We recently connected with Derek Arnell and have shared our conversation below.

Derek, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Covid has brought about so many changes – has your business model changed?

Believe it or not, Covid is the reason my business exists in the first place. Before Covid, I didn’t have a business, nor business model to follow.

Derek, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Derek and I moved to California February, 2020. Three weeks before the covid lockdown. Upon arriving in San Francisco, I was unemployed (seeking employment) I ended up being interviewed for 3 cosmetic companies, 2 of which didn’t hire me. When I finally got hired, at Lancome, I thought that would be the end of my job search! Keep in mind, before I moved to California, I was a server, hoping to leave the restaurant industry and I finally did!

Training starts, the job is going great… BAM. Covid & it’s restrictions begin. The entire country is shut down by March 17, about a month after moving to a new city and new state.

Months go by, I finally receive a call to come back to Lancome, because they loved me obviously! This time, it’ll be at a different location. I was eager to head back to work, however, in the meantime of being locked down, I begin working on my own formula and products, because nobody knew what was to come in the cosmetic industry, or the world, in general.

Upon arriving to work, the environment was not the same. They expected more work from you, with less pay. I was actually told I was losing commission, also. Which was apart of my total salary.

After successfully launching my skincare brand in October of 2020, I was 100% self employed by February, 2021.

I took what was taken from me. I wanted my foot into the cosmetic industry so I had to make space for myself.

The brand?

UADA, [U-A-DUH] formally known as Urban Aesthetics by Derek Arnell. We specialize in honey based skincare, focusing on the healing properties of Honey, Roses and Vitamin E. We can reverse even the most stubborn acne, hyperpigmentation or skin concerns you may encounter.

What sets us apart from the others?

Our motto is “Where quality & sustainability meet innovation.” Who else is doing that, especially in the skincare industry? There is generally a lack of sustainability and innovation. Mostly because everyone is trying to mimic something they seen someone else succeed with.

I’m most proud of the amount of lives I’ve changed with my products. Knowing myself and my brand was the turning point for a lot of people who almost gave up on themselves and their skin. I like to make people around me happy, or laugh, even… The fact that I now offer a product that can help you feel a lot better than any smile or laugh can, means the entire world to me.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It costs more to be cheap. When I first moved into my warehouse, I got the smallest space possible, not expecting to outgrow the first one in 60 days. I had to pay more money to move into a larger unit, sign a new lease and get the supplies moved (again) all because I wanted to be cheap and pay less rent.

There was also a time I tried to buy the cheaper pieces of equipment and had to turn around and replace it 4 times, when I should have just bought the more expensive piece, knowing it’ll work longer.

So remember, save until you can make the actual investments! Cheap is more expensive!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Making the decision to quit my 9-5 to be a full time entrepreneur.

Once my job started demanding more, for less wages.. I had to be realistic. Work and be exploited, or create my own reality. I was terrified the first month, but after putting the time back into my business, it started to flourish.

It’s also hard making those decisions when you don’t have a team to tell you what you can and can’t afford to do do. I had to build my entire company on the revenue I was bringing in because there is no more 9-5 income.

Contact Info:

• Website: byderekarnell.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/byderekarnell
• Facebook: Facebook.com/byderekarnell
• Twitter: twitter.com/byderekarnell
• Other: TikTok: @BYDEREKARNELL