TikTok Star Entrepreneur: Kiki Quesada's Inspiring Journey

Show Notes: In this episode of the Dilly Dally podcast, 19-year-old Kiki, founder of Kiki Cosmetics, recounts her entrepreneurial journey from starting a sticker business on TikTok to launching a successful cosmetics brand during the pandemic. She discusses her early ventures into making slime and candles, her viral TikTok breakthrough, and her expansion into products like press-on nails and zodiac-inspired lip glosses. Kiki shares insights on utilizing social media for marketing, the challenges of scaling a business, and the importance of community and taking risks. The interview highlights the experiences of a young, motivated entrepreneur in the beauty industry. About Kiki Quesada 19 Year old Kiki Quesada launched her beauty brand in 2020 using only social media and now has over 2 million followers and thousands of loyal customers. For 3 years she’s been navigating teen entrepreneurship and learning how to persevere through challenges. Kiki is most known for her handmade, hydrating, and yummy scented lip glosses as well as her entertaining behind the scenes videos! You can find Kiki on any social platform @Kikizcosmeticz to follow along her journey! Timestamps: The start of Kiki's journey (00:00:05) Kiki's initial inspiration and the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey during the pandemic. Finding success on TikTok (00:01:56) The impact of one viral TikTok video on Kiki's business and her unexpected success. Product development and expansion (00:03:16) Kiki's transition from press-on nails to lip gloss and the expansion of her product line. Challenges and motivation (00:08:32) The difficulties and late-night struggles of running a business, along with advice for staying motivated. Transition to e-commerce (00:09:57) Kiki's journey from taking orders through DMs to establishing her own e-commerce platform. Building a website and business knowledge (00:10:58) Challenges and advice related to creating a website and gaining business knowledge. Female entrepreneurship and support (00:15:14) The importance of women supporting women in the business world and the power of sharing resources. Product development and trends (00:15:54) Kiki's approach to selecting new products, focusing on trends and customer engagement. Navigating business growth (00:17:27) The challenges and plans for expanding the business, including delegating tasks and taking risks. Handling risk aversion (00:18:40) Advice for entrepreneurs who are hesitant to take risks and the importance of weighing potential outcomes. The biggest risk (00:19:05) Entrepreneurial risk-taking and having a plan B for business sustainability. Powerful advice from mom (00:19:45) Advice on overcoming nervousness and connecting with others in the entrepreneurial journey. Understanding your own path (00:20:42) Recognizing one's unique business journey and not comparing it with others. Retailing decisions (00:21:53) Discussion on the choice between direct-to-consumer and retailing in the beauty industry. Inspiration from mom (00:22:38) The influence of Kiki's mother on her entrepreneurial journey and motivation. Balancing personal life and business (00:24:54) Strategies for managing personal life while being an entrepreneur. Future plans for Kikiz Cosmetics (00:25:44) Upcoming lip gloss production and potential expansion into retailers. 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/