Ep. #1012 - Venture-Backed Beauty Platform Startup

00:00.00
Lauren Conaway
And we are back. Thank you for joining us for yet another episode of the Startup Hustle podcast. I’m your host Lauren Conaway, founder and CEO of InnovateHER KC. And I got to tell you friends, today’s episode of Startup Hustle is powered by fullscale.io. Full Scale can help you hire software developers. They know it’s difficult and they can help you build a software team quickly and affordably. They have the platform to help you manage that team visit fullscale.io to learn more.

So friends, we have an amazing guest for you today. Shannon Erley is founder and CEO of Pomp. And I don’t know if you know this but I’m pushing 40 here and we’re going to be talking about beauty and the importance of investing in beauty. And we have an expert here to chat about beauty and platforms and building a business. How you feel about yourself. And I’m really looking forward to that. So Shannon, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today. I’m so looking forward to it.

01:02.62
Shannon
Yeah, thank you for having me. Excited to dive in and chat more.

01:06.58
Lauren Conaway
All right? Well, let’s get right to it. So I’m just going to ask, tell us about your journey.

01:13.86
Shannon
Yeah, my journey’s a personal one. I started with acne as a child through junior high school along with a lot of other people. It was personal for me. It was humiliating for me. I just didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I didn’t feel confident in myself. And it was years and years of that. And then fast forward to college still kind of struggling. With it on and off, I graduated and then I start working for a beauty company. And I was still struggling with adult hormonal acne and it was just very frustrating. And I was like ok there has to be a solution here. I was working in the industry, kind of saw all sides of it. And then started working with an esthetician getting facials and treatments. They were able to hand select products for my at-home routine and then my skin really started to improve and so that was kind of this aha moment of wait a second, why aren’t more people getting recommendations from estheticians?

02:41.84
Shannon
The Direct-to-consumer Beauty industry is so insanely crowded and can be disheartening to try to filter through through that. Um predominantly. It’s a female driven industry but a lot of men struggle with. With skin skin care issues as Well. And so um, it was definitely a personal journey for me. Um, that that really made me want to start pomp.

03:13.48
Lauren Conaway
Well I Love that and I think one of the things that really resonates with me in your story is is that personal connection. Um, you know and thank you for sharing. So So authentically and vulnerableably but the fact is you know your your skin and your. Smile and you’re like these are the things This is how you present yourself to the world and when you’re not feeling confident when you’re not feeling your best that can make it really really hard to to forge new relationships and create meaningful connections because you’re almost or at least me I get Distracted. You know, like if I’ve got a giant Zit on my chin which still happens I don’t think it’s fair by the way, the universe is an asshole because I don’t think it’s fair that I should be getting wrinkles and still have acne I don’t think that’s cool, but that’s between me and the Universe. So What we.

03:53.38
Shannon
Next? yeah.

04:01.62
Shannon
Yes.

04:04.94
Lauren Conaway
Said you know when I have a giant zid on my chin and I’m talking to somebody like sometimes it’s a very intrusive thought but it’s like are they looking at this giant thing that’s trying to eat my face like please don’t let them be looking and so it can get really distracting and so really with pomp what you’re doing is you’re giving the gift of confidence. And self assuredness and and and I love that that’s reflected in your story and you have beautiful skin by the way listeners. You can’t see this but Shannon absolutely has the kind of skin you would expect from someone who is leading a beauty movement I’m just saying. Ah.

04:39.96
Shannon
It’s the team of Asticians behind it. That’s all I could say.

04:40.97
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well so so tell us about pump because I think you you hit on the the really unique value proposition with pump which is that that personalized attention. So I want to hear more about how you came to that.

04:57.82
Shannon
Yes, um, so I think with I think it’s like a couple things I think one with Estheticians is these are a group of professionals that have gone to school. Um, they have a very unique trade and skill and really understand this.

05:16.60
Shannon
Um, and then on the flip side you have a lot of companies that are going more the algorithm route which there’s nothing wrong with that. But I think where I really wanted to go with the personalization is also the human component as Well. Um, and. Being able to support a group of individuals that are um, you know most are independent business owners or maybe working at a med spa. But how do we leverage their expertise and really provide a human centric.

05:53.34
Shannon
Personalization company. We we take personalization to another level. Anyone who is looking for skin care. We can. We can partner you with an esthetician virtually at The. Convenience of your own time and your own Home. You don’t have to go and see an SStatition if you don’t want it can really all be done. Um, really on your own but taking it that to that next level of personalization and matching you with with a human. Um, that really understands the skin So we’re not going to have you just do a skin survey and we autopopulate your routines. We’re going to dive in a little bit further and have you match with an Asthetician who’s going to request a photo of your skin or concern areas. And really work with you back and forth to handpick a routine that works for you and your lifestyle and preferences as well. And so I think for us personalization. Um. Kind of going back to that human component when really bridging those those 2 together.

07:07.16
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well and I mean honestly, again, you’re kind of hearkening back to that confidence thing because I got to tell you like I’ll walk into Sephora or Ulta and I you know I I’m ah’m I’m the kind of consumer that I like to read reviews and I like to kind of do my market research before I invest in a product and that you know now that I’m getting a little older. I find that I’m investing more in my skincare I’m spending more money than I used to I used to buy the cheap drugstore stuff and that worked fine for me and then you know right around my mid 30 s I was like oh hey I’m actually going to have to start spending more money on this stuff.

07:28.90
Shannon
Um, later.

07:42.76
Lauren Conaway
But when I walk into these stores you know I can do all the market research I want but I’m still I’m not an expert and so I’m just kind of guessing and it can get really really overwhelming because you’re in this very crowded space. You know there are any number of products that you can buy to address the.

07:46.47
Shannon
Right.

07:59.20
Lauren Conaway
Wrinkles or the dark spots or the acne or whatever it is and so having I feel like having that human on the other side of the table or you know the metaphorical table having that human to kind of talk to you and talk you through these things. Confidence builder as Well. You know I know and putting my money where it needs to go for the best way to optimize my my beauty routine. You know that’s huge. That’s I may I need to I Lay I’m serious I Just want you to know? we’re gonna stop recording and I’m gonna immediately hop on to palm.

08:16.70
Shannon
Yes.

08:24.66
Shannon
Yes, is that.

08:33.10
Shannon
Yes I love it I love it well in in in my past life. We trained the retail associates but they were only getting trained a couple hours a month on 1 product line and.

08:35.60
Lauren Conaway
Because that is so good.

08:51.27
Shannon
You like to your point you walking into a store. It’s like you’ve done your market research and all of a sudden. There’s 20 serums on the shelf and now there’s a new one that just came on the market and it’s like how do you filter through. And for us we we really go back to the estettician we are big big proponents on education so continuing education for the esthetician and all the product lines we work with and I also think too well. for for pump we don’t we don’t formulate our own skincare line so we don’t have a pump brandnded skincare line. We have a medical director and Escetician oversight and now we have about 15 to 17 skincare lines that we work with because um, kind of like what you were saying earlier. There are. There are great products out there but it’s like how do you filter through through the noise and so we’ve partnered with quite a few different really effective skincare lines that then the asceticians can hand select and curate for you.

09:58.10
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well and I gotta tell you you know? So So I don’t think that there’s anything better than getting a facial and and for the the folks who have never gotten a facial before highly Highly. Recommend that you avail yourself of that experience because a. It’s super Relaxing. You know just I know it sounds weird somebody having their hands on your face. But um, there’s nothing that beats that personalized attention every time I walk out of a facial. My skin feels.

10:30.80
Shannon
Yes.

10:31.70
Lauren Conaway
Incredible. You know it feels moisturized and it feels elastic and it it feels wonderful and it’s because you have that expert who’s really looking at you looking at your very specific skin type and I would imagine that skin types are kind of like fingerprints like everybody is just a little bit different right.

10:47.53
Shannon
Yes.

10:50.16
Lauren Conaway
And so you know you’re really bringing that kind of facial experience I mean no, you don’t have anybody rubbing on your face but you’re bringing that facial experience home. You know you can create your own routine in your own facial experience. So I love that it just makes me I so I was in Puerto Rico not too long ago.

10:56.71
Shannon
Yes.

11:08.53
Lauren Conaway
And I treated myself to a facial and I just remember like ah this this is the life because my my mind felt so great when I walked out and I’m like chasing that feeling now. So so I’m gonna hop on pump and figure out how to integrate this into my life because it is so good.

11:12.70
Shannon
Yeah, yeah. Yes. Yes, Love it.

11:27.33
Lauren Conaway
But so so talk to us about your customer feedback. How do your how do your customers feel about that kind of 1 on 1 attention.

11:34.63
Shannon
Well I think honestly it shows just in in our numbers and in our in the data that we’re looking at um, we don’t really get product returns. Um, the estheticians are really kind of nailing it. The first time. Um. And they’re coming back time and time again and so what? what we’re seeing is that that level of personalization. Um, the asceticians are getting it right? and then they’re coming back. They’re happy with the recommendations.

12:04.87
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, so you mentioned product returns are you seeing and I actually don’t even really know how this would work through pump but are you seeing people buying the same products over and over again like they worked so well that people decided to repurchase.

12:22.31
Shannon
Yes, they are coming back time and time again. Um, and that’s just really, that’s a really good indicator for us that they like their skin care and the eceticians got that recommendation right.

12:36.83
Lauren Conaway
That is awesome. Yeah there there’s no better proof of concept than somebody who comes back and you know, kind of doubles down on that product line or that offering so that’s got to feel pretty good. Well so talk to us about the the Beauty land.

12:46.25
Shannon
Exactly yeah.

12:55.75
Lauren Conaway
You know, as far as I know pomp is a pretty. It’s a pretty unique model that you’ve created I don’t know of any other company that’s doing that kind of personalized 1 on 1 attention. Are you finding competitors in the space are you are you doing this new disruptive thing.

13:14.10
Shannon
I really think we so ah 1 of our earlier missions was to disrupt a massive category in a really big way. Um with a few things. Um one being a new distribution channel for. Um, skincare lines. They have a pretty um, pretty not basic distribution channel but most of them work with retailers e-commerce partners and then some are physician dispensed and work with physicians derms med spas. And we really want to come in as a new type of distribution partner for them. Um, and then ah from ah other competitor standpoint. You know there are companies that are taking a personalized approach but it’s more um, ah. Personalized formulations a little bit more Ai or algorithm based and I think that’s where we’re a little different really taking that human approach and leveraging a pretty big network of license esceticians. Um, and then from a technology standpoint you know, ah from a. For etheticians they’re really only used to using um ah, scheduling or booking tools. Um to help run their business and kind of piecing together everything else and I think what’s also different.

14:44.87
Shannon
For us is we’re kind of building technology for them to integrate into their day-to-day business and kind of creating everything else outside of booking and scheduling which I think is also really impactful and different for the industry. So I think we’re approaching it different with a few different.

15:04.43
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, it. It certainly sounds like it. Well you you said something really interesting that I kind of want to drill down on a little bit but how are the Estheticians benefiting from from pomp.

15:04.49
Shannon
Angles.

15:16.94
Shannon
Yeah, so a a few different ways I think for one it’s we are bringing them new clients. So new new people that are looking for um skincare recommendations. We are able to match them with esteticians and then they. Um, they get a commission off of every single product sale and reorder so for us staticians it’s it’s really only a benefit to integrate po into their day-to-day because they ultimately are able to. Do their craft see more clients and make more make more money. Um, and then also so a lot of the other technology that doesn’t currently exist where we are. Um, we have on platform messaging so they can message and follow up with clients on 1 spot. Um, intake forms client notes. We’ve just built a lot to support their day to day.

16:17.72
Lauren Conaway
Well, that is awesome and I feel because really when you think about it. There are a lot of Estheticians out there or at least as far as I know um in keep in mind I’m like a layperson when it comes to the the beauty and wellness industry but most of the stheticians that I know of they’re independent. And you know they might like buy a seat at a salon or set not a seat but like a table at a salon or something like that. But you really have to hustle in order to do this work. Well to find those clients keep them cut market to the clients that you currently have find the new ones and so you’re creating new avenues to connect these really.

16:36.50
Shannon
Um.

16:41.78
Shannon
Yes.

16:54.99
Lauren Conaway
Really? um, ah really incredible business owners with an opportunity that’s really cool. Yeah.

16:57.78
Shannon
Yeah, yeah, we are and I think it’s It’s really impactful and I think, to your point, they’re business owners too and trying to grow their business and how we can continue to help them with a lot of the other aspects of growing a business and retention and getting clients to repurchase. We’re really trying to help with that as well and how we can grow this independent market.

17:33.57
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well so you said you said something else and I just I This is a pure curiosity point. But you said that you don’t have a proprietary pump skin Careline is that something that you would like to do.

17:45.69
Shannon
Yes.

17:50.80
Lauren Conaway
Is that something that you’re you’re kind of putting the focus on building the platform for now you know can you talk to us a little bit about that decision.

17:57.98
Shannon
Yeah, and this is so that’s a great question and that was a very intentional um decision of ours and it’s really kind of twofold. Um, one. There are so many skincare lines already out there. And it is very hard to compete in that and kind of like break in and adopt a new a new Direct-to-consumer Skincare line. Also the cost involved for for creating a new skincare line in the R and D. You’d really want to do it right? Um, So I think for us. That was one of them, especially as a startup and what we wanted to do but then also 2 there are incredible lines already out there. It’s just filtering through the noise and figuring out which products actually work. So Um. Definitely an intentional decision on R N to not have her own line.

18:53.81
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well and and so I’m going to kind of generalize this for for the listeners at home and say you know sometimes you don’t have to do all the things as a business like sometimes it is the best.

19:03.33
Shannon
Is there.

19:08.70
Lauren Conaway
Decision to just focus on the thing that you want to do and do it really extraordinarily well and so so I love the fact that you kind of decided somewhere along the way like hey we don’t need to do everything we can support the millions of products that are already out there. What we need to do is create a really superior platform. You know I love that? Ah, but your focus for for folks who maybe don’t have beauty businesses. You know, put your focus intentionally where you really really want it to be do the thing that you’re really good at and get really really fantastic at it.

19:27.92
Shannon
Yes, yeah.

19:44.96
Lauren Conaway
So I love that. Ah so what are some of the challenges that you have come across on your journey.

19:50.78
Shannon
So it’s a I mean it’s it I never knew what it would take to start a business. So I think there was a lot of different challenges along the way in different stages but initially it was oh wow i. I need I’m like the head of legal and hr and um product and I didn’t even know the first thing about hiring an engineer like how to even interview for them. Um, so those were some of the early stage challenges and then as things progress then it then it was like fundraising. Oh my gosh i’ve. Never even talked to an investor or Vc before what does that look like where do I even begin. So I think it’s definitely different challenges at different stages come up.

20:41.31
Lauren Conaway
Well, you know that I have to kind of follow a thought process that you just introduced like I have to do it talk about that investment you know now that you I am assuming that over the course of your your evolution. You know you’ve raised some capital.

20:45.78
Shannon
Yes.

21:00.49
Lauren Conaway
Ah, so so what have what are some of the things that you’ve done there.

21:05.40
Shannon
Yeah I So I Think what we decided so we we were bootstrapped for the first year and a half um and realizing. Okay, do we want this to be a lifestyle business. And or do we really want to make an impact and really grow this thing and try to make it as as big as possible because we really felt like what we were doing is impactful in so many different aspects of the industry. And that was kind of the decision point of saying Okay, well we really do need to take on outside Capital I could talk a lot about why you should and why you shouldn’t that that would be a podcast for another day. Um.

21:55.62
Lauren Conaway
Um, but fool by the way.

21:55.75
Shannon
Ah, but I that was really but um, but yeah, that was the the decision we we decided to take and kind of go going down this route of um, okay, what does it look like what do we need? Um, How do we. Raise Capital who do we need to talk to and kind of diving in diving in there but that was kind of the decision. We We made that Okay, we need We do need to take on outside capital to do what we want to do.

22:26.10
Lauren Conaway
Well so so really quickly I’ve got I’ve got to do a couple of things here. Shannon first thing I have to do I have to remind our dear listeners that today’s episode of startup hustle is sponsored by full scale finding expert software developers doesn’t have to be difficult, especially when you visit fullscale io. Where you can build a software team quickly and affordably use the full scale platform to define your technical needs and then see what available developers testers and leaders are ready to join your team visit fullscale io to learn more and then Shannon the second thing that I have to do because we’re we’ve we’ve. Ventured into the vc space and I have to ask you? Um, so so one of the things that I have heard in my work is that often when female founders but particularly female founders who lead companies and startups that are. Focused on kind of woman focusedcused women- led products. Um, sometimes it can be really really difficult to explain to a room full of vcs and often those vcs or dudes. Um, you know, just that’s the way that they that’s the way it works. Um, you know it’s really difficult to.

23:30.82
Shannon
Hurt you.

23:39.15
Lauren Conaway
Blame the market value. Um, you know, maybe it’s not always understood. Did you come up against any of that when you were seeking capital.

23:49.54
Shannon
Yes, in about a hundred and sixty conversations I did ah so.

23:51.74
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well and and so I think like from what I’ve heard you know and I hear a lot of founder experiences female founder experiences in my land of work. You know what? I’ve heard is that it’s very difficult for a Vc to envision the youth. Case of a product or a platform or an initiative or a company that they aren’t personally going to use and and so talk to us a little bit about that. You know some of your experiences in there.

24:14.48
Shannon
That.

24:21.75
Shannon
Yeah I mean that’s ah, that’s a loaded question. Um, but I will say um it it was difficult and a lot of times investors couldn’t even say the word Escetician so you kind of lost them right? right? Off the bat.

24:32.38
Lauren Conaway
I mean I’m like I’m never lie like I have no judgment there because sometimes I start so I don’t know.

24:39.85
Shannon
Yeah, ah yeah, but we internally call them Sds making easier on everyone. So um, yeah I mean I think a lot of times with the conversations. It’s just trying to um.

24:45.10
Lauren Conaway
Morning. So.

24:59.10
Shannon
Make Associations of companies that are are similar but in completely different spaces. So It’s like oh are you familiar with rent the runway or stitch fix or are you familiar with Uber or other companies where they can make associations that they would understand and then um. Kind of break it down for them. Also I will say most investors do know how big the beauty industry is so from a size perspective. That’s not um, you know something that I was really up against. But it was a lot of the conversations were let me ask my wife or let me ask my girlfriend and it’s like well does your wife make the decisions. Do you do your girlfriend make your investment decisions and so that it it is. And can be frustrating to be in an industry that just isn’t familiar to them.

25:58.16
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well I can certainly see that but clearly you’ve been able to communicate that value and that potential because you managed to bring in some cash congrats. Um, if you don’t mind can you can you share how much you’ve raised or you certainly don’t have to.

26:07.22
Shannon
Yeah, um.

26:13.89
Shannon
Yeah, we um, we’ve raised two point one million in a seed round last year.

26:17.48
Lauren Conaway
That is incredible and I just I want to take a moment listeners to honor and acknowledge that so in 2021 I think that was the most recent report we were still kind of hovering around 2% of venture capital goes to woman led women led startups and that is a woeful disparity. The the number becomes even more dismal when you’re talking about women of color and you’re talking about intersectional women and so I just want to acknowledge the fact that hey Shannon.

26:46.63
Shannon
Like yeah.

26:52.35
Lauren Conaway
You did a really hard thing in a space that you don’t typically see those kinds of returns. So so I’m just I’m so impressed. Thank you for fighting the good fight for all of the female founders out there.

26:56.65
Shannon
Yeah.

27:04.89
Shannon
Yeah, yes I am very passionate about female founders and trying, and unfortunately, actually, this year that percentage is lower and I am very passionate about helping underrepresented founders and hopefully being a part of a movement in the future of trying to get that number up overall.

27:30.30
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, absolutely well and I love that you’re you’re forward thinking in that way I am is there anything else that you want to share about your experience being a female founder you you can share some of the good stuff because there’s good stuff about it too. If you want.

27:35.12
Shannon
Yeah, have.

27:44.16
Shannon
Yeah I I Think what’s interesting about our space and and there’s been a lot of conversations around diversity in the workplace and more companies are trying to get even just just becoming more diverse with their hiring and I think what is. Great about the space that we’re in and the company that my my co-founder and I started is the fact that it really does draw in a pretty diverse group of individuals and so our team is very diverse which I think is just so Fantastic. So um.

28:20.96
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well I you know you’ve presented me with another question and then I have to kind of drill down on a little bit but how did you build that that diverse team.

28:21.69
Shannon
I Do love that.

28:26.48
Shannon
Are.

28:34.48
Shannon
Honestly, it was pretty organic. Um, when we as roles popped Up. We um, it it just kind of happened. Naturally, it wasn’t like we were looking for a specific. Um. Type of person to fill a role but I think with just what we’re building has drawn more diversity with the candidates and the team members.

28:58.89
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, well I can definitely see where where the excitement would lie for potential members speaking of speaking of your team I do want to ask you about this talk to us a little bit about any.

29:05.33
Shannon
Yeah.

29:16.30
Lauren Conaway
Mentors or any coaching that you received along the way.

29:20.24
Shannon
Yes, so I both when I the idea first start or came about um which was about five six years ago I was working with a mentor. She was a Cmo at numerous. Massive um multimillion dollar bd companies and has kind of seen it all and she was a really big help for me. Um, just kind of validating the idea and chatting through some things and then. Um, recently just within the last year I now every two weeks work with an executive coach because what I quickly realized is yes I have this great idea but I have no clue what it looks like to. Build a company run a company think about culture how to be a Ceo um and know that I don’t naturally have that skill set. Um, so that’s something that I actively um partake in every two weeks with an executive coach.

30:23.85
Lauren Conaway
Oh that is awesome. How did you find your executive coach.

30:29.47
Shannon
Through a referral. Um, someone else was I I put it out there I got a few different recommendations and then had a couple conversations and the initial conversation with her was just really the perfect fit.

30:42.20
Lauren Conaway
That is awesome I We talk about mentorship a lot around startup hustle and how absolutely vital it is to so many founders because the fact is there’s no founder out there who is great at everything usually founders are really really passionate about their product or their service offering.

30:45.30
Shannon
Yeah.

30:49.31
Shannon
Yes.

31:01.96
Lauren Conaway
You know, really really into certain aspects of running the business but the fact is there’s nobody who can do all of it extraordinarily Well, it’s just impossible like everything from accounting to as you said like building culture finding your team. Ah you know seeking that investment all of the all of the things.

31:09.35
Shannon
That group.

31:21.24
Lauren Conaway
And so finding those people putting them around you and asking them to help you know, getting vulnerable with them sharing stories making sure that they’re able to offer you the help that you need to propel your business forward. Absolutely vital. So again, you know listeners at home. Find your mentors find your coaches find the people who can help you do what you do better and in a way that can help you focus on the things that you do really really? Well. So I want to I’m going to back us up a little bit and I’m going to ask you about the beauty.

31:47.38
Shannon
Yes.

31:57.17
Lauren Conaway
Landscape Can you talk to us a little bit about the industry in general. Um, you know, kind of where do you think it’s going because you’ve created a platform that introduces a lot of really personalized contact which which I love But what. Trends? Whatever what other directions are you seeing within the the beauty and wellness industry.

32:17.71
Shannon
Yeah I mean great question. Um, personalization is huge um and you know before it was um, just a little bit more of just a mass approach and now it’s getting more niche Unique. Um. Also the consumers are getting smarter and more educated around their skin type ingredients. Also the consumers starting to lean into anti-aging products in like in their teens and early twenty s So um, the the.

32:52.63
Shannon
There’s a lot of smaller more niche indie brands coming out but then from yeah like I said the consumer perspective they’re they’re smarter and they are doing their research and and so that’s a couple really big ones.

33:02.75
Lauren Conaway
Ah.

33:06.35
Lauren Conaway
Yeah I got I got to tell you if I hear more about retinols I think I might puke I I read about it so much and I Well then here’s the thing and this is where that s the titian I see that the Sd you the Sd can come in. You know they’re like a.

33:09.53
Shannon
Um, yes, um.

33:17.39
Shannon
The bestie. Yeah.

33:23.54
Lauren Conaway
Billion products out there with retinols now and they’ are like ah retinoids and there are plant retinols and they’ and I’m just like all right? you know I’m going to need some guidance here like there’s so much out there. It really does get overwhelming at times. But.

33:32.31
Shannon
Yes. It does it really does I mean for me, it was like wait a second I was on this one very popular ecommerce site and I’m like there are 1600 serums on this site.

33:50.44
Lauren Conaway
Yeah.

33:53.44
Shannon
How on earth even when I filter down as far as much as I think I can filter I’m still left with like 30 to 50 and then I’m kind and then I’m like so overwhelmed that then I just leave then I don’t don’t do anything.

34:01.50
Lauren Conaway
Yeah, what is kind of is reviewed well, you know it’s got like 4 out of 5 stars so that it would probably do the job admirably but like you never you don’t really know unless you’re an expert. Ah you know the thing that that absolutely.

34:10.50
Shannon
He he have.

34:18.63
Lauren Conaway
Gets me is is what I’m sitting in the beauteous store and like someone comes up to me and and asks me if I want help because I’m sure I look like a lost little puppy dog like yeah looking at all of these products and so really what I’m kind of imagining you know pomp as it’s like that.

34:28.21
Shannon
Yes.

34:37.71
Lauren Conaway
That salesperson but actually an expert and somebody who’s actually there but you know I don’t have to be at the store in order to make this happen. You know so it’s scalable I Love it. Well so tell me tell me this.

34:45.12
Shannon
To write them.

34:54.28
Lauren Conaway
I think I want to know and our listeners want to know talk to us about the future of po you know you’ve you’ve raised some capital you’re building out your team I’m sure that you’re iterating and refining processes and all of those good things that you do when you’re a relatively new startup. What does. What does pomp look like in you know, five years ten years

35:16.95
Shannon
Yeah I really want pomp to to be that number 1 trusted platform for consumers from an education standpoint. So um, not you know, not bashing beauty bloggers or anything like that. But. I want po I think there’s a need for them. Um, but I want pomp to be that trusted source for education from licensed professionals. So just being that really number 1 trusted source but then also from the statition standpoint being there. Number 1 platform that they’re using in their day-to-day business and honestly I see I see pomp expanding internationally to help other asteticians and consumers internationally across the. Across our borders. So I just think we’ve we’ve barely scratched the surface with with what we can do.

36:13.21
Lauren Conaway
That is so exciting. How do you? How do you feel.

36:18.73
Shannon
Um, excited overwhelmed like what? what do we do? I’m I’m the classic visionary so I have to be reeled back in my co-founder keeps me in check like what are we doing today? Ah so I so i.

36:21.33
Lauren Conaway
For it.

36:32.37
Lauren Conaway
Um, yeah, sometimes we call that executive dysfunction and I’m pretty sure all sounders have it. It’s like there are about a million things that I can do.

36:34.70
Shannon
I Need that daily check and reminder. Yeah, but.

36:45.61
Lauren Conaway
And I don’t know where to start so I’m going to you know, fuck off and sit on my couch and watch a Netflix bit but but we know that that is super cool. What are you proudest of on your journey.

36:50.71
Shannon
Ah, right right.

36:59.30
Shannon
I’m proud that I actually did this and took a leap because if you knew me and my personality I’m very risk adverse I like Stability um and everything about a startup journey is anything but that um. So I’m just really proud of myself from idea to where we are today.

37:21.75
Lauren Conaway
Yeah well I congratulations on all of that growth and now here’s yeah I’ve never done this before you are very very special but I’m like yeah I’m going to ask you 2 human questions because the first one I’m just really curious and I want to know? ah.

37:28.48
Shannon
Oh I wont okay, okay.

37:39.10
Lauren Conaway
But what? what are some of the standout products in your beauty routine. But.

37:43.90
Shannon
So um, so before working with an esthetician I would have never said this but s spf I am such an spf junkie that I cannot leave the house without putting it on so that.

37:57.61
Lauren Conaway
Okay, all right? Well that that is awesome and the other thing and this kills me about skincare routines and I am extremely curious about this and I think this is what I’m going to talk about with my my pomp Esd.

38:01.64
Shannon
That’s my number 1

38:14.56
Lauren Conaway
That layering thing because like I never know spf go on the first layer or does the you know like where does it, you have to so for those of you who don’t know it’s very important the order in which you put products on your skin in order to maximize their performance.

38:14.58
Shannon
Yes.

38:25.73
Shannon
Yes.

38:32.90
Lauren Conaway
And I have no idea how that works ah, where just as yeah where does svf go is it. The first thing you put on. Okay, okay, good see now I know all right? Oh ok.

38:32.83
Shannon
Yes, but Sbf is always always always the last yes and a general roll of thumb is thinnest to thickest now.

38:50.87
Lauren Conaway
That it’s kind of it’s kind of like a place setting like you eat your salad fork you work your way in you know I I dig it all right? I love that there is a a rule of thumb. Well so now you’re gonna get your second your second human question just because.

38:53.76
Shannon
Exactly And yep, yes.

39:07.16
Lauren Conaway
I don’t know I was feeling whimsical today and I just really wanted to know about your skin care routine. Ah, but your your human question is if you if you were stranded on a deserted island and could take 3 people with you who would you take.

39:07.42
Shannon
I call.

39:25.17
Shannon
Oh good question. Um, my husband I did just have a baby so I would take him as well. Um, and my thank yo and and my mom.

39:34.96
Lauren Conaway
It Um congraations.

39:38.68
Shannon
Those are my 3 ride or dies. Yeah I have.

39:39.99
Lauren Conaway
Ah, you’ve created a little family unit right? There on your desert. All right? Hey Shannon, thank you so much for for taking the time to talk to us today. This was great. I’ve learned a lot absolutely and of course a huge thank you goes out to our episode sponsor Full Scale.

39:54.10
Shannon
The yes, thank you so much for having me. It was great to chat.

40:04.28
Lauren Conaway
Do you need to hire software engineers testers or leaders? Full scale can definitely help. They have the people in the platform to help you build and manage a team of experts which I think we all kind of need in our lives when you visit fullscale.io. All you need to do is answer a few quick questions and then let the platform match you up with fully vetted highly experienced software engineers testers and leaders at Full Scale. They specialize in building long-term teams that work only for you learn more when you visit fullscale io.

And friends I also want to point you if you’re if you’re interested in building a tech business. We have a 52-part series that Matt Decoursey and Matt Watson put their prodigious beautiful brains behind and I invite you to check that out anywhere. You listen to Startup Hustle keep an eye out for the how to build us a tech company series. It’s really good one.

Now friends, as always, we are so very grateful that you take the time to listen to us week after week. We do this all for you and we will catch you on the flip side.