Aggie welcomes Alyssa “Lissy” Kotter, founder of Lissy Skincare, who took her struggle with acne and transformed it into a booming seven-figure business. Alyssa shares how she went from esthetician to brand owner, tackling personal setbacks, building a loyal audience, and navigating the demands of both motherhood and business ownership. She talks about the key ingredient that set her products apart, why she decided to start with just one product, and her unconventional path to rapid growth without the use of ads. Listen in as Alyssa and Aggie unpack the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the power of authentic connection, and the strategies behind Lissy Skincare’s viral success.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 The Humble Beginnings of a Big Dream
• 00:01:00 A Warm Welcome to Beauty and the Brand
• 00:01:07 Introducing Alyssa Kotter: A Visionary in Skincare
• 00:01:45 Surviving Setbacks and Finding Strength
• 00:03:50 From Concept to Creation: How Lissy Skincare Was Born
• 00:06:04 The Fungal Acne Solution No One Talks About
• 00:08:10 The Exciting Launch of Lissy’s First Product
• 00:10:28 Secrets to Building a Loyal Audience
• 00:12:26 A Unique Entrepreneurial Journey Unfolds
• 00:15:32 Scaling at Speed: The Journey to Rapid Growth
• 00:18:55 Crafting a Winning Marketing Strategy
• 00:23:58 Breaking Through: Scaling the Business
• 00:25:49 Leveraging Ads for Explosive Conversions
• 00:31:10 Managing Surging Demand: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
• 00:33:54 Navigating Motherhood While Running a Brand
• 00:36:38 Tackling the Imposter Syndrome Head-On
• 00:40:47 Reflections on Starting a Brand from Scratch
• 00:45:22 Becoming a Beacon for Aspiring Beauty Entrepreneurs
• 00:53:27 Growth Pains and Gains: Lessons Along the Way
• 00:59:46 Making Every Minute Count: The Value of Your Time
• 01:03:50 What’s Next for Lissy Skincare?

Links and Resources

• Alyssa on LinkedIn
• Lissy Skincare
• Lissy Skincare on Instagram
• Lissy Skincare on TikTok
• 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!

Aimee Majoros joins Aggie to share her journey from a surprise encounter in an elevator at Estee Lauder to launching her own PR firm focused on beauty and lifestyle brands. Known for her strategic insights, Aimee discusses why true PR success hinges on genuine relationships, attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate what editors really want. Throughout the conversation, she dives into the evolution of PR, challenges for indie brands, and the importance of knowing your customer beyond assumptions. Aimee’s tales of PR wins, challenges, and unexpected lessons make for an insightful look into what it truly takes for a brand to stand out in today’s media landscape.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 – Customer Deep Dive
• 00:01:16 – Kicking Off the Episode
• 00:01:57 – Aimee Majoros’ Unexpected PR Path
• 00:02:19 – The Estee Lauder Elevator Story
• 00:04:59 – Inside Corporate PR at Estee Lauder
• 00:09:06 – Launching Her Own Firm
• 00:11:13 – Corporate Lessons That Shaped Her
• 00:17:40 – The New Age of PR
• 00:22:09 – Predicting the Next Big Thing
• 00:32:10 – Indie Brands: What They Can Learn from Giants
• 00:34:04 – Low-Budget PR, Big Results
• 00:38:15 – PR Myths and Misconceptions
• 00:39:19 – Wild PR Success Stories
• 00:42:18 – Reaching Niche Audiences
• 00:52:10 – Staying on the Cutting Edge
• 00:58:20 – Celebrity PR Wins and Top Moments
• 01:03:46 – Wrapping It Up with Final Insights

Links and Resources:

• Aimee is Beauty
• Aimee on Facebook
• Aimee on Instagram
• 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!

Michelle Carrington, a former makeup artist turned copywriting expert, discusses how copy can make or break a beauty brand’s success. Michelle and Aggie talk about common mistakes brands make, the ethical shift happening in marketing, and why indie beauty brands are leading the way. They explore how copywriting shapes customer experience, the importance of niche marketing, and debunk the myths about what it takes to stand out in today’s crowded market. Michelle shares advice on crafting messaging that sells without selling out.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - A New Era of Consumer Power
• 00:01:05 - First Impressions Matter
• 00:01:11 - Michelle Carrington Enters the Scene
• 00:01:58 - The Creative Shift: Makeup to Messaging
• 00:06:35 - How Words Shape Experience
• 00:09:17 - Avoid These Costly Messaging Pitfalls
• 00:14:00 - Finding Your True Brand Voice
• 00:27:23 - Why Niche Marketing is Non-Negotiable
• 00:33:02 - Marketing with a Conscience
• 00:34:13 - Permission, Please: The Power of Consent
• 00:36:16 - Navigating Ethical Marketing
• 00:38:35 - Shifting the Focus to Positive Impact
• 00:41:10 - Indie Beauty Brands on the Rise
• 00:44:08 - Uncovering Copywriting Myths
• 00:49:20 - The Art of Attention-Grabbing Headlines
• 00:51:07 - What Big Brands Can Teach Us
• 00:54:54 - Bloom Beauty’s Transformation: A Case Study
• 00:59:42 - Copywriting that Drives Results
• 01:03:26 - Wrapping Up: Final Takeaways

Links and Resources

• Michelle Carrington
• Michelle on Instagram
• Michelle’s LinkTree
• 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!