Episodes

Sales and Marketing Secrets | Donald Kelly As a consumer, you may view anyone in the sales and marketing world as an enemy, especially within the beauty industry. However, you may want to reconsider. Sellers aren’t just trying to push products on you. Many take the time to review items to ensure they are safe to use and to help consumers make informed decisions. Don’t believe us? Then listen to our special guest, Donald C. Kelly, a seasoned sales professional and CEO of TSE Studios. Join us as we explore ethical marketing practices, build awareness, and learn how to navigate online purchases. Meet Donald Kelly With years of experience in sales and marketing, he’s sharing exactly how sellers make safe and informed decisions about the products they sell to consumers. He breaks down complex sales and marketing concepts and provides advice for businesses aiming to navigate the modern marketplace. Donald advocates for businesses to prioritize integrity and trust in their marketing efforts, explaining how ethical practices can actually improve customer engagement. Influencer Marketing Dynamics There’s no denying the fact that video-based social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become top tools for marketing. However, influencers aren’t required to follow the same regulations as companies, meaning they can say whatever they want about a product they’re promoting, whether it’s true or not. Some influencers are only in it for the money, while others actually take the time to test products and provide real, honest reviews. To promote transparency, companies are now requiring influencers to disclose affiliations to enhance their credibility and accountability. Enhancing Consumer Awareness How can you trust and believe what you see and hear on social media? Take the time to assess an influencer’s recommendations. Try using an app like Yuka, which scans product barcodes and rates them based on their contents. Researching beauty products helps you avoid falling for manipulative marketing tactics. Navigating Online Purchases If you’re not convinced about a specific product and don’t want to waste money, but still want to test it, buy the sample. This allows you to decide if the product is worth the investment before making a significant purchase. Strategies for Small Businesses If your business isn’t on TikTok or Instagram yet, you need to create an account now. People want information quickly, and the best way to share it is through video-based content. You can use YouTube as a platform for informative content on beauty products. It’s still important to create blog posts and target long-tail keywords to improve your organic search visibility. LinkedIn is ideal for B2B businesses looking to reach their target audience. “And the idea of an influencer or individual with clout sharing and giving their feedback is important, but it’s also critical to ensure that there is some level of responsibility involved.” – Donald Kelly. Resources Donald Kelly on LinkedIn TSE Studios

What is Nourify and Beautify? | Nour Abochama and Linda Yates How do you know that your cosmetic products are safe for you? Honestly, you don’t know, and a product that’s perfect for you may be the culprit behind your teenage daughter’s extreme acne. This is why we’ve come together, Nour Abochama and Linda Yates, to kick off the Nourify and Beautify podcast. In this very first episode, we’re diving into what our new podcast is all about and what you can look forward to from us. Are you excited to learn more about your favorite makeup products? Meet Nour Abochama Nour Abochama is a prominent figure in quality control for supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. As the co-founder of Labophine Garmin Laboratories and American Testing Lab, she has earned a reputation for her unwavering commitment to excellence and consumer safety. Her dedication to transparency and accountability has set a benchmark in the industry, motivating her to bridge the communication gap between manufacturers and consumers. Meet Linda Yates Linda Yates is a multifaceted professional who excels as a keynote speaker, leadership consultant, executive coach, corporate trainer, author, stylist, and voice-over talent. Linda is deeply passionate about teaching effective communication strategies that boost personal and professional image. She is also the dedicated host of the podcast “Int-HER-rupt,” where she continually empowers women to break barriers and lead confidently. The Inspiration Behind the Podcast Nour shares a personal revelation that sparked the creation of this podcast. She recalls the shock of discovering a product she had tested being used by her own twin daughters. This moment made her realize the wider implications of her work in the lab and the urgent need for public awareness about product safety. Nour believes that industry experts must step out of their ‘bubbles’ and engage in candid discussions with consumers about the products they use. Why Informed Choices Matter? We delve into why consumers must be informed about the products they use. From potential chemical interactions between multiple products to questions about the suitability of specific items for different age groups, the hosts underscore the importance of understanding what’s really in your beauty products. Through our commitment to helping you make informed choices, you can expect us to cover topics such as cosmetic surgeries, beauty products, natural health remedies, and weight loss medications. We will also feature experts and creators who will provide valuable insights into the beauty industry to help you make safe and informed decisions. “It matters a lot. Sometimes, you’re using multiple products that contain one small quantity that’s safe in one product, but if you combine it with different products, it’s not safe anymore. And we never think about that.” – Nour Abochama. “I have all these different jars and bottles in my cupboard, and, yeah, I haven’t really thought about what I’m doing and putting and how they’re interacting.” – Linda Yates

What’s going on behind the scenes when making a health and wellness product? How does quality control ensure that the product they’re reviewing is safe for consumers? Our guest, Brian Yam, a compliance consultant, is here to answer these questions and guide us through the steps of determining when it’s safe to put a product on the market. Meet Brian Yam With years of experience in the health and wellness product industry, Brian works as a compliance consultant, ensuring products meet regulatory requirements and standards set by entities like the FDA and FTC. What Does Compliance Mean? Compliance refers to the regulations set by the FDA and FTC that products must meet before being put on the market. Companies take specific steps to test the safety and quality of their products, ensuring they are high-quality, safe, and effective for consumers. Brian also shares insights into his day-to-day work as a compliance consultant, giving an inside look at the steps brands take to meet compliance requirements. Out-of-Specification: What Happens Next? What happens when a product test is non-compliant? Brian explains that the next steps depend on the reason for the out-of-specification result. If it’s a food safety issue, immediate recall steps are taken to remove the product from the market. Retests are then conducted to identify the root cause of the problem. Labs, manufacturers, and brands work together to resolve the issues and prevent them from happening in the future. Compliance Consultant Career Steps Can you see yourself pursuing a career like Brian’s? If you’re interested in becoming a compliance consultant, he shares advice on how to get started. The best way to break into this field is by working for a small boutique consulting firm that is willing to mentor and teach you. This experience provides a valuable stepping stone into the world of compliance work. “You’re only as good as your manufacturer, only as good as the ingredients you procure, and that supply chain is so complex. If there’s a weak link anywhere, it can fail at any time.” – Brian Yam. Resources Mighty Startup YouTube Channel BlueOceanRegulatory.com Brian@blueoceanregulatory.co