My advice to someone looking to get into business is to give it a go! There is nothing worse than having regrets. Communicate your aspirations simply. Be passionate and committed and learn all you can. When you are young and taking your first steps in business, you won’t know how to manage people – this is something that can only come with time and experience. As the saying goes, “I wish I knew then what I know now”. It’s all a learning curve though, and over the years, you will come across so many different people from different age groups and different backgrounds, all of them with something to teach you. Management skills grow with you and the role. It doesn’t matter how many books you read; you need to be doing it to get better at it, learning on the job.
I am constantly inspired by the beauty industry – still as much now as I was then. You have to remain engaged and inspired. And I still am constantly inspired by how the skin works. I think you get back what you give, so be prepared to learn, give everything your all, be a good listener, be hungry for knowledge and the rest will all come into play!
Technology is a key driver in skincare innovation – and we celebrate this with the upcoming launch of Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix, the next generation of Pro-Collagen. It contains Drone Peptide Technology, which acts as a targeted delivery system bringing a boost of anti-ageing actives and hydration to areas of skin that need it the most! Watch this space.
–
Joy Isaacs
Founder of ARgENTUM Apothecary
As a redhead from South Africa, I definitely needed to stay out of the sun and moved to the UK at 18 to start my adventure. According to those I meet I still have not lost my accent, which sounds somewhat Australian having lived here for 24 years. I have 3 children, all boys ages 14, 13 and 8 – so I balance motherhood and career, as many woman do. We live in London with my partner, who is also ARgENTUM’s Creative Director, Sam Gray. Sam and I met at the beginning of ARgENTUM’s journey and our relationship has very much informed the inspiration behind the brands philosophy of love.
Become invaluable and those in charge (if they are any good) will take note…
Although I took a few years off my career to focus on being a mother, when I had the dream for ARgENTUM ~ the timing felt right. My career before that was an eclectic mix, with a focus on luxury marketing and not skincare and I think that inexperience inspired the unique way in which our customers engage with our brand and products. I focused on the things I coveted as a consumer, the things I felt were missing in and around skincare.
Sometimes we can feel frustrated in a job or industry that doesn’t feel like it represents our passion, but I believe working across many varied roles helps to form an overview of business, even if it is to establish how you do and don’t want to do things. It shapes an understanding, so I very much believe in ‘what’s for you won’t go by you’ and that sometimes we are just incubating until the magic is right.
When we do something creative and it ends up feeling 100% right – that type of moment hits my heart and I just know we are connecting. I never normally stop to muse on highlights in my career, but recently le savon lune won “best new facial cleanser” with OK Beauty Awards, and this recognition meant a lot as this product holds a special place in my heart because it truly is one of a kind.