Today we’re joined by Denise Shedrick, the Vice President of Sales and New Product Development for the salon professional hair care and color brands MOP, ABBA, and ColorDesign. Denise is the perfect person to discuss how sales and marketing loop together. The MOP brand is a perfect example, Denise set out to build a culture. It was important to connect people and for everyone to feel included like they were a part of MOP. Now with social media, there are even more ways to connect with customers and really tell your story. Since COVID, everyone has learned to be an online shopper, so digital marketing is very powerful right now. This is the perfect time to really share your story and give customers a way to connect to your product. Denise has really been able to connect with her consumers and stylists during this time and shares how that has benefited her. You won’t want to miss how her sales team has readjusted to really meet the needs of the salons during this time and hear her projection for the next big thing in beauty after COVID. Highlights – Set out to build a culture – Digital marketing during COVID – Training sales team to connect differently – Sensitivity training is key during COVID – Buy product from stylists to help them out now About Denise Shedrick Denise Shedrick has been in the beauty industry since the early 2000s. She began with her own distribution company, then moved to the manufacturing side. She is currently the VP of Sales and Product Development at Stars Creations, LLC. Instagram: @MOP_Hair_Product Web: http://www.mopproducts.com/ The Social Small Talk https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/ Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/20-how-sales-marketing-coexist-with-denise-shedrick

Are you on TikTok? Listening to Sarah Clifford’s story today should inspire you to try it out. Sarah turned her passion for health and wellness, into a skincare line, ALOA, two years ago. She already had a social media following, so her community was a great place to launch her brand. Sarah communicates with her customers and loves the relationships that can develop from TikTok. You can’t fake it on TikTok and Sarah shares about family, so followers become acquainted with her actual life. Sarah had been disappointed by the results from Facebook & Instagram marketing campaigns, but when she joined TikTok she was blown away by views and product sales. TikTok enables Sarah to show her products and demonstrate the most effective way to use ALOA products. Marketing can be a lot like skincare, one thing doesn’t work for everyone. We also discuss the importance of getting your followers off of social media and into an email list, so that you can stay in touch if TikTok or Facebook ever disappear. I hope you listen in today and learn from Audra’s experience and success. Highlights – Products can be healthy and effective – Organic products can have sleek packaging too – Why TikTok? – Education posts are always popular – Audra’s advice – use a giveaway to get email addresses – People like to buy from people About Sarah Clifford Sarah Clifford has always been known for sharing successful health and wellness strategies. She ran with the idea to start her own skincare line two years ago, and now she loves sharing natural products with the world through her TikTok videos. Connect: TikTok – aloachick Facebook & Instagram – @aloaskincare & @aloachick Web: https://aloaskincare.com/ For more info and episodes: https://brehmmedia.com/19 The Social Small Talk https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/ Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/19-using-tiktok-to-educate-with-sarah-clifford-from-aloa

Alison Alhamed started her new position as the VP of Social Media and Community at R+Co at the beginning of March, right when everything started to change for all of us. Seeing that salons needed help and a way to bring in money now, she helped launch R+Co’s affiliate program and started programs to help salons build an online presence and following. Alison considered the needs of the salons and structured the affiliate program, to help salons get the best response and be able to bring home money sooner rather than later. Alison knows the beauty industry loves in-person events, but that’s not an option right now. So it’s really important to be connecting with customers and using social media to build those relationships with people that are passionate about your products. Running specified giveaway campaigns can help grow your followers or your email list. Alison suggests thinking about the goals of your business, and what you want to achieve from the giveaway. Using micro-influencers can be helpful for organic growth, look for people that are already raving about your product and see how they can work with your company. Alison also values organic growth using engaging social media posts. She recommends you don’t get caught in the cycle of boosting posts, but focus on quality content. You won’t want to miss hearing what Alison shares today. Highlights – Good branding is what sells people – Using affiliate programs – Power of micro-influencers – Connecting with customers – How you can benefit from giveaways Alison Alhamed As Editor in Chief of professional beauty’s most respected outlet for salon professionals, Alison Alhamed was the content strategist for all of MODERN SALON Media’s digital channels, educational events, monthly print magazine, and social media platforms. Throughout her career, she has built countless stylist and salon recognition programs to shine a light on emerging talent, while connecting beauty manufacturers with the community of stylists, influencers, and iconic industry veterans. As a licensed cosmetologist, Alison has a deep understanding of the salon industry and regularly presents on how to build and strengthen social media communities and engagement. As R+Co’s Vice President of Social Media and Community, Alison will build R+Co’s community of hairdressers, leading the brand’s social media innovation, strengthening the brand’s digital and social media footprint, coordinating unique collaborations between icons and influencers, and bringing R+Co even closer to stylists and salons. Connect: https://www.instagram.com/alisonalhamed/ https://www.instagram.com/randco/ https://www.randco.com/ For show notes and more episodes: https://brehmmedia.com/18 The Social Small Talk https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/ Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/18-engaging-your-community-with-alison-alhamed

Kim Grustas is the founder of Good For You Girls, a product she created when she couldn’t find acceptable skincare options for her tween daughters. Equipped with a background in advertising, she took what she had learned from helping other products create a voice to help her launch her own company. Now she’s found the benefits of selling with Amazon and through her website and a few other mostly online retailers. Good For You Girls has experienced natural, organic growth and that has enabled Kim to be very protective of her company. Kim recommends knowing what you are good at AND what you are really bad at. If you’re not good at something and don’t enjoy that aspect, find a partner that can handle that area for you. She says your passion can only be fueled if you’re being rewarded daily, and doing what you don’t enjoy will zap your passion. As Good For You Girls has grown organically, it was important for Kim to remember, bigger is not always better. Keep your blinders on and keep doing what you love.4 About Kim Grustas Kim is the mother of two daughters who have struggled with asthma and allergies since birth. When she couldn’t find products that met her standards for her girls, she took matters into her own hands and started Good For You Girls in 2008. She is a veteran of the natural products industry and was on the front line of understanding the importance of replacing harsh chemicals with greener, safer options in skincare. The entire Good For You Girls line is purposefully focused on the products girls actually need at this age. Highlights The moment in Target, when Kim was shocked at ingredients in skincare for her girls. – Visiting with distributors to get on shelves. – Keep it close to home – Organic growth is good growth. – Amazon is like a silent partner – Why Kim doesn’t look at email when she first gets to work – Know what you’re good at and really bad at – Keep inventory accessible, you can’t always rely on Amazon – Success isn’t measured by what is in a bank account Contact: kim@goodforyougirls.com Web: https://www.goodforyougirls.com/ More info: https://brehmmedia.com/17 The Social Small Talk https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/ Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/17-do-what-you-love-with-kim-grustas

Chris-Tia Donaldson shares how she ended up creating a beauty company after graduating from Harvard Law School. Chris-Tia didn’t grow up around the beauty industry, so she put in the work making connections at trade shows that ultimately led her to labs and the ability to launch Thank God It’s Natural (tgin). She shares advice that she learned along the way for anyone looking to start a new beauty brand. Chris-Tia values consistency, and knows that customers do too! Instagram is tgin’s number one social channel and they’ve been active there since 2014. Chris-Tia sees her customers as her community, and during COVID chose to focus on how they could help, rather than sell…. which led to a record-breaking month! Tune in for this conversation, and be ready to learn from Chris-Tia’s authenticity and experience. About Chris-Tia Donaldson Chris-Tia Donaldson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Thank God It’s Natural (tgin), a manufacturer of natural hair and skincare products, currently sold in Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Sally’s Beauty, and Walgreens. In her role, she oversees all aspects of day-to-day operations, sales, and strategic partnerships. Chris-Tia has been featured in major media publications such as USA Today, Marie Claire, Essence, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Heart & Soul, and the Chicago Tribune. Her book Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Natural Hair is a #1 Amazon bestseller, and was hailed the “Natural Hair Bible” by Essence Magazine. Highlights from the conversation: – Harvard Law to Beauty Brand – Advice to those starting a beauty business – Learning to navigate the beauty industry – Be focused and consistent – Instagram loves videos! – What a pandemic taught us Links Web: https://thankgoditsnatural.com/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiadonaldson/ Facebook & Instagram: tginatural More info: https://brehmmedia.com/16 The Social Small Talk https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/ Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/16-why-consistency-is-key-with-chris-tia-donaldson-tgin

Who is your customer? Listen to this conversation with Jamaliya Cobine, who explains why that question is so important. Jamaliya loves the ever-changing nature of social media marketing. Although she’s never considered herself a marketer, she’s been helping people sell things since she was 15. Jamaliya values the importance of knowing your customer and implementing a customer-first motto. Jamaliya realizes that ROI can be difficult to show at times, and that is why it is so important to set specific goals regarding reach and brand awareness. She discusses the importance of having a good balance between brand posts and product/marketing posts, to keep your customers engaged and excited about your story AND products. About Jamaliya Cobine Jamaliya is an e-commerce and digital executive with over 14 years of experience working with global fashion and lifestyle brands including Urban Outfitters, Topshop, and Burton Snowboards. She has expertise in e-commerce, omnichannel technology, digital transformation, e-commerce platforms, digital strategy, customer experience, international business, and customer-centric thinking. Currently, Jamaliya is enjoying the startup life as the Vice President of E-Commerce & Digital Marketing for Ursa Major Skincare, a clean skincare brand that’s challenging the norms of the beauty and skincare industry. Highlights from the conversation - Jamaliya never considered herself a marker. - Sales and Marketing work side-by-side. - How to explain the importance of marketing when you can’t show ROI - Metrics to pay attention to - Instagram stories is a great way to connect with customers! Links https://ursamajorvt.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ursamajorvt/ https://www.instagram.com/jamaliya/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamaliya-cobine/ https://credobeauty.com/collections/ursa-major More info: https://brehmmedia.com/15 The Social Small Talk https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/ Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/

Are you looking to use social media to enhance your business and share your product? Rochelle left a wall-street trajectory to join her mother’s skincare company and needed to help them transition to a new world of internet sales and digital marketing. She has put in the work with social media marketing and has learned what works and what doesn’t for her companies at June Jacobs. Rochelle knows there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing in the ever-changing world of social media. Authenticity counts and it’s ok to fail as you grow your social media presence and identity. Tune in to today’s episode to hear Rochelle’s top suggestions, learn from her mistakes, and hear her take on using influencers for your brand. About Rochelle Jacobs Rochelle Jacobs is the Managing Director of June Jacobs and Naturally Serious Skin, the largest family-owned company in the beauty market. She now has over 20 years of experience in the skincare industry and has been there every step of the way with Naturally Serious Skin. Rochelle grew up in New York and still lives there with her family today. Highlights from the Conversation - What sets your brands apart - 3 Suggestions for Beauty Brands in Digital Marketing - Micro-influencers and the new affiliate marketing - Using a digital-first strategy - You try it, you buy it – the importance of a quality product - A social media mistake to avoid Links: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/naturallyseriousskin/ https://www.instagram.com/junejacobsspa/ Web – https://www.junejacobs.com/ https://www.naturallyseriousskin.com/ The Social Small Talk https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/ Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/14-authenticity-in-social-media-marketing-with-rochelle-jacobs

Kelley Thornton repurposed his 20 years of experience in retail merchandising to help him create a men’s skincare line with a few friends. He knew it was hard for men in America to understand how to take care of their skin and he thought he could create a product to uncomplicate the process… and he did! Kelley relies on knowing his brand and market to create successful marketing campaigns across various social channels. Each channel has a different demographic and ads should be targeted for specific channels. Kelley shares the importance of failing fast and seeking performance over perfection. If something is not working, know when it’s ok to cut ties and move on. Grab a cup of coffee and listen to Kelley share about finding the men’s skincare market, knowing his brand, and using metrics and analytics to drive decisions. About Kelley Thronton Kelley Thornton is an entrepreneur that values creativity, hard work, honesty, people and data. He spent over 20 years in retail merchandising and saw that men’s skincare was a market that could be radically improved. Five years later he is the Founder and CEO of Tiege Hanley, a men’s skincare subscription service. Highlights from the Conversation – Kelley’s background – Kelley’s 3 suggestions – Be prepared to fail fast – Kelley’s biggest social media mistake – The metrics Kelley looks for Links: Tiege Hanley – https://www.tiege.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tiegehanley/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/tiegehanley/ Linked In – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiegehanleyllc/ I Quit YouTube video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtlwxMJmNYk More info: https://brehmmedia.com/podcast/13 The Social Small Talk https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/ https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/13-the-uncomplicated-approach-to-digital-marketing-with-kelley-thornton-from-tiege-hanley/

Welcome to this episode of The Social Small Talk. Come sit down with Audra Brehm, the CEO of Brehm Media, to discuss why creating a vision is important.  Business owners start their businesses for many reasons, but it is time to make sure your company understands what your beliefs are how they should be talking about the business. Your culture depends on the vision, along with sales and marketing.  Get ready to dive in and write down your vision so that you can be more successful in 2019. 

Welcome to this episode of The Social Small Talk. Audra is trying something new and having her coffee by herself. She is talking about 2019 and how to humanize your business. Are you ready to make 2019 the most successful year?