Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. Just popping back into your inbox like Miranda is popping into SATC (IYKYK).

This one goes out with a little reminder that some of the best things you can do in life & in business cost exactly $0. Be kind. Network your butt off. Go for a walk in the sunshine. Post a funny reel. Give your love/s an extra tight squeeze. Have a cold shower.

Let’s get straight into it 👇

Strength in Numbers ✊

Picture this: you’re an independent self-sufficient female founder with big fat juicy dreams (spotted 👀). The thing is, you’re not alone with that dream - and you’re also far from alone on your journey.

So I’m reading a lot about loneliness at the minute. Loneliness Week is etched in our diaries later in June (yes, that’s a thing), and this article about the loneliness epidemic kinda caught me in the feels.

There’s no denying that achieving something entirely off your own back can feel pretty amazing. But here’s the plot-twist: achieving something together doesn’t actually dampen that flame. It makes it feel even greater. In the world of running a business (& of being human) there is strength in numbers.

When I chat to a founder who’s been in the game a HOT SECOND (read: a decade), like Jenny co-founder of Tilit since circa 2012, I can bet they’ll put some aspect of their success down to their network. Their community. Their tribe. Their people. The longer you’re in the game, the longer you have to realise there’s really no such thing as “I” in entrepreneurship (jokes).

Getting in with a group of other entrepreneurs (bonus points if they’re in your industry) and putting something together, is the thing that will ultimately shift the needle in your business. Comparing a feeling of isolation to the safety of strong community is night and day, and it’s about time we all stop denying ourselves that.

Now, I’d be a poor entrepreneur if I didn’t grab the chance to quickly shout about Majic here. If you’re new here: Majic is our private community. It’s become my front-row seat to watching the magic of network unfold every day. Founders from all over the world, connecting over the same problems, celebrating each others wins. Come say hi, I have a feeling you’ll fit right in!

Listen to Jenny on the podcast →

The Distributor Dilemma 🔮

Your first couple of years in business require a serious amount of sieving. Sieving through all the recommendations and the must-have’s to work out for yourself whether you really must hire a PR agency. Pay for social ads. Get a distributor on board. In fact, during these first years you’re often riddled with overwhelm and an empty wallet for trying all of them.

In a bid to save you a bit of time and money, Aja brought up the good point that when it comes to selling your product “your core group and the founder themselves can sell it WAY better than any sales rep or distributor ever can”. If you are the one calling or cold emailing it can really feel like they know you, know your story, and you can really solidify a relationship with retailers.

With that in mind, here are some key things to keep in mind as you approach buyers as a founder:

1. Show them that thing ✨ convince the buyers with the same enthusiasm you first convinced yourself to start this business

2. Have all your ducks in a row 🦆 your value proposition, testimonials, market research and the ROI the buyer can expect: have all your statistics and numbers on hand to support your position

3. Looks matter 🎀 nowadays they would expect something aesthetic & beautiful to showcase in store, ensure your product is up to scratch

4. You’ve only got one shot 🎶 buyers are famously busy, go into this knowing it might be your only shot at getting on a shelf

Listen to Aja on the podcast →

• Tower28 and Rhode Skin team up to donate $75K to female founders

• Milly Bobby Brown is brewing something new

• The Chile Crisp Queen is opening a Sichuan market in LA

• Wldkat joins growing list of indie beauty closures

• TikTok beat the ban (for now)

• Holmes starts her 11-year sentence (despite New York Times piece)

• Perfect Corp. debuts tool for finger & wrist measurements

• Generation Prime launches to make fertility services more accessible

• Beauty Brands x Laundy Care is the collab I didn’t know we needed

• Corporate VCs are riding the AI startup wave

• It’s pride month!

• & Crunchbase will begin tracking LGBTQ+ venture dollars

This month’s $$$ piece…

💸 $25,000 Bold Beginnings Grant by Tara Bosch from SmartSweets (click here to catch her story on the show!) 💸

Bold Beginnings exists so young women with big ideas are empowered to know that they are infinitely capable and equipped with the golden nuggets of knowledge to bring their visions to life. One applicant leaves with $25,000, all leave knowing they’re capable and believed in, equipped with support.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

Montreal 🍁

• The coolest snack brand on the planet, Mid-Day Squares, is hiring a Territory Sales Representative. Apply directly here.

LA 🌇

• MARA Beauty, the leading, prestige line of algae-infused skincare, is on the hunt for an Operations Manager to join the team. More here.

AUS 🌞

• The OG coffee body-scrub brand Frank Body is looking for a Victoria-based Operations Manager to join the team. Read more here.

• The Sheet Society, bedding worth dreaming about, is hiring a Brunswick-based Brand Marketing Manager. Apply here.

San Diego 🏙️

• Curie, your fave clean deodorant and body brand, is searching for a Financial Controller to jump on board. Something for you?

Oh and btw, we had a bit of a moment on IG (@femalestartupclub) this week, did you catch the 3.2M+ madness?