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Name: Ponchitta Lilly

Business: Ponch Cosmetics, high definition cosmetics

Industry: E-Commerce, Health & Beauty

Location: Longview, Texas, U.S.

Reason for starting: I started a cosmetics business because I love makeup. I love to talk about it and write about it. As a child, I was always fascinated with color. Makeup allows me to play with color in many creative ways. I needed more independence and freedom to do what I love. Ownership of my business has given me more freedom to express myself creatively through makeup and cosmetics.

Related: Read about another health & beauty entrepreneur here. 

How do you define success? Success to me means influence, it means liberation, and it means guts. When you are successful, you have the power to influence others and their decisions. It is a privilege that one should not take lightly. With success, comes liberation. It is liberating to know that you have the power to make positive changes that affect the lives of others. At some point in your journey, you have to have guts to start a grand gesture and see it through to the very end. That takes tremendous courage that many people do not possess. Successful people do. This is what it means to be successful.

Biggest Success: My biggest success came when Ponch Cosmetics hosted its first fundraiser, the Faces of Beauty Event. It was a huge first time event that raised $5k to provide cosmetic products to abused women. We did not accomplish our goal, but we created buzz for the brand and the cause.

What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? My top challenge has been funding. I have addressed it by selling more and creating more opportunities to sell. I have also, committed to more online marketing, which has helped. It is mandatory that I sell x amount of units each month. Therefore, I set goals and I push myself to accomplish them. I have also, committed to more online marketing, which has helped. I now promote Ponch Cosmetics Blog and Ponch Cosmetics website so that I can build brand awareness. I recently held my first Social Media Giveaway and it has help to produce more hits on my website and blog. When I started my business, I didn’t fund the right things. Therefore, I wasted some money. It hurt! Thankfully, I had a reserve. Now I watch every dime and spend more on products and marketing. I am finally seeing some results.

Related: Read about a female entrepreneur providing PR and Marketing services to small businesses here

Who is your most important role model? My grandmother was my most important role model because she was an entrepreneur who ran her own cafe. I never realized it until later that she was the first in my family. She worked hard every day and never complained. She took care of her children and grandchildren with no help. Therefore, no matter what I do, I give my all and I don’t complain. I stand on her shoulders.

[box_light]Website  www.ponchcosmetics.com
Twitter  @ponchcosmetics
Facebook  www.facebook.com/ponchcosmetics[/box_light]

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Edited by The Story Exchange