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Having a huge following of devoted brand ambassadors — people who not only rave about your product to their friends, family and colleagues, but also tell complete strangers about it — is something every entrepreneur wants. But this doesn’t just happen. You, as the founder of a company, need to work at it and create an amazing product.
Related: Beauty Entrepreneur Bobbi Brown Shares Her Secrets to Building a Brand With a Cult-Like Following
And few have done that better than Bobbi Brown. Brown launched her namesake brand Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in the early ’90s. She focused on a natural, fresh look when other brands were into bright, extreme looks. It was her “secret sauce.”
“My whole philosophy about make up was so much about me,” Brown told us in our recent episode of Tough Love Tuesday, Entrepreneur.com’s Facebook Live series connecting side-hustling entrepreneurs with advice and resources. The company’s motto is “be who you are.”
But it wasn’t just about having a brand she loved. Brown had to figure out exactly what customers wanted, create a positive experience and get the word out organically. She kept every step simple, and it worked. Estee Lauder bought the brand in 1995, with Brown continuing to be at the helm of the cosmetic line until leaving last year.
Related: How I Defined My Brand Language Using This Secret Tool
Now, with lifestyle website JustBobbi in the works, along with a supplement line, Brown is starting from square one again. This time around, it will be a lot less stressful and more fun, she says.
To see what she has to say about her entrepreneurial experience — from hearing no’s from everyone, suffering a huge launch disaster and learning to listen to her inner voice — along with advice she offers entrepreneurs, check out the video above.