In this episode of Scaling Emerging Beauty, I sit down with Kelly Bottenfield, co-founder and sales leader at The Honey Pot Company. Kelly has over 25 years of experience in the CPG industry, starting her career at Whole Foods before transitioning to sales and brand-building. She played a pivotal role in scaling The Honey Pot Company from a small, bootstrapped startup to a household name in mass retail.

We dive into:
✅ How a strategic focus on mass retail fueled The Honey Pot’s rapid growth
✅ The role of brokers in a brand’s sales strategy and how to choose the right partners
✅ Key lessons in fundraising and securing investors that align with your brand’s vision
✅ Managing explosive demand, especially during moments of unexpected virality
✅ Why prioritizing operations before sales is critical for long-term success

Kelly shares invaluable insights on navigating retail, building a resilient sales function, and balancing the realities of entrepreneurship with mental well-being. If you’re an early-stage beauty founder, this episode is packed with strategies to help you scale smarter.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Links:
Kelly Bottenfield – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellybottenfield/

Scaling Emerging Beauty & Monique Benoit –
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🔗 Monique Benoit on LinkedIn
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🔗 Scaling Emerging Beauty Website

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