We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Korto Roberts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Korto, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

My first client was my older sister Helen Roberts. Matter of fact it is because of her Handbykolin LLC is created in the first place. My older sister gives me full permission to start learning makeup on me. I learned how to do makeup by watching YouTube during COVID.

My first dollar my business made was $100 from seling my lipgloss. I was suprise people was actually buying my products I made. I remember telling my family what I made back in profit snd was excited to share with them.

Korto, 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?

Discover the difference with Handbykolin. Hello. My name is Korto Roberts, and I am the CEO and founder of Handbykolin. I am a makeup ardor. I love makeup, and I use it as self-care. I got more interested in the cosmetology industry during the COVID-19 period. I am a self-taught makeup lover. I learn to do my makeup by watching people on YouTube.

On March 9th, 2019, during the heat of COVID-19, I took the leap of faith to start up my very own cosmetic line. I first started doing my clients’ makeup for birthdays, weddings, outings, etc. I was getting clients here and there while creating my brand and developing my products. It took several months for my products to come alive; it was in the planning stage for months, but because of money and COVID-19 restrictions, it was hard for my clients to get the products nether less. My first product came in December of 2019, which was lashes. I started with something easy and common. Creating my lash line was fun, exciting, and scary. It was a great process, but the time and hours that I spent doing it took hours out of my day. I made it by creating 5-6 lash styles. My lashes sold within 2-3 months, which took longer than I expected. After 3 months, I created my lip-gloss line, which sold out instantly and was in high demand, after that, I created more lashes and scented lip scrub.

After I created my lash line, lip gloss, and scented lip scrub. I went back to the drawing board and researched to find out what my client and supporter wanted and what I would buy when I went shopping at Sephora or Ulta Beauty. I did my research and my findings, and I decided to stick with what is in demand on the market. I decided to stick to my lash line, lip gloss, and I added lip liner, eyeliner lash glue, and blush.

My pure love and joy for makeup with a sincere heart set me apart. My slogan says it all “discover the difference.” I want people to discover the difference within themselves whenever they use my products. I want my client to discover their inner beauty, joy, attitude, peace, love, creativity, and dreams when they are applying handbykolin products.

I am most proud of the leap of faith I took to create my business. I am happy and grateful to my family for supporting my idea, sticking by me, and trusting me toward every adventure and endeavor that my business has had so far.

I want my potential clients, followers, and fans to know that Handbykolin is a brand that caters to everyone regardless of age or gender to discover the difference within themselves.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

My business funding came from my account. Since I was a kid, I have watched my mother, Kebah Roberts, do things and get things done without asking anyone for help. I was taught at an early age that being independent is good, and it pays off when you have your own. People respect you when you can stand on your own, think for yourself, and get things done. My mother always and even not is still telling me that “your own is your own.” She is saying whatever you work hard for, sweat for, labor for, you shall reap it/get it when the time is right.

I fund my business by saving some money on the side per my mother instructions. I had a budget in my head of what I wanted to start with to get my first product out. I saved up to $200 for my first product. At that time it was a lot for me since I wasn’t making a lot nor did I know what I was getting myself into. I did many research, prayed and fasted, and watched several videos about the business that I was about to start. That $200 turned out to be enough for my first products because it lasted several months and I got my $200 back for selling my first batch of lipgloss.

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

The lesson I had to unlearn is not everyone would like what you like as a CEO or a business owner, and I learned that in the early stage of my business. I had to unlearn that just because I love a products so much, not everyone would love it as much as I do. I had a rough time unlearning that, which took a lot out of me. I was in my head a lot trying to find out why customers weren’t buying the eyeliner glue. I had to come to an understanding and conclusion that what works for me may not work for everyone, and that is what makes every business or brand different.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handbyko_lin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HandbyKolinLLC
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BEiK7kWyifI
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@handbyko_lin?lang=en

Image Credits

Images Credits: Favor Nelson