Building a Bootstrapped Skincare Brand

In this episode of the DTC Insider Podcast, host Brian Roisentul interviews Sarah Vilenskiy, the founder of Blossom Essentials, a company specializing in clean and natural hydration products for severely dry and sensitive skin. Sarah shares her personal journey of starting the company due to her own skin issues and her background in digital marketing, which gave her a unique perspective on working with agencies. The conversation explores the challenges DTC brands face, particularly with rising customer acquisition costs on platforms like Meta, and the shift towards retail and profitability. Sarah discusses the importance of nurturing audiences through education and personalized communication, as well as the necessity of niching down and providing unique value to stand out in a crowded market. She also emphasizes the significance of transparency and community engagement, sharing her experiences with navigating production issues and building trust with customers.