! #CosmoprofVegas #CBDbeauty #TraitBiosciences #GlycosylatedCBD #Innovation #BeautyWellness https://lnkd.in/eQsDxyRh

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When you're selling luxury beauty products, you're selling more than just the product — you're selling an experience. Think about it: I can pick up a moisturizer at Walmart or Target, but walking into a space like Aesop is a whole different vibe. Here, it’s about discovery — you're greeted with an invitation to test, feel, and indulge in the product. From a personalized facial treatment to simply experiencing the textures and scents, it’s a full sensory journey. Most brands may not have the resources to build out a custom brick-and-mortar retail location, but you can still create memorable experiences through storytelling, product demos, or tailored online consultations. Let your customers live the promise your brand makes, and they’ll come back for more.

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"Take action now! Support [Jacob Fenison/Y4$] by voting for his music. Every vote matters in shaping the future of music. Click below to show your support and help elevate his music career!" “If your dreams don’t scare the shit out of you, then you’re not dreaming big enough.” “Dreams should be so big they make you question your sanity.” “Big dreams require bold steps. If it doesn’t make you nervous, you’re playing it too safe.” “Your dreams should be a size too big so you can grow into them.” “Chase the vision that keeps you up at night and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” “If your dreams don’t challenge you, they’re not worth pursuing.” “Dream bigger. If it doesn’t terrify you, you’re aiming too low.” “Dare to dream so big that it feels impossible until you make it a reality.” “Fear is a sign you’re on the right path. Embrace it and dream even bigger.”

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Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers are breaking traditional boundaries... In our upcoming BrandBusters pod with the Clean Age brand, dropping on Tuesday, July 9th, at noon, we talk about how they have positioned themselves to win with Gen Z and Gen Alpha. They've embraced a few trends: -offering gender-neutral options -focusing on scent - many younger consumers switch up scents based on their mood -appealing to values of sustainability and individuality These shifts are not just trends but a reflection of changing consumer behavior in personal care. #GenZ #ConsumerTrends #GenderNeutral #cpg

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🌟 Elevate Your Brand with Challenge Coins! Why Blue Wolf Promos? 🌟 Challenge coins are more than just tokens; they embody prestige, honor, and a strong sense of belonging. Here’s why integrating them into your business strategy can make a significant impact: 🛡️ **Symbol of Achievement:** Challenge coins celebrate milestones and achievements, making them powerful morale boosters for teams and clients alike. 🌐 **Global Recognition:** They transcend borders and cultures, fostering unity and loyalty among recipients. It's a timeless way to strengthen your brand identity. 🔑 **Unique Storytelling:** Each coin tells a unique story, creating lasting impressions that go beyond traditional marketing efforts. Why choose Blue Wolf Promos for your challenge coins? 🐺 **Quality Craftsmanship:** Blue Wolf Promos ensures top-notch quality with attention to detail, ensuring your coins reflect the prestige of your brand. 💼 **Customization Expertise:** From intricate designs to tailored finishes, their team transforms ideas into tangible, impactful coins. 📈 **Proven Track Record:** With a history of delivering excellence, Blue Wolf Promos guarantees satisfaction, ensuring your investment yields measurable results. Elevate your brand presence with challenge coins from Blue Wolf Promos and let your achievements shine. Connect with us today to explore how these timeless tokens can elevate your business! #ChallengeCoins #BrandIdentity #BusinessSuccess #BlueWolfPromos

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Fuzzballs: A Proven, Sustainable Success in a Competitive Market. Fuzzballs is not just another cute brand—it's a thriving, sustainable, and rapidly growing brand that continues to outlast the competition. Over the years, we've had conversations with some of the biggest names in licensing. Interestingly, many of these potential partners initially passed on us, only to launch their own cute brands—only to see them land in bargain bins, forgotten within a year. The reasons behind their failures are clear. Despite the marketing efforts and industry resources poured into these projects, they missed what truly matters: understanding the market, the consumers, and the demand that Fuzzballs has cultivated. Our growth, our dedicated fan base, and our presence in retailers all speak to our staying power. While others struggled to make their mark, Fuzzballs has continued to thrive. We may move at a more deliberate pace with our micro team, but that’s exactly why we’ve been sustainable for years—because we grow with intention and insight. And the best is yet to come. As we look toward 2025, we are gearing up for our biggest product launches yet. Fuzzballs isn’t just a brand; it’s a proven formula for long-term success. Partner with us, and you'll join a brand that’s here to stay, with untapped potential waiting to be unlocked.

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