Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Hollis.
Hi Courtney, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I love to travel, and I always love stopping in boutiques and discovering skincare brands I’ve never heard of. In doing so I’d fall in love with these products and then wasn’t able to find where to replenish them. So, I thought…I can fix that and create a one-stop online shop for Indie Beauty.
Around the same time, we had rescued a super sick cat (Lilly) that was a regular at our vet’s office and the after-hours emergency vet. So, the initial goal of starting Lilly’s Bathcarry was simple; curate products I love and hopefully make a little money to help cover our vet costs.
It was because of Lilly’s ailments, that I started looking into product ingredients and changed what we used in our home. From skincare, candles, scented plug-ins, cleaning products, etc. I tried to rid our home of anything that might exacerbate her symptoms and went forth to curate products for Lilly’s Bathcarry with the same intention.
After 2 years of running Lilly’s Bathcarry part-time and working full-time elsewhere I finally made the leap to quit my full-time job and solely focus on Lilly’s Bathcarry. I absolutely love what I do! Being able to help people pamper themselves with amazing products is really a dream come true!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. The beginning struggles were picking the right products that spoke to our customers. The products we carry are natural, so they have a shorter shelf life than other products and when they don’t sell fast enough, they expire. That was a learning curve for me and it led me to create amazing relationships with the brands we carry to be able to order in smaller quantities. Once those kinks were worked out the other struggles have been the typical small business owner challenges. You’re the everything, from website design, admin, marketing, accounting, buyer, etc. Each day brings a new challenge, but It’s so worth it when you love what you do!
As you know, we’re big fans of Lilly’s Bathcarry. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Lilly’s Bathcarry is an online cruelty-free beauty boutique that features Indie Beauty Brands that specializes in Natural & Organic Makeup, Skincare, Body Care, Hair Care, Deodorant & Aromatherapy. Named after Miss Lilly Stinkbottom, rescue cat extraordinaire, Lilly’s Bathcarry has the best pampering products on the market. When you pamper your body, you pamper your soul.
We love the indie beauty brands that make up Lilly’s Bathcarry. Indie beauty brands are the pioneers of the industry. They have their fingers on the pulse of what is new and exciting. They dream up a product, possibly something that’s missing from the market or something they can make better. They’re on the front lines from concept to market with their hands on every step in the process. That takes intense passion and dedication. They’re reshaping the landscape with better ingredients, transparency, amazing retail support, and more. These brands are their babies and it’s so amazing to be able to watch and help them grow.
Go Ahead…Pamper Yourself…You Deserve It!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor or networking in general for me has always been about asking questions to other business owners that are not necessarily in the same business as me. I learned a bunch of things that were beneficial to growing my business from an owner of a movie theater and restaurant. Every small business owner has a story and in their stories are tips and tricks that can save you so much time and energy. So, ask the questions and listen to the stories.
Contact Info:
- Email: lilly@lillysbathecary.com
- Website: https://www.lillysbathcarry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillysbathcarry/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lillysbathcarry/
