Janell Stephens, the founder of Camille Rose beauty and hair care products, nurtured her brand in the same way she raised her five children: with a passion that knew no bounds. Camille Rose was born of a need to solve skincare issues that Stephens’ children had when they were young. Nothing worked for their eczema, and Stephens was frustrated. This was the catalyst for a long journey that culminated in an entrepreneurial success story. Camille Rose is a labor of love that Stephens poured her heart into, and today she continues to adhere to the same values of quality and pure ingredients that are the foundation of the brand.
“I decided to go on this whole quest. I literally became so interested in oils and butters, and just started making things myself,” Stephens said. Camille Rose was discovered in Stephens’ kitchen, where she experimented with pure ingredients that were hard to find anywhere. Stephens sought information wherever she could find it, and eventually contacted an herbalist in 2011, and “picked his brain,” said Stephens. She also said that she saw a doctor to the stars on a talk show who said that what we put into our bodies shows on the outside. Stephens followed his advice and gave her family more organic foods as well as using pure ingredients for their hair and skincare.
Once her home-made products began working on her children, Stephens said, “I became obsessed, and gave products to friends.” She also started a website to sell her creations online. Customers loved the Camille Rose products, and Stephens approached a Whole Foods buyer in Louisiana, where she lived at the time, to try and get them to sell her products. Stephens said that the process was an ordeal because Whole Foods required rigorous testing before it permitted any products to be sold there. Eventually, Camille Rose passed the test and Stephens made the leap into retail sales in 2012. That same year Stephens also began selling Camille Rose products in over 100 Target stores nationwide, after meeting a buyer for Target at an event.
It is hard to believe that throughout this time, Stephens was the mother of five children, spending the hours between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm in her kitchen, hand crafting products until she had to pick up her children from school. Stephens produced all the products herself, and eventually sought out a lab and manufacturer to help produce more inventory. She said that it took a very long time before she found the right lab and manufacturer that shared her product philosophy.
“I had to take my time and pray until I found a lab that believed in me,” Stephens said. At first, one lab agreed to help Stephens, but she had to ship the ingredients to them, because most labs did not have the natural ingredients that Camille Rose needed. “Back in 2012 they were reluctant to embrace the natural ingredients,” said Stephens. Fortunately, Stephens developed a relationship with the chemist who eventually went out on her own.
“God worked it out,” said Stephens. The chemist shared Stephens’ belief in natural ingredients, at a time when it was not as accepted or popular, so Stephens began working directly with the chemist. Instead of giving up, Stephens persevered, and her faith and endurance won.
Today, Camille Rose has grown into a global empire, and is available nationwide in Target, Ulta, Walmart, Sally’s Beauty, Whole Foods, Walgreens, and CVS locations. This exponential growth did not come overnight, and Stephens’ belief in herself was the key to making important business decisions.
“Trust your gut always. Never doubt yourself. A lot of times I would say, “Oh yeah, now I can afford a sales and marketing person. However, I had to realize that the magic is within me,” said Stephens. For Stephens, hiring decisions must consider energy, drive, and personality, as well as credentials. She realizes that she had to learn the beauty industry and business on her own, and her magic has taken Stephens to the top.
Camille Rose has already expanded into face and home products, and Stephens sees the future of Camille Rose as a lifestyle brand. We know that goal will be reached with Stephens at the helm. https://www.camillerose.com .
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