The Share Podcast

BREAK THE MOLD OF BEAUTIFUL is the guiding principle behind Marjani Beauty and The Brown Beauty Co-op, a proudly-proclaimed "brown girls' beauty playground" co-founded by Kimberly Smith.    In less than two years, Kimberly has successfully transferred the magnetic brand story of her e-commerce brainchild, Marjani, into an in-store experience that has brought brown girls from everywhere together to celebrate their beauty and "be the possibility."     It's called The Brown Beauty Co-op, and it's one of the most on-brand unique retail concepts in Washington, DC.  From music to put you in the mood to shop your next lip shade to floor-to-ceiling affirmations that remind its customers of who they are and why they're here, this Washington City Paper-recognized store concept can teach us all a little more about how to tell a story, #IRL.      In this episode, you will learn:   -How to set an in-store mood that reflects your brand story and connects with your target customers' shopping expectations -How co-founder Kimberly Smith stays true to the Marjani brand voice offline through its employees, in-store signage, decor, and its sales approach -Why it's important for small businesses to partner with other small businesses and the benefits they both can achieve from being "on the shelf" and "on the ground" with their target customers -Why an offline store experience may be your fastest and best form of market research   -What Marjani’s core brand promise: “Be the possibility” really means to its founder and the customers it aims to serve in its in-store environment _____________________ Learn more about Marjani at marjanibeauty.com Shop the magnetic in-store experience yourself at The Brown Beauty Co-op located in Dupont Circle: 1365 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20036 _____________________ Want a peak inside the framework I used to craft the brand story for Marjani? Visit --> bit.ly/secretsofstory to download a FREE copy of my latest e-book: Storytelling Success Secrets: The 4 Questions Every Brand Story Must Answer to Sell Like Crazy & Stand Out From The Crowd! 

"How do I choose the right opportunities for my brand?" "Is this retailer the right partner for me?" "What move will take our business to the next level?" "Will my customers like this?" If you've ever asked yourself one of these questions, you'll want to tune into this full-length interview with Jasmene Bowdry, Founder & CEO of SHIFT Stylehouse. In less than 18 months, Jasmene's newly-rebranded fashion brand has been featured in The Market at Macy’s Lenox Square, on Bravo TV, xoNECOLE.com, Sheen Magazine, and Sister Circle TV. SHIFT StyleHouse has also been seen on Tyra Banks, Sarah Jakes-Roberts, and other notable influencers. So what's driving her success? I'll tell you that it's not a stack of investor cash or a silver spoon full of all the right connections that are propelling her now 3 fashion brands forward.  Jasmene's unwavering commitment to the "why" in her story drives every decision she makes and ultimately every success she experiences.  In This Episode, You Will Learn:  -How Jasmene confidently transferred her expert retail buying experience at Saks Fifth Avenue to launch her first fashion boutique.  -What you should do in Year 1 of your business to set yourself up for long-term success. -How to build your first product collection (and every one after that) around your customer's story and become a go-to brand in their everyday lives. -How the brand story behind SHIFT Stylehouse helps Jasmene choose the right opportunities and partnerships for her business - ones that allow her products to "sell on their own."  -Why "reaching back and pulling forward" is a mantra we ALL should live by as we climb our own "mountains." Additional Resources: For more brand storytelling tips, join me for my upcoming free, *LIVE* Masterclass: How to Build Your Brand Story to Sell on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019 at 12pm EST. Learn the 3 behind-the-scenes secrets that I used to craft the brand story for SHIFT Stylehouse and others that can help you connect better with your customers and sell more effectively.  Reserve your seat --> bit.ly/brandstoryclass  Show Links: IG: @SHIFTStylehouse @JasmeneMache @TheBoutiqueTeacher Shop: www.shiftstylehouse.com Learn: www.theboutiqueteachers.com 

In this first full manifesto episode, I'm sharing 3 reasons why EVERY startup under the sun needs a story to survive in today's super competitive marketplace! We'll dive into the power and purpose of storytelling before examining how it works in business. Get an inside view into the storytelling principles that have made brands like TOMS, Warby Parker and Coca-Cola both successful and significant in the business world.  In this episode, you will ... -Hear the question one brave and tactless entrepreneur asked me just as I was getting ready to exit the stage after giving what I thought was a life-changing branding presentation. -See how your customers are just like curious, stubborn children who won't act on anything until one very simple question is answered for them. -Learn the 3 key reasons why EVERY startup under the sun needs a story to launch, build and scale their brand. -Learn the key to building deeper, more profitable connections with the people you really want to reach. -Find out about an interesting neuroscience study conducted at Princeton University that proved the power stories have on the brain AND how you can cash in on that power to market and sell more effectively. Highlights: "Customers don't care what you're selling until they know why you're selling it." "By simply telling a story, you have the ability to plant ideas, thoughts, and emotions into the minds of those in your audience." "People do not buy products or services; they buy emotions, stories and magic."   Additional Resources: For more storytelling tips, you can download my latest e-book, Storytelling Success Secrets: The 4 Questions Every Brand Story Must Answer to Sell Like Crazy & Stand Out From the Crowd. Grab your FREE copy here ---> www.bit.ly/secretsofstory

Welcome to The Share: Storycraft for Startups Podcast. In this introductory episode, meet your host, Amber Williams, and discover her passion for helping new entrepreneurs better connect with their customers and stand out from the rest using one simple method: storytelling. Find out the one thing that she's adopted from her big box corporate experience that can help you scale your startup. See what Nike, L'Oreal, and Starbucks all have in common when it comes to brand building and why you should begin crafting your own unique brand story. Consider this introduction your invitation to join Amber and thousands of others in the startup community in a conversation around why and how story sells.