Monica Bhide I love featuring people who follow their passions and dreams with tenacity and fervor. And I am so pleased to share another story like that here today. Sara Damelio created her own line of skin care products when she discovered that the products in the market were all pumped with things that were making them hard to use for her allergy-prone skin.
I loved her story… and wanted to share it with you all.
Her publicist sent me a few of Sara’s products to try and I can certainly tell you at we are converts. Just amazing stuff.
1. Tell me a little bit about your background.
I grew up moving every one or two years with my father’s job around the country. I went to boarding school in Charlottesville, VA and college at Loyola of New Orleans and Mt. St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, MD. I graduated with a degree in Communications and moved to DC to work as an intern at the National Geographic Society. I am half Irish and half Italian and consider Washington, DC home. I have been interested in the beauty industry and products since I was 5 years old. I knew I wanted to be an aesthetician when I grew up after my first facial at a luxury spa in San Francisco at age 14.
2. What made you start your company?
My company started out as a hobby and slowly grew into the company that it is today. I had problematic skin that was allergic to traditional beauty care products, my only solution was to create my own products.
3. Please tell us a little about your products. Which one has been the most popular with your clients?
Skincando products are handcrafted in small batches with 100% natural and organic ingredients. We have a very limited line so all of the products are popular, but I would say the Combat-Ready Balm is the star of the line.
4. You have already been discovered by Oprah! Please tell us a little more about that.
Everything you hear about the Oprah ‘factor’ is true. It was a blessing to be discovered and written about in O Magazine and through the sales and exposure Skincando received I was able to invest more in my business and bring it to the next level. Also, my team and I were able to send about 1000 care kits to the Troops through Operation Sand Flea ( our not-for-profit donation campaign) which was the best part about being in O.
5. What was the most challenging thing about setting up your own business?
The most challenging part about starting my own business was to understand that there are three parts to a business – the back end (paperwork, bookkeeping etc.), the front end (creating and selling products) and the marketing/forward thinking part (where do you want your business to go, how do you let others know that you even have a business). Essentially, you are going forwards, backwards and trying to stay in the present at the same time. Unless your business is very simple and you are an extremely organized person who can manage employees and delegate tasks, a growing start up can get overwhelming very quickly.
6. what have you learned about starting a small business?
The value of time, how to manage finances and the importance of organization and giving excellent customer service.
7. When things go wrong, you….
I take a breath, think about the problem and work it out. Everything is fixable.
8. Where can my readers find your products?
My Skincando products are available on www.skincando.com as well as many pharmacies, spas and boutiques across the country.
Thanks Monica for the write up on Sara’s products. I have been struggling with butterfly rashes on my skin and have already send them a mail with queries..thanks of a lot once again on excellent write up’s and valuable information !
Almost too scared to try any new facial creams..Tried thru a whole range of them and even had to toss some really expensive ones out!..
I met Sara at a dinner party about a year ago (she is hilarious and so fun, by the way!) and she generously shared samples of her amazing product. It’s wonderful and I’m so happy to hear of her success here. Congratulations, Sara!