The three of us started Mommy Mailbox after itching for a carreer change that would work for our lifestyles. Turns out, we weren’t alone. Powerhouse entrepreneur Nancy Twine told us about how her start on Wall Street lead her to founding natural hair care line BrioGeo and what you need to do with the ideas you’ve got brewing. Plus, check out the BrioGeo product we put in our May box here.
Tell us a little about you, personally and professionally.
I actually got my start in finance. I went to Wall Street at the height of the financial crisis. It was a stressful time but I learned so much about running a business and forming relationships, which really helped build the foundation of what I do today. After seven years, I was looking for a career change and really wanted to do something on my own.
So, from finance to hair care? What inspired that switch?
My grandmother owned a farm in West Virginia where she raised her eight kids. She didn’t have much money so she used resources on her farm to make natural products. It really stuck with me and I started noticing more and more natural beauty brands as people became ingredient conscious. I found there were a lot of natural skincare products but not as many natural hair care products and saw an opportunity.
Tell us where the business is going.
We started 2.5 years ago and have made huge strides. We’re now national in stores like Sephora and Urban Outfitters. I really think our success stems from the fact that we entered the industry at time when the beauty landscape was changing. Digital is influencing beauty in a way that it never has in the past, which has helped us grow very quickly.
Who is the BrioGeo girl?
When it comes to women in this day and age, we recognize that they focus on ingredients and how they affect health concerns. The age range of women that use our products is wide but our consumer is progressive with her beauty regimin and wants products that just work. It’s someone who isn’t willing to sacrifice quality and who may be looking to support up and coming brands like ours.
What advice do you have for women looking to start their own thing?
If you’re working a full time job, like I was when I was getting my brand off the ground, that’s okay and you might need to do that. It’s okay to be conservative about jumping ship 100 percent until you can tell your idea is really working. You have more flexibility than you think if you really believe in your idea, whether it’s in the evening or on the weekends. It can also help you grow smarter, which may be a little slower. When you do leave your job, you want to feel really good about your brand and where you’re headed.
What can we expect from BrioGeo this coming year?
To date, our products have been focused on cleansing, conditioning and treatment. We haven’t jumped into styling as much and we see that coming to fruition in the next 12 months.