Navigating the World of Self-Care: Insights from Hannah Minardi & Austin Wiberg at Standard Self Care

Show Notes: In this episode of the Beyond Beauty podcast, the host interviews Hannah Minardi and Austin Wiberg, co-founders of Standard Self-Care, a cosmeceuticals skincare brand. They discuss their backgrounds, the inception of their clean beauty business, and their bootstrapping approach. The co-founders share insights into their product lineup, designed to be unisex and appealing to a broad audience, including male gamers. They highlight the shift towards simplified skincare routines for men and the importance of clean, effective products. Plans for expanding their range to include supplements are also mentioned, along with a special discount code for listeners, underscoring their commitment to efficacy and consumer engagement. About Hannah & Austin: Hannah Minardi and Austin Wiberg are the co-founders of Standard Self Care, the leading cosmeceutical skincare line designed to help you streamline and upgrade your daily ritual with clean, bioactive products that actually work. With extensive experience as strategic consultants to brands including Nike, Target, Hot Pilates, Revolve, Suja Juice, Talentless, and more, Hannah and Austin recognized a gap in the wellness space. There’s no shortage of ‘clean’ beauty brands infiltrating your Explore Page, but if your products don’t create lasting results in your skin, you’ll return to your tried-and-true routine. That's why they joined forces to create Standard Self Care: a concentrated line of 3 cosmeceutical products that outperform your conventional lineup. Always Bioactive, Non-Toxic, Vegan, Paraben-Free, Cruelty-Free, Fragrance-Free, Silicone-Free, and designed with the highest standards to optimize your self-care practice and upgrade your quality of life. Timestamps: The inception story (00:01:10) Hannah and Austin's meeting and college experience, leading to the start of their careers and the inception of Standard Self-Care. Decision to start a business (00:04:05) The decision-making process, entrepreneurship philosophy, and the transition from corporate jobs to starting their own business. Entering the clean beauty space (00:07:22) The motivation behind entering the clean beauty market, the gap in the wellness space, and the decision to create a higher standard of products. Communicating higher quality (00:09:59) Strategies for communicating product quality, holistic approach to health, and educating consumers about ingredients. Bootstrapping vs. seeking financing (00:14:10) The decision to bootstrap, reasoning behind it, and the advantages of proving the concept before seeking external funding. Product lineup and adoption (00:18:09) The current product lineup, including a cleansing balm, daily moisturizer, and eye cream, and the adoption of unisex products, including male adoption and conscious men's skincare choices. Male Gamers as Unexpected Consumers (00:19:56) Discussion on the surprising popularity of the skincare products among predominantly male gamers. Simplifying Skincare Routine for Men (00:20:57) The need for a simplified skincare routine for men and the differences in consumer behavior between men and women. Marketing Strategy and Unexpected Consumer Demographics (00:23:04) Discussion on the evolving marketing strategy and the unexpected consumer demographics, including the balance of male and female consumers. Expansion of Product Line and Holistic Approach (00:24:34) Plans to expand the product line beyond skincare and into holistic health, including supplements and other self-care products. Product Efficacy and Brand Accessibility (00:28:05) Emphasis on product efficacy, the importance of packaging, and making the brand accessible to consumers. Brand's Social Media and Discount Code (00:29:01) Information about where to find the brand on social media platforms and a special discount code for the audience. This podcast is produced by the team at Dillie: a marketing agency with a niche focus on beauty and personal care brands. https://dilliecreative.com/