Kellie Duran: Eco-Friendly Leader in Luscious, All-Natural Lips
With a vision to create a lip balm made only from natural ingredients, Kiss Me Honey founder Kellie Duran is on a mission to make everyone feel safe using beauty products. Through blood, sweat, and tears, Duran was able to create lip balm that hydrates, softens and stays on your lips
Read more on how this eco-friendly entrepreneur built a business while keeping her true nature!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got the idea or concept for your business.
Over the years, I have tried countless lip balms. I kept buying one after another, finding likes and dislikes in each one. Then, I decided to research the ingredients in lip balm products. I was surprised to find that many lip balms are made with harmful chemicals and other ingredients that people should not be putting on their lips! Some of these ingredients do the reverse and dry lips instead of keeping them soft.
So, I decided to make my own lip balm which can also be used as a lip primer. I started melting away and found a wonderful organic formulation that was safe for adults and children. Thus Kiss Me Honey evolved!
As a business owner, how would you define success?
The definition of success is treated differently amongst people. To me, it’s starting with a goal/dream and working from the ground up. Imagining you want everyone in the world to know about Kiss Me Honey or any product. Seeing how far my vision has come, I feel success. Is the success where I see myself in the end with my brand? No! But like everything else, it takes, time, work, and dedication to truly establish your level and belief of what success is.
How do you find inspiration for new ideas within your company?
I listen to what other people are looking for and their beauty needs, as well as larger companies who I respect. Companies who are already years ahead sometimes are the best to get advice and tips from. They keep you from small, costly mistakes! I take any advice that is valuable.
What’s your productivity secret?
I don’t feel I have any secrets, creating a product, building a brand, establishing customers, and providing excellent customer service is hard work, dedication, and there’s a true care and passion knowing I have created something on my own that anyone can use. Plus, it’s completely safe. Being productive is being efficient and knowing when you have too much on your plate. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or hire the right people who represent themselves in a way you represent your brand.
What makes your company unique?
We are a trendy, eye catching, and bold item on the outside. The greatness comes from the inside when women buy on impulse and realize, WOW, the ingredients are organic, clean, non-toxic, and cruelty-free.
What were the biggest roadblocks in building your business? How did you overcome those challenges?
For me, starting with an idea and actually creating the product wasn’t the hard part. It was having the product in hand and not having guidance on where to start. I feel most small companies learn through trial and error. I reached out to some small business owners and friends and asked questions. Another road block I had was up front capital. I didn’t want to get business loans and have up front debt, so I started little and slow, so I could use the revenue I made and put it back into my business for new products. One other challenge was trademarking Kiss Me Honey, this was my biggest roadblock. Once I tackled that task, I try to let others know make sure you have this in line before creating a name and or brand.
If you could give three tips to someone just starting out, what would they be?
- Ask and reach out to other small business owners for tips/advice.
- Do not initially pay for things you can do yourself or learn.
- Create the product and test it, sample it, give it, and tweak until you can formulate the perfect product to your standard.
Learn more about Kiss Me Honey at http://kissmyhoney.com.