With this years, COSMECON approaching we wanted to take a look back at our 2021 Small Business Grant winner in partnership with Pacific Retail Capital Partners. Congratulations once again to our 2021 grant winner, The Potion Studio! Founder and CEO Aziza El Wanni won a $2,000 check and a Consultation Package of 1:1 masterclasses with Pacific Retail executives in Marketing, Leasing, and Operations. The grant was open to all small businesses in the beauty, wellness, and cosmetics sectors. The Potion Studio is a collection of luxury haircare products designed to revolutionize and elevate natural beauty and haircare routine.
“My mom was always helping me create a concoction, or potion if you will, just to find a product that actually works for my hair. Experimenting, experimenting, it actually became like a weekly thing to try something new. When I moved, I had the same issue. So that’s how it started. I just thought, let me try something and see if I can share it with the world. ”
Founder and CEO Aziza El Wanni started her business last year. The Potion Studio is a collection of luxury haircare products designed to revolutionize and elevate natural beauty and haircare routine.
“A lot of products are targeted towards curly hair, but not all curly hair. I don't feel like there's enough diversity within the beauty community, hair specifically. So that's where I came in. I just decided to make something truly luxurious, very simple ingredients, all clean, for all genders.”
The Potion Studio is created for all hair types, using only the cleanest, highest-quality formulas to support every step of the natural hair journey. Aziza wants her customers to look at The Potion Studio and see an inclusive brand that's luxurious and good for the environment.
“I know exactly the vision that I have and where I want to go. So I will actually use the grant for education, to really get a feel of the [LA] market and how I can get myself to the target audience that I want.”
On winning 1:1 meetings with Pacific Retail SVPs in marketing, local leasing, and asset management: “I love what I'm doing! When I started out I was like, ‘Well I can do that. Google is free.’ Now I’m looking for guidance. How do I really get people to connect? I would love to be in retail stores or in salons, but again, how do I get there? Who do I talk to? These sound like little simple things, but sometimes you need someone who knows.”
"Congrats! Thank you to our partners at RETAILBOSS who made this grant selection process possible and thank you to all the incredible business owners who applied. It's an exciting time for retail and we wish everyone great success." - Pacific Retail Partners
