Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kelly-Ann McIntosh and Joan Chypyh, co-owners of Pepper & Pink Inc., located in Aurora, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Pepper & Pink Inc. was founded in 2016 and is full-service product development and manufacturer of health, beauty & OTC products. We are a 100% women-owned Canadian company dedicated to bringing clean beauty products to life. Pepper & Pink’s customers include major retailers across North America. Creating better lifestyles through our products, we are true to our mantra to be kind to others, kind to the environment, and, most importantly, be kind to oneself.
Tell us about yourself
Being executives in our respective fields, we were hired to build brands from the ground up and build large brands in new markets. It was time to make our own mark with our products and brands. We are passionate about building new partnerships and developing great products and programs for innovative solutions. We eat, breathe, and sleep new formulations. I have always been a beauty junky and have tried every type of skincare and makeup, and I’m in the right element. Joan’s background has been in dermatology & pharmaceutical product development, and she has the experience to help make our products second to none.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Seeing something take shape from an idea over coffee and then months later having customers buy our products on the shelf is so much fun. We still have fun every day!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
These days it is very difficult to get financing. You have to believe in what you're doing even when others don’t. You have to have a vision, and you can't let anyone get in your way. You can be a dreamer, but you need to work extremely hard to make it a reality. There really are no shortcuts, and there is no comfort zone.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Have a support system with which you can talk out issues and roadblocks; we are each other's sounding boards. I see the big picture, and Joan sees the fine details; that's what makes us successful. Get the right help because we can’t all be great at everything, and most importantly, know your business better than anyone else. Find a niche or a solution and go after it. Know your numbers, and you always need a business plan that needs to be tweaked continuously.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.pepperandpink.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pepperandpink/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_PepperPink
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ann-mcintosh-8a7b7b41/
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.
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