Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Sachs.
Hi Vanessa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
SWAKE started as a pain point in my own life. My family is located in Naples, Florida, and I grew up playing sports in Austin, Texas, so I was never NOT sweating. In 2021, I was visiting my parents in Naples over Christmas break and I was frustrated with the rush that I felt I was always in. Between the gym, the beach, and brunch, I had to change my outfits and makeup multiple times. As I was running out the door, I said I was “swaking” my makeup off. Huh! “swaking”–as in sweating + makeup. At that moment, the lightbulb went off and I remember spending the rest of the day researching sweatproof makeup–if it existed, what a comparable product looked like in the marketplace, etc.
After spending weeks researching and saving up change here and there, I went to the University of Georgia’s Innovation District to get started with starting a business. With a background in biology and psychology, I had a very limited business background and dove in blind. Looking back, I had no idea what the journey would entail, but I am so glad I took the chance.
I hired a freelance cosmetic chemist and spent weeks looking for a manufacturer that would produce a low MOQ of our first product: sweatproof foundation. Once I found what I was looking for, I got started and began pitching for money. Friends, family, school pitch competitions, etc. I spent weeks saving and spending on getting the business up and off the ground.
Once I had produced 100 units, I began a presale on my homemade Shopify website. We began selling quick! But nothing like the movies. Not until I hired our first influencer and let social media marketing magic work did I see any massive returns.
Since the launch in April of 2022, we have done over 100k in sales.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to where I am has been a winding one. The hardest hurdles I have had to face thus far are the mental ones. Even on weeks where I worked over 80 hours, there are very few days that I don’t go to bed thinking that I could’ve done more. Amazingly, entrepreneurs have a head and heart of steel, but sometimes that can be our own Achilles’ heel. Learning to balance my own life with SWAKE definitely took some time, but it is something I really must do to ensure the growth of the company.
We’ve been impressed with SWAKE, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
SWAKE is the first sweat-resistant cosmetic company that is bridging the gap between fitness and beauty. We create beauty products that not only feel amazing on your skin but also inspire confidence and control over your own life. SWAKE 01 Sweatproof Foundation is built with collagen and SPF 15, making it a long-lasting skin-saver. Wear it from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm without worrying about breakouts, dry skin, or any other issues associated with traditional foundation.
Our brand is supported by over 5000 customers across the globe. In our first year, we reach 48 states and 12 countries. With all of the makeup that is out there, the fact that 5000 individuals would take a chance on a new e-commerce cosmetic company says something about the message that SWAKE is trying to spread. You no longer have to choose between looking and feeling your best; invest in products that allow you to have both.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I absolutely love Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” and Michael Singer’s “The Untethered Soul”. Spirituality is an important part of my life and influences a lot of the choices I make as the Founder and CEO of SWAKE. Without spirituality and love, you are guided by nothing in this difficult journey as an entrepreneur.
Guy Razz’s “How I Built This” and the “MindPump” podcasts are my all-time faves when it comes to listening to entrepreneurs talk about their own journeys and health.
Pricing:
- $49.00 – SWAKE 01 Sweatproof Foundation
- $24.00 – SWAKE 02 Sweatproof Concealer
- $28.00 – SWAKE 03 Sweatproof Mascara
- $18.00 – SWAKE 04 Sweatproof Brow Gel
- $23.00 – SWAKE 05 Sweatproof Moisturizer
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.swakecosmetics.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swakecosmetics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swakecosmetics
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swake/
- Other: https://lifelete.buzzsprout.com/
