Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Annette Smith, Founder, and CEO of Lip Service Beauty, located in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Lip Service Beauty handcrafts beauty products in small batches. We believe wholeheartedly that ingredients matter. We source everything from our raw materials to packaging as locally and ethically as possible. We are a women-led company and firmly practice collaboration over competition. We've co-created and collaborated on products, events, and initiatives with other like-minded, female-led local companies.

Tell us about yourself

I endured a major health scare a few years back due to extreme stress and exhaustion; I knew I wanted to create a better life for myself. This ultimately inspired me to start a natural, ethical, and plant-based beauty brand. After being frustrated with complicated ingredient listings, I knew there had to be a simpler way. The philosophy of "ingredients matter" came from realizing that everyone and everything in your life can make you better. What you eat, what you put on your body, whom you choose to surround yourself with.

I wanted to create beauty products that are fun, effective, and with ingredients that you can pronounce or identify easily. I wanted to collaborate with and support other like-minded small businesses to bring the ultimate product assortment to our customers. What motivates me each day is our customers and community. I LOVE knowing that I've helped make their lives better by offering vegan, plant-based, and natural products. It always makes me smile when we get reviews or comments, and people say they've been looking for natural beauty products or ultra-creamy lip balms that actually heal your skin like us. Fun fact: when I was a kid, I used to collect lip balms. Isn't it funny how as an adult, I now have access to any flavor I want when I want?!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Gosh, it's hard to choose just one! Leaving my full-time corporate role to pursue this full-time was huge for me. It's not something I honestly thought I'd be able to accomplish in the beginning. I'm proud that this year, we expanded into a new location to have our studio, in-store space all under one roof. I was also honored to be the Top 40 Under 40 in Business Niagara award this year. It felt really awesome to have those wins this year for a rough couple of years due to the pandemic.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I always say being an entrepreneur is like being on a roller coaster. The highs or wins are incredible because you worked so hard for them and achieved them yourself. The lows or the losses sting twice as hard because you have no one to blame but yourself. When you haven't had a win in a while, it's hard to keep motivating yourself and clapping for yourself, but you HAVE to. Despite how you feel, you keep showing up and believing in yourself; that's self-leadership at its finest.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Always follow your intuition. If it's not a HECK YES, it's a hard no!
  2. As you start to grow, don't be afraid to contract work out. You're one person and can't possibly do all the things. There's no shame in getting help to do something you don't have time to do or don't love doing. The second you do, I promise that it frees you up to do the things you love to do and do well.
  3. FOCUS. I see so many entrepreneurs have their hand in multiple projects too early in the game. If you're just starting out, ensure that the business is pretty much running itself before you venture off into something new.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I want to give a special recognition shout out to my right arm, Crystal. She's been alongside me almost from the beginning. I honestly don't know what I'd do without her initiative, positivity, ideas, and friendship. Find good people to surround yourself with that are aligned with what you're up to. It makes your workdays a million times better, and believe it or not, your customers can feel it too.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://lipservicebeauty.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipservice_beauty/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LipServiceEtsyBeauty/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lip-service-beauty/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lipservicebeauty?

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.