Startup Reflections: 6 Lessons & 6 Mistakes of Launching Vacay Beauty

Dive into the entrepreneurial journey with Sasha Fedunchak as she shares a candid look back at launching her first company, Vacay Beauty, a spray tan salon. Discover the six strategic moves that propelled her brand to success, and the six missteps that offered invaluable lessons. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Show Notes:

• Winning Strategies:
  • Unique Brand Positioning: Learn how Vacay Beauty carved out a niche by offering an experience, not just a service.
  • DIY Website & Branding: Get the scoop on how a well-designed website and booking system set the business up for success from the get-go.
  • Leveraging Micro-Influencers: Find out how a creative influencer event amplified brand visibility.
  • The Power of Networking: Sasha discusses stepping out from behind the screen to forge valuable community connections.
  • Diversifying Income: Hear about the importance of creating multiple revenue streams within your business model.
  • Community First: Discover why building a community around your brand can lead to lasting relationships and business growth.
    
    
• Learning from Mistakes:
  • Rebranding Regrets: Sasha shares the costly lesson learned from premature rebranding and printing.
  • Event Investment Misstep: Understand the risks and rewards of big-ticket event investments.
  • Personal Boundaries: Learn why separating personal and business communications is crucial for your sanity.
  • Video Content Challenges: Hear why stretching too thin on platforms like YouTube can lead to burnout.
  • The Missed Potential of Paid Ads: A reflection on the growth opportunities that paid advertising could have offered.
  • The Solo Venture Trap: Sasha opens up about the toll of handling a business solo and the importance of seeking support.
    
    

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Business Launch, Brand Strategy, Micro-Influencers, Networking, Revenue Streams, Community Engagement, Branding Mistakes, Event ROI, Business Communication, Content Strategy, Mental Health, Business Support.

Call to Action: If Sasha’s stories of wins and warnings resonate with you, subscribe to Daring Made for more enriching content. Share

Free Resources:

• The Business Vitals Signs Quiz: A FREE quiz that will give you a personalized pulse-check on how healthy and aligned your business is, PLUS a free download that covers your answers in depth and gives you actionable steps to make your business healthier.
  
  
• Market Your Reputation Masterclass: Learn how to leverage what OTHER people are saying about you to book your services and sell out your products.
  
  
• Understand, Control and Grow Cashflow Masterclass: Daring Haus CFO Mike (my hubby!) put together an easy-to-understand masterclass on cash - because really, we all need to know our numbers to grow our businesses.

Connect with Sasha:

• Hang out with Sasha on Instagram and TikTok
• Work 1:1 with Sasha: sashafedunchak.com
• Follow Daring Haus on Instagram and TikTok
• Work with Daring Haus: daringhaus.com

Transcript

Welcome to another episode of Daring Made, where we share real-life entrepreneurial journeys, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. I’m your host, Daring Made, and today I’m taking you behind the scenes of my very first business adventure: Vacay Beauty, a spray tan company that taught me as much about what to do as what not to do in the world of startups.

Starting a company is like setting off on a wild expedition. You're bound to encounter some spectacular views and a few pitfalls. So, buckle up as I share six mistakes and six wins from starting Vacay Beauty.

Let’s start with the wins, because hey, who doesn't like a bit of good news first?

Win #1: Positioning From day one, Vacay Beauty wasn't just a service; it was an experience. We positioned ourselves with a unique twist - not just a luxury brand, but a mini vacation complete with a pink mini fridge stocked with wine and drinks. It was about feeling good, not just looking good.

Win #2: Web Presence I DIYed our website, ensuring everything from design to photoshoots screamed consistency and professionalism. Plus, automating bookings right from the start saved me from the chaos of DM-based scheduling.

Win #3: Influencer Outreach We hosted a 'Bronze and Bubbles' event with photographers and micro-influencers, which wasn't just fun – it put us on the map.

Win #4: Networking Hiding behind a screen wasn’t enough. I hit the local scene, joining business groups and attending events. That effort paid off big time – hello, feature in Philly Mag!

Win #5: Diversification Vacay Beauty wasn't just about spray tans; we had retail items, clothing, face sprays – a little bit of everything to keep the cash flowing.

Win #6: Community Building The relationships I built were the real jackpot. Many clients became friends and, later, connections for my branding agency.

Now, let's switch gears to the things I’d do differently. Yes, the blunders.

Mistake #1: Printing Costs In the thrill of launching, I rebranded too soon and splurged on printed materials that ended up in the recycle bin. Ouch.

Mistake #2: The Wedding Event Flop Caught up in the excitement, I overspent on a wedding event that didn’t return the investment. A hard lesson in cost-benefit analysis.

Mistake #3: Personal Cell Mayhem Using my personal number for business? A rookie error that led to boundary issues and a lot of unnecessary stress.

Mistake #4: YouTube Burnout Ambition met reality with my YouTube channel. I was juggling too many balls and dropped the video ball pretty quickly.

Mistake #5: Paid Ads Pass I skipped paid ads, thinking organic growth was enough. In hindsight, a little paid push might have turbocharged our growth.

Mistake #6: Solo Overload The biggest lesson? I tried to do it all. It consumed me, affected my mental health, and strained my personal life.

There you have it – a mixtape of entrepreneurial lessons. Each win and mistake was a track in my business journey, and I hope sharing these can be a part of your success playlist. Whether you’re starting a spray tan company or any venture, remember: balance is key, learn fast, and never underestimate the power of community.

Thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, share, and leave us a review.