At Brightbox we wanted to take the opportunity to share a bit about the people from behind the scenes that help make Brightbox, well, Brightbox! When we source our supplies, we often try to look for small businesses that we can partner with to bring unique products to each of our boxes without driving up cost. One such supplier is Blush + Bloom.
We talked with the company founder, Gina Porter, to learn more about how Blush + Bloom came to be along with tips and tricks for those looking to start their own business.
How did you get started?
“I feel like my company doesn't have the typical start. I have had a love of beauty products for as long as I can remember and worked in the beauty industry running my own salon for many years. It was such a natural next step for me to begin making body care for my own personal use. I knew what ingredients I wanted to use on my skin, and knew I wanted to create high quality, natural body care that smelled amazing. Over time I perfected my recipes and had created a product line I couldn't live without! But had no intention of ever starting a business with them! I started giving them as gifts and within a very short time I had so many requests to purchase and several retail stores reached out as well. So I like to say Blush & Bloom formed itself!”
What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?
"I have to be completely honest here. I didn't have any intentions of being an entrepreneur! When I had so much interest in purchasing my products I thought, "Well I will just sell until I can save enough money and take my kids to Disneyland!" Lol. Disneyland has come and gone, but I realized making products that help women take time for themselves to relax and feel beautiful is my passion!"
How did you come up with the name for your company?
"My motto is "everybody deserves to feel beautiful". We have a tendency to "blush" about our bodies, be embarrassed by our imperfections and to compare ourselves to others. If we can learn to see ourselves as beautiful, we can truly "bloom"! Your body is yours- and it's beautiful!!!"
How do you build a successful customer base?
"I love all the women who support me! And I try to support them back! Whether it's a wholesale account customer that has been ordering from the beginning, or a new customer to my website, we are connected as women. Something magical happens when we look for ways to lift each other. I found this to be powerful in our personal lives, as well as in business. It is key for building friendships as well as customers."
What does an average day look like for you?
"I am a mom to 4 kids + running a small business by myself so the average day can look a little crazy! Finding a good balance is the hardest part but is also crucial!"
What motivates you?
"What drives me has always been the joy I feel seeing women take time for themselves! In the beginning I was giving out my products as gifts and it was to tired mamas, friends working long hours on their feet, women going through hard personal trials or carrying heavy heartache. As women we wear lots of hats and do so much! It can be hard sometimes to find a minute to ourselves. It brings me so much happiness to think about well-deserving ladies taking a minute to relax + recharge."
How do you define success?
"Hmmm. I guess there are a lot of ideas out there about success. Of course we need to be able to earn back what we invest in our business so we can continue. But I think success is more than that. Success to me is never losing your passion for what you love, staying true to yourself and your product, and making a positive difference in someone's life each day."
What is your favorite product from your business?
"I can't live without Body Butter! Once you've used a high quality Body Butter you won't ever want to go back to a regular lotion! However I am a huge lover of baths. My favorite combination is a Milk Bath combined with a Body Scrub. Sprinkle your Milk Bath in the water, shave your legs, then scrub them with the Body Scrub. The oils from the scrub melt in with the Milk and it is pure heaven!! Your skin feels incredible."
What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule?
"I wish I had figured this out. I honestly have to wing it from hour to hour sometimes! Got to learn to be flexible when you are running a business + raising a family. Things that I was hoping to have gotten done by the end of the day sometimes have to go on the back-burner. Basically the only thing that I've been able to consistently do to keep me on task is a Diet Dr. Pepper from Swig around 1:00. Ha!"
With what you know now, what advice would you give to younger you?
"I love the saying "Do what you can with what you have." Just start! Be Brave! You don't have to be intimidated that you don't have a fancy shop or a bunch of employees. Just start with what you have and do what you can! BUT the minute that you can take the plunge and invest in the space + equipment you need to streamline your business, DO IT!"
We couldn’t agree more with what Gina had to say! Everybody is filled with greatness, but the point that separates the great and the greatest is the drive to do it. Have you always wanted to learn how to paint? Do it! Want to turn life lessons into a self-help blog? Do it! Want to turn your side-hustle into a full fledged business? Do it! You would be surprised to see how much can be accomplished when the mind is set to achieving greatness.
