We were lucky to catch up with Shannon Erley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shannon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?

We love to do things that don’t scale and we love our customers! We have two sets of customers, our estheticians and esthetic businesses who use Pomp and their clients who purchase skincare through Pomp because their esthetician gave them their recommendations. We do things called “Surprise and Delights” where we will send hand-written notes or samples to our estheticians or send holiday cards with gift cards inside to clients as a thank you. We wouldn’t be here without all of our customers and we love to thank them and by doing these things that don’t always scale and are high-touch and personal, it creates more loyalty and also great UGC too!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I spent years working in the beauty and retail world, and during that time I became increasingly frustrated by one thing: the people with the loudest influence often weren’t the ones with the deepest knowledge. Retailers and influencers dominated the conversation around skincare recommendations, yet I personally struggled with adult hormonal acne and found that the advice circulating online or on shelves just wasn’t helping.

Everything changed when I finally started seeing estheticians. For the first time, my skin was in the hands of professionals who understood the science, who approached skin with intention—not trends—and who genuinely cared about results. My skin transformed, and so did my perspective on the entire industry.

I realized that estheticians are the experts. They have the training, the insight, and the trust of clients. They’re the ones who can actually change someone’s skin and confidence. But despite all of that, they were being overshadowed by bigger retail machines and influencers with stronger platforms.

I started Pomp to shift that power back into the hands of the people who deserve it. Pomp exists to empower estheticians—to elevate their authority, strengthen their businesses, and ensure they are the ones making the product recommendations that shape their clients’ skin journeys. I want clients to shop from their esthetician, not from Sephora, Amazon, or a viral trend.

We provide access to over 50+ professional skincare brands, tools, systems, and support that help estheticians grow their revenue, deepen client trust, and operate with the same confidence they bring to their treatment rooms. Through thoughtful technology, curated retail solutions, and business resources, we bridge the gap between expert knowledge and client purchasing behavior.

What makes us different is that Pomp was born from real frustration and a real transformation—not from a trend, but from a lived experience. I’ve been the confused client who didn’t know who to trust. I’ve been the industry insider who saw the disconnect between expertise and visibility.

I’m most proud of the impact we’re making: giving estheticians a stronger voice, helping them build sustainable businesses, and making sure clients receive expert guidance, not generic recommendations.

At its core, this brand is about empowerment. It’s about rewriting who holds influence in the skincare space. It’s about honoring the professionals who make real change possible—and giving them the support, tools, and platform they’ve always deserved.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

For me, great leadership starts with humility and genuine appreciation. I believe in recognizing people often and openly—whether it’s small daily wins or big moments of growth. Every week I highlight shoutouts and accomplishments, not because it’s a formality, but because it reinforces that we succeed together. No one builds something meaningful alone, and I want every team member to feel seen, valued, and connected to our mission.

I also believe in taking responsibility and never passing blame. If something goes wrong, I own it. That sets the tone that mistakes are opportunities to learn, not reasons to fear. It creates a culture where people feel safe to speak up, experiment, and grow.

And importantly, no job is ever “beneath” anyone—not even the founder. I’ll ship orders, answer customer messages, troubleshoot a problem, whatever is needed. When your team sees you willing to jump in alongside them, it builds respect and trust. It shows that we’re all contributors, and that every task matters.

High morale doesn’t come from perks or slogans; it comes from people feeling appreciated, supported, and united. When leaders lead with gratitude, accountability, and a willingness to do the work, the team follows with heart, loyalty, and that shared sense of purpose that makes everything possible.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My entire founder journey has been one long masterclass in resilience. I’ve had more than 500 investor conversations, many of which ended in a “no,” or sometimes no response at all. I’ve dealt with random lawsuits from ambulance chasers, navigated a hostile takeover attempt, and faced moments where it felt like the world was trying to push me out of my own company.

But I always say our brand’s spirit animal is the cockroach—because no matter what gets thrown at us, we don’t die. We adapt, we regroup, and we keep going.

There were days when the obstacles felt overwhelming, yet something deeper pushed me forward every time. A mix of stubborn passion, a belief in the impact of what we’re building, and honestly, my faith. When things got hard, I leaned into prayer, into trust, into the idea that if I was given this vision, I was also given the strength to withstand the storms that came with it.

If you truly believe in what you’re building—if it’s bigger than your ego and rooted in purpose—you will always find a way to push through. You become resourceful, gritty, unshakeable. You keep standing up, even when the blows come out of nowhere.

Resilience isn’t something I talk about from theory. It’s something I’ve lived, repeatedly. And it’s why I’m still here—still building, still fighting, still believing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pompbeauty.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pomp_beauty/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialpompbeauty
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pompbeauty/

Image Credits

Laura Murray Photography