RAW TALES GIVES READERS AN INSIGHT LOOK INTO VEGAN COMPANIES AND THE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND THE BRAND. WE ASKED OUR FEATURES TO BE RAW AND TRANSPARENT IN SHARING THEIR CHALLENGES, SUCCESS, AND THE PASSION THAT CONTINUES TO DRIVE THEIR BUSINESS.
We gladly introduce the Raw Tale of Sam Antics.
Columbus, Ohio based company Hey Pretty! Beauty provides affordable beauty services without sacrificing quality, service or integrity to their clients.
“My inspiration comes from a strong sense of community and working together to cultivate change. I’ve always believed that art inspires art.” – Sam Antics
WHEN DID YOU BECOME A VEGAN?
I first became educated about cruelty to animals in the cosmetics industry when I was attending college at Ohio State University. For my final project in my plant biology class, I chose to write about plant products in cosmetics. Through my research, I found more about how cosmetics are produced and where the ingredients originate. I learned about the cruel practices that animals undergo during the cosmetics testing process. It was then that I started to be more conscious of where my products come from and how they’re tested and manufactured. Not long after I gained awareness of the meat-industry, factory farming and the social and economical consequences of our reliance on animal meat. I chose to support local farmers and gardens through crop-sharing programs and make better choices about where my food comes from.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A VEGAN?
Hey Pretty! was always cruelty-free but began offering vegan services in 2015. It developed from a desire to support other small companies that are embracing vegan practices (independent cosmetics and skincare companies) and to raise awareness of what’s really in your makeup bag. Being from Columbus was another piece of that as I saw there was a need in the market. Even in our progressive community, you’d have to conduct a pretty extensive google search to find more than 1 or 2 vegan product stockists that are local and/or accessible. We wanted to be able to provide service to those that didn’t have many choices and offer them something that they could feel good about inside and out.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START HEY PRETTY! BEAUTY?
Hey Pretty! emerged from a love of service. I wanted to create a model that would allow women to look and feel good for their special events and know that they were going to be in good hands! We want to provide affordable beauty services without sacrificing quality, service or integrity. Our clients know that they are our top priority and they can feel great about the products we’re using and our professional application/styling.
WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
We offer makeup and hairstyling for weddings, photos, and events using only cruelty-free cosmetics and tools. We offer packages for vegan brides as well as those with gluten sensitivities. We also offer a luxe wedding day prep package where breakfast and drinks are provided for the wedding party!
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH HAVING A VEGAN COMPANY?
The biggest challenge so far has just been tapping into our vegan community and finding clients that share our values. We have been successfully providing services for all types of clients that might not necessarily have an interest in natural services, vegan products or care to be educated about animal cruelty in our industry – but that simply want our beauty services because they are well executed.
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THIS CHALLENGE?
I think we have a wonderful opportunity to educate clients about why we use certain products and what goes on behind closed doors in the cosmetics industry. We do like to express that we are cruelty-free first and foremost and then allow the questions to come organically and provide resources and conversational education to our clients so that, if they’re truly interested, they can make their own decisions when they’re shopping for beauty products and services. Word of mouth has also been a great marketing tool for us – in 2015 almost 100% of our services were generated by referral.
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR HEY PRETTY! BEAUTY?
Success for Hey Pretty! Beauty comes in the form of client satisfaction and referrals. We currently have all 5-star reviews and love to hear that a new client has been referred to us by a former client. In the future – we’d like to be able to adjust our model to donate services and/or portions of proceeds to community organizations that share our values.
WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION?
My inspiration comes from a strong sense of community and working together to cultivate change. I’ve always believed that art inspires art. When creatives work together and support each other in the pursuit of their dreams and in strides to improve quality of life for others – that’s inspiration and it’s beautiful. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of my local artist community and to which I attribute so much of my happiness and success.
IN ONE SENTENCE WHAT WOULD YOU TELL AN ASPIRING VEGAN ENTREPRENEUR?
Don’t compromise your integrity to reach success, that comes from knowing that you followed your heart and stood by your morals to create something that others can share in.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
Hey Pretty! Beauty grew from 1 stylist to 6 in just the past year. Anything is possible with hard work and staying true to your beliefs. Finding a great support system was invaluable and having the opportunity to train and grow other artists is something that I’ve always been very passionate about. I’ve been very lucky to have friends and other like-minded people who have supported me and worked with me to follow this dream… and to find a team of beauty lovers who share the same passion for service and standards.
