In Gratitude

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Dear LBF fans, supporters and customers,

It's almost unbelievable that we’re at the end of the year. Where does the time go? It feels as though I blinked at then it was fall. It’s always this time of year when most of us take a little extra time to self reflect and feel grateful for all we’re lucky enough to have. I would love to share with you on a very personal level things I feel grateful for. A lot of it has to do with you because you have made our dreams (I can speak for my co-hort Karen here too) come true. For that we hold you so special in our hearts and that is why we make every effort to give our best to you each and every day.

This year has been full of surprises and challenges that has made our brand stronger and our business bigger. We put a lot of thought, time, money and consideration into new products and brand new packaging. You have loved it and that has made us so happy. When Karen and I started this business five years ago we did so with $400 and a whole lot of crazy clueless passion. We were also scared to death. We didn’t want to take our life savings and invest it in the unknown. (Do you know anyone who does?) We jumped into this thing that can only be described as business lunacy. That meant changes for us that could not be reversed. We worked our regular jobs during the day and at night and on weekends we worked toward building LBF. We didn’t have billionaire investors or a business coach. Heck we didn't even have a name! We just had an idea and that idea was burning so bright we knew we had to follow through. I researched and poured over materials like a student studying for medical exams. Karen got creative and taught herself photoshop, graphic design and web building. I laugh now at all of our frustrations learning and studying things we never thought we would do. (I was so intimidated by computer work and emails) Guess what? Not only did we learn new skills, we mastered them! I write this without an ounce of arrogance and only a sense of pride because we did everything we had to do to build LBF and our business. That’s what it takes. There is no magic secret. There is no guidebook. There is only a willingness to materialize a quality outcome and the knowledge that it requires sacrificing a lot of yourself for it.

This was a lovely year for us and an enlightening one. We made some changes that perhaps many other brands would not have. As we grow and as green beauty becomes a part of the mainstream beauty industry we have felt a shift in the way green brands are represented. I wish I could claim it has all been positive, but I must admit it hasn’t been all peaches and cream. There have been many who have attempted to take advantage of green brands as this business draws a wider and more attentive audience and brings in billions of dollars in North America alone. Here’s the thing, many of your favorite green brands started off small with one or two idealists pledging to commit to formulate non-toxic products while sacrificing to bring their passions to market. Many of us struggled to educate consumers and discuss the important subject of safety, sustainability and environmental responsibility with an audience that could not believe the cosmetics industry has been a source of irresponsible discourse since the last time the FDA reached a regulatory regime back in 1938. It’s kind of amazing that you, the consumer have responded with such enthusiasm to support our brands and in turn you’ve been rewarded with better formulated products, high quality and impressionable packaging. The boutiques grew from online to brick and mortar, the editors became fans and even supermodels decided to share their skin “secrets” and spill the beans over their love of natural and organic cosmetics. This has been a true love story for us in this business, but it’s also a time for us to take a moment and accept our worth. If you've noticed our brand scaling back in certain retail outlets please know we've done so not to make it harder for you to have access to LBF, but to protect ourselves from a less than stellar representation with retailers not on board with our values. We will not allow what we do and how we do it to become a part of an emerging problem. We are delighted to grow, but not at the expense of compromising our standards and ingredients to mass produce cheaper products to be placed in more stores. As a matter of fact, we're going to do the opposite and continue to bring you high quality and give you what you ask for and what you deserve. For us every single one of our retail partners is a part of our family because they believe in us just as much as we believe in them. When you build your dream and the dreamers come forward the last thing in the world you want to happen is to have opportunists knock on your door just because they feel they can. Sometimes you have to know what's best and not follow along because it's "the way things are done." I know you know what I mean because we've all been presented with that moment. (One day I'll share my favorite Dolly Parton moment with you. A true beauty from the inside out.)

It’s going to be an interesting 2016 and for La Bella Figura an exciting and adventurous new year. I can’t wait to share all the new things we’re up to and of upcoming new retailers you’ll soon be able to find our products in. I will be on the road much more sharing and talking about green beauty with enthusiasts and I’m already feeling excited about meeting you!

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey and passions. We feel honored and privileged to serve you. We will continue to do our best for you next year and always. We are grateful for your time, attention and devotion to La Bella Figura. Our team feels so much gratitude during this time of thanks and giving that we decided to offer a special treat from all of us to you starting this Friday. Stay on the lookout for our newsletter. We feel you deserve the best for being the best customers and fans in the world.

With love and gratitude,

Victoria and La Bella Figura

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2 Comments

  • I think you are the most inspirational brand I know of. With posts like these and your honest opinions I feel your voice and integrity stands out. I always look forward to what’s new with LBF because you guys always do things differently and I appreciate that. Keep doing what you do and best wishes for the new year. Excited to get your newsletter and try out the new creams! Happy Thanksgiving to LBF!

    Joyce on
  • Beautiful blog post ladies! Thank you for your honesty and commitment to your customers by delivery the best quality of ingredients in your products. I am a new customer (samples of La Bella Figura being delivered to my home today). I can’t wait to try them. I’m sure I will fall in love with them and I will be on the lookout for your newsletter this Friday!! :) Best wishes and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with those you love.

    Lauren on

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