Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and beauty but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bassima Mroue, Co-Founder, and CEO of SkinTē, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

SkinTē is the first ever sparkling wellness soda with collagen. It has a unique formula that benefits skin, mood, and immunity. The brand was founded by three women (a doctor, a chef, and a biz brain) who all went through major life transitions. They channeled all that energy to create an innovative beverage at the intersection of Beauty, Beverage, and Wellness.

The brand's mission is to nurture health and beauty from the inside out every day. Each light and refreshing flavor includes a powerful blend of the highest quality kosher bovine collagen peptides, organic teas, super herbs, 100% DV vitamin C, and smart ingredients (no soy, dairy, gluten, dyes, added sugar, or artificial sweeteners). The four flavors currently on the market are White Tea Ginger, Green Tea Grapefruit, Hibiscus Vanilla, and Lemon Lime. SkinTē has been featured in media, including NYT, WSJ, Goop, Allure, PopSugar, WWW, US Weekly, and Access Hollywood.

Tell us about yourself

My co-founders and I each went through major life transitions (back surgery, divorce, loss of a child) and channeled all that energy to create a brand that has a positive impact on emotional and physical well-being. We wanted a product that was great for skin, hair, nails, joints, gut, and mood, and we didn't want to compromise on taste. Dr. Bader designed a unique and powerful formula with ingredients hand-picked for emotional and physical well-being, which Elizabeth used to work her magic and create delicious flavor profiles. We are the first product in the market that combines collagen, super herbs, and tea in a light, refreshing, fizzy, and fun experience. It's a true lifestyle product – our consumers reach for SkinTē for their morning or afternoon 'pick me up, with their meals as a light and refreshing beverage, after a workout for post-exercise recovery, to prepare to 'glow' for a special event, or as a beauty cocktail. When consumers reach out and tell me that not only does SkinTē improve their skin, but they feel better (especially their mood due to hawthorn berry) and that it has changed their life.... it gives me purpose every day!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a business owner, my biggest accomplishment is thriving during the 2020 pandemic when it first hit and now again during challenging market conditions with a very small team. The true test of a product is that it consistently grows, even at a premium price point, in challenging times. It's been an honor.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing about being a business owner is managing uncertainty, especially with the pandemic and market conditions over the past few years. You need to be ready, at any time, to pivot and adjust your strategy while inspiring your team to be at their best. As long as the foundation is strong, this is possible. The new "normal" is uncertainty and change, and that needs to be a core competency.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. The #1 lesson I learned is that it's not personal. In the early days, I used to take it so personally; if someone didn't invest, didn't understand the vision, or were naysayers, not believe we could succeed. I realized quickly that I couldn't take it personally, and some of the greatest brands had naysayers, which only made them stronger. I look at where we are today, in 4000 stores, and smile at those memories of people who were so negative. I thank them as they fueled my passion.
  2. It's a number again. For 100 nos, you could get that one YES that changes everything. This has happened over and over. You get that one YES from a critical investor, and the rest does. You get that one YES from a big account, and that changes the course of the company. The 100 No's are just part of the game.
  3. Having a purpose helps you get up every day and fight for it. Starting, running, and growing a business is HARD. I feel people only see what's sexy in the press and don't realize that it's a grind every single day. But having a purpose makes it 100% worth it. For me, helping people look and feel better from the inside out makes the entire journey worth it! I live for those comments from consumers.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Self-care is the most important thing you can do for yourself as an entrepreneur. I like to call it "micro self-care." The small things you do throughout the day, whether a quick walk, a workout, a massage, a hot bath, or drinking enough water. Those are the things that make you work smarter, not harder. SkinTē was created for that reason - it's "self-care in a can."

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://skinte.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkinTe/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skinte/
https://www.instagram.com/bassimamroue/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bassima-mroue-16814039/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.