Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. Following on from this Kiki debacle - which I just can’t get over - it's the perfect moment to shine a spotlight (quote: floodlight) on the female founders building incredible communities. The female founders jumping through hoops and making miracles happen against all odds to create incredible companies. Let’s celebrate them - get the full list here ✨ 

Today we’re covering 👇

• The 8-figure skincare brand spilling secrets

• My top tips to launch your dream biz in 2024

• The beauty acquisitions continue & other news

• A $100K prize pool for minority-owned businesses

• & ways I can help you this week 💕 (I have a coaching spot open!)

Let me share the secret… 🤫

You know things are about to get good when a founder confesses: “let me share that secret…”

So, let’s spill the tea on the game-changing strategy Stacey discovered building Lust Minerals.

Brand collabs. It looks a little like this: you, your brand, and another powerhouse joining forces for some serious magic. The secret sauce? Sharing the love and data with brands that share your vibe (but might be a little further on in the game). Aha!

Here's the scoop: it turns out that Voucher swaps are where it's at. Imagine slipping a sweet deal into your customer's orders, and guess what? Your collab does the same. Co-branded flyers, discount codes, the whole shebang. Spice it up - maybe $20 off their goodies, and they return the favor? A QR code included to your websites, names exchanged, and bam - your audience just got a major upgrade.

Practical tip: start noting down your brainstorm slash dream-board today and find those brands with whom you want to share the love, share the wealth, and build those databases with ✨

Listen to Stacey on the podcast →

7 Tips to Launch Your Dream Biz in 2024 💫

So! With January blues pretty much out the way, I have a strong suspicion you’re feeling that entrepreneurial itch. That burning desire to launch your own business and make a mark this year. This is the time of re-birth, creativity, boldness and building.

So, here’s is the advice I’d give myself if I was launching a brand this year in 2024:

1. Solve a real problem that people will pay money for 💸 you won’t believe how often this step is missed - ideas need to be validated and the only way you can do that is by talking to real potential customers

2. Have a real point of difference 🦄 review competitors and big players in the space by reading through their one star reviews - gather ALL the bad stuff and figure out how you can create a product that solves those problems and stand out from the rest  

3. Aim for mass market consumer goods 🛍️ if you want a nationwide or global brand aim for mass market items over high ticket products that have a longer purchase decision required - think about products that just make sense to buy: food, beauty, hygiene, household items

4. Incorporate a price point and profit margin that’ll work on other channels 💰 really think about the pricing model of platforms like Amazon and paid ads and incorporate this into your financial model

5. Build a brand that is social first ✨I can’t say this enough - it needs to have X factor on TikTok 🤳and people need to want to show it off - have all the qualities of viral products that are a no-brainer to buy

6. Create with repeatable buys & subscriptions in mind 🔁 it costs 5X more to acquire a customer than to retain a customer you already have - once you have someone on board treat them like gold (or $$$)

7. Build a brand that doesn’t require raising capital to get started 🤑 you want to hold off raising as long as you can so you have proof points, learn to be scrappy, and leverage your growth for better terms 

Listen to more tea on the podcast →

• Angel Investing in under serious threat in the UK - sign an open letter to the UK government here to keep the space equitable for all

• Who cares if the CEO is a man when we’re +50% owned by women?

• The prognosis for beauty M&A as Puig acquires Barbara Storm

• Kyte Baby’s CEO strikes (the worst) chord with fed-up mums

• This teen X Sephora thing isn’t a trend: it’s a warning sign

• Goldman quietly ends its diversity investment program

• The 1,000 new wellness products on Target’s shelves

• This Barbie is fed up with this patriarchal system

• An all-female SNL duo worth noting in your diary

• The future of Canva & its $1.5B share sale

• Pamela Anderson enters the beauty chat

This week's grant...

The Athene Black & Brown Pitch Comp is back with a $100,000 prize pool aimed at minority-owned businesses (anywhere 🌎). Apply by the 31st.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

Ways I can help you this week…

NYC 🗽

• Fable, creating innovative pet gear, is hiring a Retail Strategy & Partnerships Manager to work with their CRO. Read more here.

• Drinks delivery platform Minibar Delivery is looking for a Summer Intern with an entrepreneurial spirit to join the team. Apply here.

LA ☀️

• Reese Witherspoon’s female-focused media company Hello Sunshine is looking for a rockstar Account Manager, apply here!

LDN 💂🏼‍♂️

• Wardrobe & styling app Whering is looking for Content Interns with a love for TikTok to join the team. Something for you?

That’s all for today folks! For your daily dose of female-founder inspo follow us right here ✨