Jackie Aina, a beauty content creator and co-founder of FORVR Mood, joins forces with Denis Asamoah, an investment banker and co-founder, to discuss their rapid rise in the fragrance industry. They reveal how the pandemic ignited their entrepreneurial journey, leading to impressive sell-outs. Listeners learn about navigating the balance between love and business, setting boundaries, and empowering communities through scent. Jackie and Denis also share insights on authenticity and the importance of personal storytelling in brand building, along with their plans for future expansion.
Jackie and Denis transformed their pandemic-inspired passion into FORVR Mood, emphasizing consumer empowerment through personalized fragrance exploration and community engagement.
Their successful partnership balances creativity and operations by respecting distinct strengths and boundaries, ensuring both their personal relationship and business thrive.
Deep dives
The Personal Connection to Fragrance
The podcast emphasizes the significant personal connection individuals have with scents, highlighting their individuality in fragrance preferences. The speaker shares how the pandemic led to a resurgence in interest in perfume, as many sought comfort and normalcy during challenging times. This pivot to fragrance was a long-standing passion, with early discussions about launching a brand dating back to 2017. The increasing awareness and appreciation of personal scent have inspired a movement toward empowering consumers to explore and build their own fragrance wardrobes.
Navigating the Challenges of Business Partnership
The dynamics of working as business partners and romantic partners present unique challenges and rewards. Jackie and Dennis discuss how their complementary skills have contributed to their success, with Jackie leading creative efforts and Dennis managing operations. They stress the importance of setting boundaries to maintain their personal relationship outside of business discussions. This balance is crucial for ensuring both their partnership and company thrive without overwhelming their personal lives.
Emphasizing Authenticity in Content Creation
The conversation underscores the integral role of authenticity in building a successful content creation strategy within their business. Jackie explains that while staying authentic is vital, aspiring creators must also recognize that success rarely happens overnight; persistence is key. The significance of creating a backlog of content that reflects genuine experiences and perspectives is discussed, as it helps establish a strong foundation in the community. By focusing on meaningful connections with their audience, they can foster loyalty, even through challenging times.
Managing Negativity and Community Engagement
Both speakers reflect on the challenges of dealing with negativity in the public eye, particularly in the context of their growing audience. They emphasize the need to differentiate between constructive criticism and baseless negativity, allowing them to focus on valuable feedback while dismissing harmful comments. Dennis highlights the importance of supporting each other during tough moments, promoting mental well-being in a high-pressure environment. This positive community engagement approach aims to create a supportive space where customers feel valued and heard.
In Ep. 158 of Earned, Conor sits down with Jackie Aina and Denis Asamoah, co-founders of fragrance brand FORVR Mood. To start, we dive into how the global pandemic became a catalyst for Jackie, a beauty content creator, and Dennis, an investment banker, to combine their passions and areas of expertise, leading to the creation of a brand that sold out six months’ worth of inventory in just two hours. We learn about the journey the couple took from London to LA, balancing personal and professional lives, and thriving as a couple in business. We then discuss their ability to navigate the challenges of content creation and brand building, and they share invaluable lessons on community engagement, managing negativity, and being smart with investments. Switching gears, the couple reveals their goals of reshaping the beauty and fragrance industries and empowering consumers to feel confident and equipped. To close the show, we hear what’s next for the duo and what categories they’re expanding to next.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Jackie and Denis turned their passion for fragrance into FORVR Mood, creating a brand that empowers consumers to build their fragrance wardrobe while breaking traditional barriers in the industry.
How setting boundaries and respecting each other’s strengths is crucial for a successful partnership, allowing Jackie to focus on creativity and Denis on operations while preserving their personal relationship.
Why creators need to balance authenticity with professionalism, respond to criticism constructively, and stay true to their personal and brand values.