We recently connected with Kaelyn Brooks and have shared our conversation below.
Kaelyn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
what was the process of going from idea to execution?
II struggled a lot with depression after I had my daughter. I was just lost. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had just had my daughter Aylani in February 2020 then COVID hit March 2020. I just graduated from Concorde College with my certification in Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy and couldn’t get a job because the healthcare field had shut down. That through me a little deeper into my postpartum depression. Then I got a job as a COVID screener for Children’s hospital. There wasn’t much to do after we had our morning rush, so I had nothing but time to just figure out what I wanted to do. Keep in mind that I started off doing makeup from 2009-2019. After some sitting and thinking I thought well I love watching getting my nails done and I’ve always wanted to try and do my nails so I got into that for a few months but like makeup, it felt more like a hobby that I enjoyed. Still battling depression, the only thing that made me feel better that I could do for hours and not get bored with it was self-care. I loved it. Catering to my skin, getting myself dolled up. It just felt natural. Growing up I use to always do DIYs on my skin when I was younger so it just felt right. I started using my downtime to research skincare businesses, starting a business, and what products were hot at the moment. I came up with “The Brat Life Beauty Bar.” I had the plan and name but I didn’t have the money. I applied for a loan and got about 12.5k and used all of that to fund my business. I got EVERYTHING I needed and more for my business. I started working on getting my business set up and going. Then May of 2021 I set my launch date for Mothers Day( May 9th, 2021). I had a lot of obstacles along the way, I was a new mom trying to figure out my right journey in life. I was going through some serious “mid-life crisis” issues and I almost quit. That whole week leading up to my launch I was emotional, I was like ” I can’t do this, I have too much personal drama going on.” ALL that time, all that work and MONEY I put in was about to just be a waste. No one but my close family and friends knew what was going on, so they encouraged me. Especially my sister-in-law Megan. She called me every day and pushed me to keep going. So I did just that, as much as I wanted to just stop. I was way too invested. I launched my business and I got some great support. My customers showed my business so much love, I was glad I took the advice to push through it. I’ve been going ever since. I won’t lie and say it’s been easy or that I haven’t had times that I did give up but when you think of everything that you put into something you worked hard for, you kind of think to yourself that you’re crazy. I just kept telling myself I can’t waste 12.5 thousand dollars. I couldn’t let my daughter see me giving up, even if she was the only 1 I wasn’t going to set that example for her. I always was one to quit something if I didn’t like it. I mean If I didn’t like it, why keep doing it? When you get older and your mindset changes and you start a family, your mindset changes from that kind of negativity. I want my daughter to see things through even if she doesn’t like them. Now, I’m almost 2 years into my business and I couldn’t be any happier with where I am and the progress I’ve made as a businesswoman and person.
Kaelyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Kaelyn Brooks the CEO of SKNMISTRY (skin-mist-ree). My brand is a luxurious all-inclusive brand. From skin types, and skin tones to gender we cater to them all. I create, make, and provided handmade skincare and cosmetics products. So, that would be considered the beauty industry. I sell lip glosses that come with an LED light attached to the wand and a mirror on the side of the tube for convince. They currently come in 6 different shades and each one is slightly pigmented and flavored. I also make and sell body butter, turmeric body scrub, and body oils for men and women. There are 6 scents for the body butter and body oils. I’ve also just added 3 new products to my list. A pineapple scented body butter and body oil and the shimmer body oil to it just in time for the summer. Then I just introduced herbal bath salts as well. I do plan on expanding my products even more throughout the rest of the year, so be ready for that. I’m super excited for the expansion that is to come and I want all my customers( current and future) I live and thrive off of you all. I want to give you the best customer service you’ve ever experienced. I always ask for feedback and reviews because I want to make sure you are getting the best quality products. I may love them but if my customers don’t then I need to fix that. I appreciate it all, good and bad. I feel like you can’t be a good business owner if you aren’t open to the bad because that’s what going to help you keep perfecting your craft. I put everything I have into making sure my customers are happy and satisfied and that my products are doing what I said they would do. I’m that simple. Nothing about me, it’s all about my customers and giving products that will help them but that I get to make and be proud of.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Networking and marketing! When I go out with my friends, I carry my lip gloss that way people will see my lip gloss tube has an LED light on it and that catches people’s eye(including men). I go to different networking events and put myself in various groups on social media platforms, I reach out to people in the same industry as myself and ask questions and exchange information, I listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos. I look at how others market their products even if they are not in the beauty industry. I take business classes, and constantly research what new products are out and why they are being ” sold out” or “#1 sellers”. There are so many things that I do to always try and grow my customer base, but what I did learn that I think is vital for ALL business owners and entrepreneurs is that everyone is not a customer, and not all money is good money. I would also say being open to receiving feedback is a really big way that I keep a customer. I also keep in touch with my customers. If I have to pick one effective way tho, it would be to network. Go to events even if it’s by yourself. Put yourself in rooms that may not seem like they are for you. You’d be surprised who becomes a customer based on your personality, the way you carry yourself, your customer service, etc. Just always put yourself out there and take the risk, the worst-case scenario is being told no or not getting a new customer and that’s ok!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
That’s a great question. When you have or are building a business from the ground up there are many things you will have to unlearn but for me, it was unlearning comfortability and being out of my comfort zone. If you want your business to be successful you can’t get comfortable. You have to be uncomfortable to grow. Think about it, you feel like you have the greatest life. You’re successful, you have a great home, your family is good, and you’re comfortable with where you are in life. What more do you need right? WRONG. When you get comfortable you can get complacent and stuck. Then you have no movement for your business or life in general, and no drive to keep going because you’re what? COMFORTABLE. You go through different seasons with your business. My business is in a season of exposure! I’ve been wrapping my mind around the exposure my brand is getting. My orders have increased; I see my business growing in the ways that I have prayed and manifested for it to be. I was talking to a few of my other friends that are business owners as well and this same topic came up. I said it was scary to see your business become successful and not a bad scary either. It’s like sometimes you get so ok with where you are not just with your business but in life that when you do elevate it gets scary because it’s out of your comfort zone. It’s a new level. You have to change your mindset to match your business that’s now changing. Then you have to start carrying yourself better and differently. It’s scary but it helps you. Success requires elevation, and you can’t do that if you don’t want to get out of your comfort zone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Sknmistry.co
- Instagram: Sknmistry_co
- Facebook: SKNMISTRY.CO
- Linkedin: Kaelyn Brooks
Image Credits
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