Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoie Lauren.
Hi Zoie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I launched Lavish Beauty By Zoie Lauren in 2017 at 19 years old. My brand was originally named Lavish Lashes By Zo but in 2019, I extended my product selection to eyeshadow palettes, lip glosses, and cosmetic chunky glitters and changed the name to match. The inspiration to start my own beauty business came from me doing makeup on my peers in the dorms of Xavier University of Louisiana. I did research for six months until I found the perfect lash manufacturer that I could trust to deliver me high-quality 3D lashes that would be reusable for months. From there, I found other manufacturers who could custom design makeup products and packaging for my brand.
Today Lavish Beauty By Zoie Lauren has a nice variety of cosmetics and has a selection of products sold on Walmart.com. I am shipping orders weekly to every state in the US and also reaching customers in the UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, and Japan. The power of marketing consistently on social media, mainly through Instagram, is what helped my business gain so much exposure worldwide. Utilizing influencer marketing also allowed me to expand my target market.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Entrepreneurship is definitely not easy and has many ups and downs. There were times I sacrificed buying new clothes, eating out, or having fun with my friends because I was putting every dime into inventory, marketing materials, and motivational business books. Launching a business while being a full-time college student was very draining especially for my mental health because if I wasn’t studying, I was marketing on social media, responding to customer emails or shipping orders. Staying positive when facing adversity is a struggle when you have a big dream and you are the only person behind it that is in charge of making that dream come to life. There were many days I found myself burnt out and overwhelmed with anxiety when I didn’t reach my sales goals, experienced delays in inventory shipments didn’t have money to stay on top of bills or had no help packaging 200+ orders. I found myself putting so much of my time and energy into building my brand that I started neglecting friends, family, and my love life. Finding balance between your personal life and business can be a challenge but is necessary for maintaining value relationships and making time to relax or have fun.
We’ve been impressed with Lavish Beauty By Zoie Lauren, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Lavish Beauty By Zoie Lauren is a Black-owned cosmetic brand that is most known for luxury lashes reusable for at least four months. We also offer vegan cosmetics and wholesale products for others who are interested in starting their own beauty businesses. Our mission is to encourage and promote self-expression and self-confidence through enhancing your natural allure with makeup. One component that sets us apart from other brands is that we deeply value customer service and customer satisfaction. We are committed to fast shipping, quick responses in a polite manner, and making the opening of packages a lavish experience. We are very proud to receive stellar customer reviews that express how our products make customers look good, attract them many compliments, and are convenient for beginners. We become popular for our 3D mink lashes but now also offer faux mink and magnetic lashes. A variety of styles with different lengths and volume that are all handcrafted and lightweight are a part of our collection. A selection of are lashes a featured on Walmart’s website and soon, we will be available in popular retail stores.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When looking for a mentor or trying to network, look for people who are in the same industry as you or those who inspire you. Make sure you are following entrepreneurs on social media in your same age group and older who express some of the same core values that you contain. Identify your mentorship goals/needs and create your elevator pitch to share with potential mentors.
Pricing:
- Lashes starting at $6.50
- Lip glosses starting at $10
- Chunky Glitters starting at $3.50
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.lavishbeautybyzo.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/lavishbeautybyzo
- Facebook: facebook.com/lavishbeautybyzo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC44dbHkAGqimOH7MAKd-Bgg
Image Credits
Ashton Ty
