20 Questions with… Summer Skin
With all the skincare brands out there how do you stand out from the rest? Gee and Lil started their brand only two years ago and already have a loyal following of 28k followers! Their branding is consistent and they have invested in facebook marketing to grow their audience and business. So how do they run a business, a second business and motherhood between them WHILST living in different states….
Read on!
WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR SIDE HUSTLE BUSINESS AND WHAT INDUSTRY ARE YOU IN?
We are Lil & Gee from SUMMER SKIN. Beauty Industry.
HOW LONG HAS YOUR SIDE HUSTLE BEEN RUNNING?
2 Years this March.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
We wanted to create non toxic solution for a skincare range. We are extremely passionate about honest + clean skincare.
DO YOU STILL WORK FULL TIME ANYWHERE ELSE?
Georgia runs a side hustle (her own business too) which is Lighting Design - a very different industry haha. However she is 80% Summer Skin Australia. I worked for almost our first full year of business before falling pregnant. I am extremely lucky to now be juggling motherhood & Summer Skin Australia.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST FINANCIAL INVESTMENT YOU'VE MADE IN YOUR BUSINESS?
Facebook Marketing
DID YOU INVEST IN BRANDING WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED YOUR BUSINESS?:
Yes right from the get go. We were SO passionate about this. We always want everything we do to be aesthetically pleasing.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU REGRET OR WISH YOU HAD DONE DIFFERENTLY IN YOUR BUSINESS?
Not regret - but we have learnt LOTS of lessons along the way. For example to outsource when you need help and so cliche but do not be scared to ask questions.This has lead us to some of our biggest success.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART OF RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Helping people with skin concerns, seeing customer reviews and a huge one is seeing our products come to life that have been in months of planning! From a lifestyle point of a view the flexibility is amazing.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
We are perfectionists - so for us finding affordable manufactures that create QUALITY products has been a hurdle.
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN WHEN YOU WERE STARTING OUT?
Everything takes time! We have learnt to be patient. We also wish we had known you can't over sample. Sample, sample, sample your packaging, product. everything.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR SELLING YOUR PRODUCT SERVICE?
Social media & Facebook Marketing.
IS THERE SOMEONE WHO ORIGINALLY INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR SIDE HUSTLE?
Not specifically, but now as woman as business there is an army of woman we look up to. We LOVE Jen Atkin.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE ELSE STARTING A SIDE HUSTLE?
Keep pushing forward, there will be days that make you question what you're doing but we can just about guarantee the next day you will be thinking it is the best thing you have ever done.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
Me and Gee both live in seperate states so our days can look very different and to be 100% transparent - no day is the same. When heading up a business you very quickly work out you are multiple roles in the business haha.
HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED NOW THAT YOUR PURSUING YOUR PASSION AND LIVING YOUR DREAM?
Our brains don't switch off
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS IN 5 YEARS?
We would love to have increased our product line to 10 products and be in 1 major retailer.
BEST TIP FOR BUILDING/GROWING A COMMUNITY/FOLLOWING ONLINE?:
Be persistent, ask for their advice and use influencers.
ANY OTHER ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU, YOUR BUSINESS, OR BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN GENERAL?:
It is hard work, but worth it.
HOW DO YOU REST, RECHARGE?:
Owning a skincare brand we are self care queens. We will always make time for a bath, body scrub or face mask.
ONCE COVID IS ALL OVER WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL TO?:
Together our first stop is Bali. Hello content shoot! Privately - G: ITALY & LIL: GREEK ISLANDS
insta: @SUMMERSKINAU http://SUMMERSKINAU.COM
