Welcome back to another episode of networking
unleashed building profitable connections where
we break down the art of building relationships
that actually grow your business, not just your
contact list. Today's guest is proof that when
you combine innovation with intentional networking,
you don't just create products, you build a brand
that gets noticed. Ginger is a beauty industry
force. As the founder and formulator behind clean
vegan innovations for brands like Fan Love Beauty,
she's built relationships that go beyond the
lab into boardrooms, influencer circles, and
major retailers. But here's what makes Ginger
different. She doesn't network to collect names.
She networks to create impact. Whether it's aligning
with celebrity founders or staying ahead of what
conscious consumers truly want, Ginger's story
is packed with insights on how to leverage authenticity,
niche positioning, and strategic collaboration
to stand out in a saturated market. If you're
in a space where credibility, connection, and
clean values matter, this episode is your blueprint.
Ginger. Welcome to the podcast. I am so excited
that you're here. Why don't you introduce yourself
and give us a little bit about your background.
Thank you for having me, Michael. So I am. award
-winning cosmetic chemist as well as a certified
10x business coach. So what I do is I help people
to build their own beauty brand from concept
to launch including formulations they can own.
I also help them with the sales and marketing
after they launch their products because a lot
of time people come to me for product but they
do not know how to promote the products and that's
where my coaching comes in. Wow, that's very
good. Oh, I can't wait to get started. That sounds
very interesting. Okay, so let's begin here.
Let's start with the beauty industry. It's crowded,
competitive, and trend driven. What role has
networking played in cutting through that noise
and helping you get products into major retailers?
It's going to the industry event. It's not only
for networking. Going to industry event is actually
a form of marketing to let people know that you
are out there because if nobody knows you, nobody
follows you. So get your face out there. It's
very important. So it's beyond networking. Yes,
that's very true. All of the events, people think
that they just have to go there just to network.
But you're right. It's brand recognition and
getting your face out there so that everybody
can recognize you and say, oh, I know her or
I know that product. So that's very important.
You create clean vegan products. That's a specific
niche with loyal followers. How have you used
that niche to build a powerful network that both
amplifies and accelerates your brand? We all
know in order to create a following, you need
to be niche. So you need to find who is your
target market for every single product or brand
that you do. So my brand, Fenwell Beauty, we
focus on speakers, actually, because the whole
concept for Fenwell Beauty brand was because
I was with my mentor, Damon John. the shark at
an event, and I saw him took out a lip balm and
used it in front of me. I was like, Damon, that's
something so close to you that's in your pocket
on your lips. It has to be mine since I'm a cosmetic
chemist. And Damon actually had a cancer scare
a few years ago. He's cancer -free now. But think
about it. Lip balm is something that could be
ingested because it's on the lips. And if you
look at the market space, I guarantee you, you
can either find petrolatum, lanolin, or beeswax
in the ingredient list. There's nothing wrong
with them. However, petrolatum, unless it's USP
grade, it could have carcinogen ingredient in
there because it's from petroleum. Lanolin is
from the wool grease. Long -term use, you can
get contact dermatitis. And beeswax, nothing's
wrong with it, but where do you get beeswax from
the beehives? How do you like your house to be
messed up for human vanity if you are a bee,
right? So it's not considered cruelty -free or
vegan. And this is the reason why I focus on
clean vegan beauty. It's because I provide more
value to the society by giving better products.
Wow. I can see where having the clean product
really comes into it, especially with, like you
said, the lip balm. And you wouldn't think anything
of it, but you think about the ingredients that
go into it and where those ingredients come from.
So that's very astute. Okay. When working with
celebrity brands or influencers, what have you
learned about the importance of trust and timing
in forming partnerships that... actually work
trust and timing they are everything they are
the basis for any business without trust it's
very hard it's not only trust you you and your
partner have to be aligned on your mission on
your vision and on the value proposition And
timing, like you see on Shark Tank, 10 seconds,
you take it or not. The ability to make decisions
is also very important. And if you are a good
entrepreneur, you should have the gut feeling
to feel if this is a good deal or not. Yes, that's
true. There's a mantra with networking. If they
know you, if they like you, if they trust you,
they'll do business with you. And know you, that's
pretty simple. Like you, all that narrows the
field just a little bit. But trust you, that's
the main factor. And you have to build on that
trust. So it's very good. Mixed with the timing,
as you said, it all would be very good. You built
a reputation for innovation. How do you network
with people who keep you forward thinking rather
than just clapping from the sidelines? For you
to grow, you really need to get in a bigger room.
So I constantly go to big events, big conferences.
So it's just keep growing because you are as
good as your average five among you, right? Yeah,
people clapping is good, but if they cannot really
move you forward, you need to consider a separate
circle. Yeah, different friends. There's a saying
that you surround yourself with the people that
you want to be around. So you don't want to be
around people that's going to drag you down or
just have the status quo. You want people that
are going to lift you up and say, okay, come
on, you did this right, go ahead. But you don't
want yes men either. You don't want somebody
to say, oh, you did great, you did great, when
it really didn't follow through. So very important
to realize. What's one powerful introduction
or unexpected collaboration that completely changed
the trajectory of your business? And how did
that relationship come about? I think this will
be in reference of Devin John, my mentor. He
has helped me a lot ever since I know him. I
was just like a regular person. But I stalked
him on social media. I stalked him on every single
event that he's there. I just show up and I provide
value. I never ask him to invest in me because
I understand you are not investable until you
prove you are investable. You only get investors
money to put fuel on the fire rather than take
investors money as a tuition. So you need to
know where you're coming from. And I think a
lot of people, they go to him just because, hey,
you are a shark investing in me. I never, ever
do that. Yeah, no, it's true. That's so true
that you have to bring value first. You bring
a value to the relationships. And I'm going to
go back to networking again. When you're trying
to network with somebody like you did with your
mentor, you have to bring value to the table
first so they can see it. So then they ask you
the questions that you don't have to. So that
would really come about. Let's talk about product
development. How does networking help you stay
close to consumer needs while also appealing
to retailers, influencers, and most importantly,
the investors? There are different types of conferences.
There are retailers' conferences. There are raw
material supplier conferences. There are investor
conferences. It's like I go to them all. So you're
a very busy woman then. Yes. You go to all these
conferences. Okay, there's a lot of talk about
clean beauty, but not all of it is genuine. How
do you use networking to cut through the greenwashing
and align with people and brands who actually
walk the walk? I'm a cosmetic chemist myself.
I do review ingredients when the ingredient suppliers
bring in the new ingredients. So I can tell if
it's science or if it's just marketing. Okay,
good, good. Okay, then. So what role has personal
branding played in how people approach you for
collaborations? And how do you protect your time
and energy in a space full of shiny opportunities?
Okay, so what role does personal branding? Personal
branding actually is more important than your
own. for creating any other brand because your
brands can be folded but you are still there
so that goes personal brand you will always be
around so your reputation is extremely important
to protect in terms of shining object you just
have to be very clear what is your purpose So
you need to stick to your mission. So is taking
on this project or partnership is going to detract
you or move you forward? That's how you gauge.
You need to understand your why. Okay, good.
If a young beauty entrepreneur came up to you
today with a breakthrough formula but no connections,
where would you tell them to start? Social media,
because first of all, she needs to put herself
out there by using her own social media to build
her personal brand. Also, she can emulate those
who are already successful and just following
them to see what kind of messages that they share.
And if they follow enough of them, comment enough,
like enough of the posts, eventually you get
noticed. Okay. So how would you suggest them
increasing their social media presence? Post
daily and post on every single channel, be omnipresent.
Okay, good. And you know, we're, let me see if,
nope. You are successful today, but I'm sure
you weren't always successful. And you must have
run into a problem as you're going up the ladder.
So give us a problem that you had and how did
you get out of it? I think a problem everyone
will have if you're working in corporate is where
can you go? What is the ladder the highest you
can go? So that was the reason why a lot of people
become entrepreneur because you control your
own destiny. your upside potential is unlimited
when you work within a corporation yes it's good
and stable but you always need to consider what
is the risk versus reward right with you being
on your own Yeah, there are risks because there
is no protection. But that also pushes you forward
to work harder, to hustle more. And you will
have untapped potential because it can only go
up. That's very good. Okay, so let's bring this
podcast full circle. And looking ahead, what
kind of relationships are you seeking more of
now? And what does that say about your brand,
how your brand is evolving? What kind of relationship
I'm seeking is whoever wants to work with me,
we need to have the same alignment because without
the same alignment, it's just very hard. Even
with my clients, when they want to work with
me, I request for a strategy call and I request
that we align on every single element before
we start. Otherwise, we will have a lot of conflicts
down the road. That's very good. Ginger, this
was very informational. I'm so glad that you
came on the podcast. But if somebody wants to
get hold of you for either a reason for your
chemistry and cosmetics or whatever else, or
just want to be coached by you, what's the best
way for them to get hold of you? The best way
is actually through DM, Instagram, the beauty
shark, Ginger. Okay, good, good. All right, then.
Ginger, thank you very much for coming on the
podcast, and I look forward to speaking with
you soon. Thank you. Well, hold on, folks. Don't
go anywhere. Let's hear from our sponsors. David
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insights today. And of course, a big shout out
to you, our amazing listeners, for tuning in
and spending your time with us. If you're interested
in my digital courses, being coached or having
me come and talk to your company, just go to
Michael and fill out the request form. Remember,
networking isn't about being perfect. It's about
being present. So take what you've learned today,
get out there and make some meaningful connections.
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