Bettina O'Neill, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Scentbird, shares how she got into the fragrance industry, from her early days at Barneys to helping niche brands thrive. Bettina explains how up and coming fragrance brands can stand out in a crowded market, the importance of staying true to a brand’s identity, and the role of sampling in growing a loyal customer base. She also gives practical advice for founders on scaling their brands and navigating the complexities of retail partnerships.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - How to Choose the Right Retail Partner for Your Brand’s Success
• 00:01:00 - Meet Bettina O'Neill: From Barneys to Scentbird
• 00:02:05 - Bettina’s Journey Through the World of Fragrance
• 00:04:17 - The Secret to Building a Niche Fragrance Market
• 00:05:54 - Standing Out in a Saturated Fragrance Market
• 00:07:45 - How Scentbird Scaled to 700,000 Subscribers
• 00:09:28 - Brand Growth: The Big Challenges and Key Strategies
• 00:13:39 - Why Sticking to Your Brand’s DNA is Non-Negotiable
• 00:15:59 - Leveraging Social Media and Sampling for Explosive Growth
• 00:22:34 - How to Find Funding and Support for Niche Brands
• 00:25:16 - What’s Hot Right Now: Fragrance Trends and Innovations
• 00:26:13 - Neuroscience and Scent: How Fragrance Affects Mood
• 00:27:24 - Launching a New Fragrance Brand in Today’s Market
• 00:28:07 - Beyond Candles: Innovations in Home and Car Fragrances
• 00:29:59 - Marketing Strategies That Drive Results for Fragrance Brands
• 00:32:36 - Why Subscription Models and Discovery Kits Are Thriving
• 00:33:35 - Sustainability and Clean Fragrances: The Next Big Thing?
• 00:35:54 - Bettina’s Signature Scents and Personal Favorites
• 00:37:28 - Advice for Aspiring Fragrance Founders
• 00:40:59 - Fragrance’s Emotional Power: Why We Wear What We Wear
• 00:41:24 - How COVID-19 Shifted Fragrance Trends
• 00:43:16 - Pop-Ups and Signature Scents: What’s Coming Next?
• 00:46:26 - Final Thoughts and What’s Next for the Fragrance Industry

Links and Resources

• Bettina on LinkedIn
• Scentbird
• Aggie on LinkedIn
• AB Creative
• Aggie on Instagram
• 5 Days to Growing Your Iconic Beauty Brand (and Having Your Most Profitable Holiday Season Ever)

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Beauty and the Brand? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Jana Shemano from August shares how the company is working to remove the shame around periods and change how society talks about menstrual care. From launching during the pandemic to building a community first approach, August has grown into a brand known for pushing boundaries, like being the first to show real period blood in their marketing. Jana also goes into the challenges of fundraising, breaking through social media bans, and balancing sustainability with profitability. Whether it’s grassroots efforts or partnerships with major brands, August is on a mission to make periods a normal part of everyday life.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Breaking Period Stigma: The August Mission
• 00:01:00 - Meet Jana Shemano: From Thrive Global to August
• 00:02:34 - Pandemic Beginnings: The Birth of August
• 00:07:23 - Community First: Building an Engaged Audience Before Launch
• 00:10:54 - Innovation in Period Care: Breaking the Blue Dye Tradition
• 00:16:23 - Funding a Mission: Navigating Angel Investments and Grants
• 00:22:58 - Partnerships That Matter: Expanding Awareness with WeWork and Target
• 00:32:52 - Post-COVID Marketing: Navigating New Landscapes
• 00:33:53 - Sports and Periods: Partnering with USA Track and Field
• 00:34:14 - Athletes on Periods: Real Talk About Competing During Menstruation
• 00:37:08 - Grassroots Efforts: Scrappy Marketing at Target and Beyond
• 00:41:21 - Sustainability at the Core: Compostable Products and More
• 00:43:21 - Profit vs. Impact: Balancing Growth with a Bigger Purpose
• 00:46:50 - Making Waves: Growing August’s Brand Awareness
• 00:54:15 - Advocacy in Action: Empowering Students to Champion Period Products
• 01:00:14 - Looking Ahead: August’s Vision for the Future

Links and Resources:

• Jana on LinkedIn
• August
• Aggie on LinkedIn
• AB Creative
• Aggie on Instagram
• 5 Days to Growing Your Iconic Beauty Brand (and Having Your Most Profitable Holiday Season Ever)

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Beauty and the Brand? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Maria Wodzinska, co-founder of Stoic Beauty, shares how she went from theater to skincare which led her to create a brand with her mother, Dr. Jolanta Wodzinska Ph.D., focused on protecting water resources. She explains the hidden problem of pollution in the beauty industry, how most consumers aren't aware of the impact their skincare has on waterways, and why Stoic Beauty is committed to making a difference. Maria also talks about the challenges of building a mission-driven business, leveraging risk, and the importance of staying true to a bigger vision while navigating the pressures of growth.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 – Why Going It Alone Is a Bad Idea
• 00:01:26 – Meet Maria Wodzinska and Stoic Beauty
• 00:02:34 – From Garage Sales to CEO: Maria’s Entrepreneurial Roots
• 00:06:29 – How Theater Skills Shaped a Beauty Brand
• 00:10:58 – The Hard Lessons of Building Stoic Beauty
• 00:14:10 – The Untold Story of Water-Safe Skincare
• 00:19:50 – Overcoming Setbacks with Strategic Risk-Taking
• 00:25:21 – Building a Business with Purpose, Not Just Profit
• 00:34:50 – Unlocking Somatic Awareness for Better Leadership
• 00:35:07 – How Somatic Practices Transform Business
• 00:36:20 – The Power of Voice and Breath in Leadership
• 00:37:34 – Leading with Vulnerability: Why It’s a Game-Changer
• 00:39:26 – How to Build a Team That Thrives
• 00:41:59 – The Challenges of Hiring the Right People
• 00:44:27 – How to Spot and Cultivate Talent in Your Team
• 00:46:24 – Taking Big Risks: What Every Founder Needs to Know
• 00:55:51 – Winning Awards and Owning Your Success
• 01:01:05 – Stoic Beauty’s Vision for the Future
• 01:03:36 – Maria’s Advice to Fellow Founders
• 01:05:37 – Final Thoughts and Where to Find Stoic Beauty=

Links and Resources

• Maria on LinkedIn
• Stoic Beauty
• Aggie on LinkedIn
• AB Creative
• Aggie on Instagram
• 5 Days to Growing Your Iconic Beauty Brand (and Having Your Most Profitable Holiday Season Ever)

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Beauty and the Brand? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!