Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Jones-Paige.
Hi Margaret, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a mother, wife & follower of Christ. I started my entrepreneurial journey nine years ago. I started making perfumes, body scrubs and eventually lip gloss. I started because I felt lost forsaken, and forgotten in a corporate world. I was selling them at work and the outdoor swap meet. I had already gotten an undergrad in business & was working on my graduate degree when I started. I couldn’t find the opportunity for me in my workplace after pursuing my education. I decided that I would work to create my own opportunity. I wanted to create something that I was passionate about and could pass down to my children’s children. I’ve always loved beauty, fashion, & the way makeup looked. At the time, the only makeup that I wore was lipstick & lip gloss. I have a dark complexion. At the time, only a few brands had colors that I felt looked good on me. In 2016, I became serious and Bad Beez Beauty was born. I started working with a team to help me select & source my products. I tested these products for almost two years before they hit the market. I wanted products that were for women of all ethnicities and skin complexions. In 2018, I went to school to get training in being a makeup artist. I have over 20 years of experience in retail management and know-how being knowledgeable in my craft can provide a better customer experience. It’s been a long but rewarding process. my brand collaborates with brand ambassadors, affiliates, influencers, photographers, and multiple women-owned businesses.
Our brand works to empower women to create a life versus accepting what life has given them. We want women to be transformed from the inside out. I’ve always had a gift where I have the ability to leave people better than I found them. I want women to feel more powerful, confident & beautiful after wearing our products. Currently, you can find us on our newly re-launched e-commerce site badbeez.com. Our site has a Virtual Makeup Try On Feature. Our customers can virtually try on their makeup prior to purchase. We are on Amazon Merch with T-Shirts. We have storefronts on four wholesale platforms. In addition to myself and our Co CEO, we have three employees. Giving back is so important to me. By the end of 2022, we want to introduce a scholarship program for up-and-coming female-owned businesses in beauty or skincare. In 2022 we will also introduce our Bad Beez Beauty Podcast. We want to discuss merging the gap between beauty and mental wellness. For anyone starting this journey, I’d like to tell them it’s not always easy but neither is it impossible. There is nothing more rewarding to have someone say they didn’t quit because of you. Trust God & trust yourself. Always keep learning.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh hell no, it has not been a smooth road. My biggest struggle at first was managing my time. Then it became whoa is me, nobody supports me. Another struggle was finding my place in the marketplace. It’s easy to start a business, it’s easy to get products. It’s not easy to get sales unless you put the right systems in place & know how to market to the right people. Just because you have a website does not mean people are gonna go to it. Everyday is work. Everyday I work to be better. I eventually got a couple of mentors who helped me develop systems so my business could be seen and grow.
As you know, we’re big fans of Bad Beez Beauty. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a cruelty-free beauty brand that is created for all women. We specialize in long-wearing Matte Liquid Lipstick. We have over 19 colors. Our other specialty product is our Luxury Lip Gloss. Our products are highly pigmented & nondrying. Our Lip Gloss is hydrating & moisturizing. It feels good on your lips. Our unrivaled customer service sets us apart from others. Our commitment to providing our customers with an experience versus just a purchase sets us apart. I’m most proud of our transformation into creating a movement that empowers women instead of just selling makeup. Our brand works to create products for women of all shades. We really care about our customers and their well-being. We’ve created s new website that offers a Lookbook where you can shop the look. Our new Self Care Collection currently includes soy candles. We are the one of few small businesses that you can go on our site and virtually try on your makeup.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Books Slight Edge-Jeff Olson, You are a Bad Ass Jen Sincero
Podcasts
@BeckyJAnderson
@CatherineLangman
@TransformationChurch
@TDJakes
@SocialSalesGirls
@Blessedandbossedup
Any trap music to help me meet deadlines.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://badbeez.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/beezbad
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/badbeez
Image Credits
Beyond the Pond Photography Exposure by Rachael Bailee Lewis Photography Alesia Dowden Photography
