We recently connected with Esther Andries and have shared our conversation below.

Esther, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

To me, success hinges on one crucial quality: perseverance. It’s the determination to keep going, even when the odds seem insurmountable. I’ve found that never giving up, no matter what, has been the key to achieving my goals.

Me moving to the US and then getting divorced whilst in the midst of an unexpected career change tested my perseverance to the core. It required months of relentless effort, and at every turn, there seemed to be obstacles blocking my path. There were moments when I felt like throwing in the towel, but something inside me refused to quit.

Despite setbacks and doubts, I kept pushing forward. And in the end, my perseverance paid off. I achieved success in the end, and it taught me a valuable lesson: when you refuse to give up, even when it’s tough, you can accomplish anything.

This experience reinforced my belief that perseverance is the defining factor in success. It’s not just about talent or intelligence; it’s about having the grit to keep going, no matter what. And that’s a lesson I carry with me in everything I do.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi there! I’m Esther, a passionate entrepreneur hailing from Belgium, now based in Los Angeles. My journey into the business world began with the launch of “DIVERS,” a thriving vegan foodbar with two locations in Antwerp and Knokke, which I founded at the age of 24. Inspired by my commitment to healthy living, I later ventured into the online space with “Your Healthy Fix,” an innovative e-commerce business primarily focused on selling vegan protein powder and functional teas online.

During my entrepreneurial journey, I also took the time to pursue my passion for plant-based cuisine by writing and publishing my own vegan cookbook in Belgium. This endeavor allowed me to share my love for healthy and delicious recipes with a broader audience.

Today, as the CEO of “Aestetik Agency,” I specialize in providing creative direction, content creation, branding, and marketing services tailored to health and wellness, F&B, and hospitality businesses. My multicultural background, having transitioned from Antwerp to Los Angeles, brings a unique perspective to my work.

In addition to my business endeavors, I’m a published author and actively involved in organizing networking events in LA. These initiatives allow me to connect emerging brands and empower women in the industry, fostering collaboration and growth.

What sets me apart is my hands-on experience in building successful ventures coupled with my creative expertise. Whether it’s crafting compelling brand stories or developing strategic marketing campaigns, I’m dedicated to helping businesses thrive in the competitive marketplace.

We’d appreciate any insights you can share with us about selling a business.

Absolutely, selling my first business, DIVERS, was a big moment in my business journey. More than just stuff I owned, what made DIVERS special was the cool brand, loyal fans, and the awesome community I built.

One big lesson I learned is how important it is to really care about your brand and connect with your customers. These things you can’t touch – like how people feel about your business – are super important when it comes time to sell.

For anyone dreaming of selling their business one day, remember this: Focus on making your brand stand out and making friends with your customers. That way, when it’s time to sell, your business will be worth a lot more and way more interesting to buyers.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

Yes, for my company Your Healthy Fix, we manufactured our vegan protein powders and functional teas. When I started, it was crucial to conduct thorough due diligence on potential manufacturers. This involved requesting samples, understanding their minimum order quantities (MOQs), and ensuring they met my quality standards.

Finding the right manufacturer was a journey in itself. I needed a team with expertise to evaluate the quality of the products, so I enlisted the help of dietitians and flavor experts. Their input was invaluable in ensuring that our products met our standards and resonated with our customers.

One of the biggest lessons I learned along the way was that manufacturing took a lot of time. It was essential to factor this into my sales timeline and plan accordingly. Additionally, I always protected my recipes. This meant including clauses in my contracts to safeguard my intellectual property and ensure that my recipes remained confidential.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aestetikagency.com
• Instagram: @esther.andries and @aestetik.agency
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-andries-52568a85/

Image Credits
David Plas Tiffany Le