For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, social media can be an absolute game-changer! All it takes is one viral post and a business can suddenly take off.
At Like A Voss Social Media, we’re highlighting local businesses and entrepreneurs who are killing the online game. This week’s spotlight is on Casey Boyce, Owner of Shiva’s Delight!
Shiva’s Delight offers a full line of vegan luxury skincare products for a variety of skin types using natural plant based ingredients.
Casey’s love of animals has been a huge influence on the company. She works hard to ensure that everything is cruelty-free and vegan. Shiva’s Delight is now listed on the Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide.
Our CEO Mandi interviewed Casey about her secret to success in business and in life. We also got some awesome insights into what they think makes social media such an effective tool in business.
A Little Bit About Being a Female Entrepreneur
1: How long have you been in business?
13 going on 14 years
2: What made you decide to break away from the 9-5 and start Shiva’s Delight?
Shiva’s Delight began when my son was born. The Montessori school where I worked was sold to a French couple while I was on maternity leave and because I was not bilingual I was suddenly out of a job. I had decided to stay home and raise my son instead of jumping back into the workforce. I had studied aromatherapy massage, reflexology and various natural healing modalities and fell in love with the healing ability of plants. I began experimenting with natural ingredients making skincare products for myself and my family. I found that my skin improved drastically when I started using my own products and friends noticed. I had requests to start making soaps, bath products and skincare for friends and that is how Shiva’s Delight was started. I had not planned on having a skincare company, it just happened organically by what you could call a happy accident!
3: What do you love most about being a female entrepreneur?
I love the freedom to set my own goals and work by my own timeline. I answer to myself and therefore have learned a lot about being accountable to myself and following through on personal goals! It has helped me to grow as a person and to see my own potential in a totally new and exciting way. Being an entrepreneur has allowed me to balance work and time with family (sometimes that still gets tricky). It has also brought an incredible circle of confident, supportive and amazing women into my life! There are so many female entrepreneurs out there making waves and bringing about positive change in the business world and I feel fortunate to know so many.
4: What is the hardest thing you have had to overcome as a female entrepreneur?
I literally started out without loans and grew organically and slowly. I was able to secure a grant a few years ago from KEDCO that helped me get to the next level. I think not having a lot of money at startup was the biggest hurdle but with discipline and setting small attainable goals I was able to get through.
Another hurdle was staying unique in a field that has become oversaturated. When I started out there were not many other natural skincare companies. Over the past 3 years there has been a boom in the field of small batch skincare and it is overwhelming just how many are out there. My advice is, stay in your own lane, don’t follow trends too closely because they come and go so quickly. Stick with your best sellers, figure out how to up your game and show the world why your brand is strong and why your products are different and why they are worth it!
And my final hurdle was getting over the fact that so many people tried to tell me along the way that I would not make it. My advice is do not listen to the negative narrative that others often feel the need to share, not everyone wants to see you succeed. Surround yourself with supportive positive people who want to see you grow and thrive. Be creative in your journey, not all roads are the same and what works for someone else may not work for you! Carve your own path!
5: Something you did not foresee when you decided to start your own line of skincare products?
I had no idea when I started that my products would be picked up by Film and TV make up artists and that they would be used on some seriously incredible shows. Had you told me that 13 years ago I would have laughed and not believed you. I have make-up artists across the U.S and Canada that contact me when a new show is starting up and I outfit the make up trailers with skincare!
The film industry has been incredibly supportive and the make up artists love supporting independent brands. It’s pretty neat to be watching a show and be able to say “my skincare is on that face”. The first Celebrity Makeup Artist to use my line was Kat Vonpire and not only did she spread the word to her fellow MUA’s but she has also become a dear friend! If you are reading this Kat, please know that I adore you and appreciate you!
In 2017 my skincare products made it onto the set of Schitt’s Creek for a season and I was beyond excited. I have now binge watched the show at least 10 times from beginning to end! The list of shows that have used my products is growing and I am extremely grateful to the makeup artists in the film and TV world that keep spreading the word.
6: What is one thing about working in the beauty industry that people would be surprised to learn?
Just because a company says their products are natural it doesn’t mean they are. Learn to read labels, learn about ingredients and please be very cautious of what you are putting on your skin. Your skin is your largest organ and it absorbs so much of what you put on it. Greenwashing is real and it is happening everywhere. There is a shift happening right now and people are seeking out real products with natural ingredients. Chances are that no matter where you live there will be an amazing local skincare business making products that really are 100% natural! Support them and your skin will thank you 🙂
And Now Onto The Social Media Questions!
7: Do you have a favorite social media platform? Why?
Instagram. It has opened the door to a whole new group of incredible humans all around the world that are skincare enthusiasts and really love supporting women in business. I have met so many great people on this platform and it has been an incredible way to grow my company and has greatly helped me to understand branding in a whole new way. I love Instagram and look forward to reading all of the comments and messages on my page every morning!
8: What made you decide to start using social media as a way to promote your company?
I started using Facebook and Instagram to help get the word out about my products. I had no idea just how important this would be!
9: How has social media impacted your business? Would you say that it’s an effective marketing tool?
I have seen rapid growth, sales have gone up greatly and the real interactions and direct contact with clients is amazing. I think it’s an awesome marketing tool and I love the fact that you can talk to people across the world using social media platforms! It’s all about connection. I love meeting new people and social media has been a wonderful way to do that. I have also met so many independent beauty reviewers and they have been using my skincare line and sharing it with the world.
10: What advice would you give to other businesses and entrepreneurs who want to use social media as a way to connect with customers?
I would say be interactive, respond to people who reach out to you. Be honest and real. Share your personal story and highlights of your business journey because people want to get to know the real you. Talk about things you have overcome to get where you are. A brand is much more than products and staged photos! And always be kind.
A Little More About Casey
I am a huge animal advocate and support local rescues in my area. 3 of my cats are rescues and I just adopted a rescued budgie to add to the family. I have an awesome husband and 13 year old son whom I adore. I love science fiction and all things space related. I’ve read lots of books about quantum physics and am obsessed with Carl Sagan. My favourite movie is Contact and my favourite animals are squirrels! My favourite quote by Carl Sagan, “For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.”
I have an amazing family and I couldn’t have done this without their support and love.
Connect with Casey
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Do you know a female entrepreneur who loves social media as much as we do? Contact us today – we’d love to tell her story!
