Step into the captivating world of WhippedScream with its founder Kelsey, a passionate horror enthusiast weaving self-care into her innovative product line. In this insightful interview, we delve into the unique fusion of horror fandom and skincare bliss that inspired WhippedScream’s creation. From overcoming personal challenges to celebrating milestones, discover how creativity, perseverance, and a touch of eerie charm shape the journey of this budding entrepreneur.
Q. How did your love for horror intersect with the concept of self-care to inspire the creation of WhippedScream?
A. I am and have always been a horror fan. My earliest memory being when my dad let me rent a horror movie from Blockbuster. (What a throwback, huh?) Which just grew and grew.
As I got older, I just loved every moment of self-care and beauty treatments in general. It soothes your skin, it soothes your mind and the all around bliss feeling it gives you is one that we don’t let ourselves get treated to enough.
Being inspired by other small horror brands around me, I thought why not combine the two? – It’s not something I’ve seen before and I had the time and resources. So I threw myself into it, what could go wrong?
Q. What specific challenges did you face while starting your business, especially considering the circumstances of your ankle injury and the loss of your mother?
A. Honestly, as bad as it sounds, I think it’s what motivated me. I wanted to help my dad as much as I possibly could by making calls, arranging the photos for the funeral, closing mum’s accounts – anything to take the stress away. And that’s what my day was pretty much filled with. I didn’t want it to be just that. Whilst I think it’s healthy to process your feelings, I didn’t want to sit with it all day. My dad agreed to give me some money and allowed me to get stuck in with testing products. Then at least there was some excitement or something on the brighter side to look forward to. Aside from that, I think the first physical challenge was that I couldn’t walk. How was I supposed to go and buy ingredients to test making certain products if I couldn’t even get there? Thank god for online shopping.
Q. How did you overcome these challenges, both personally and professionally?
A. Time and patience is a wonderful but horrible thing. To overcome a lot of it, it was purely just waiting until I was ready. Waiting until I could recover. Letting myself feel all that I needed to feel. Which can be incredibly frustrating when you just want to do something. But taking things slow and not rushing is what gives you the best results. I think I threw myself into the business so much so that I could be distracted and sometimes that’s ok, sometimes it’s not. It’s just finding the right tune for you and your circumstances.
Q. Can you describe a particularly memorable moment or milestone in your journey with WhippedScream?
A. I remember hitting each hundredth follower, which was amazing. And having my friends around to support me. But what made me REALLY jump with joy, was getting my first sale from someone I didn’t know! Because that means they took the time to look at my website, they took the time to look at my products and decided it was something they’d like to try. I nearly cried.
Q. What advice would you give to others who are looking to start their own business, especially those who may be dealing with personal hardships or setbacks?
A. Do research! There’s plenty of sites out there, some that you can create your own on and some that will allow you to just list your products. But check the fees. Know your products’ worth and don’t undersell your product just because you think people won’t spend that much money. Also, take your time with your products. I started off with Lip Scrubs and found that’s a smaller market. A lot of people don’t use lip scrubs, so I thought that I immediately needed to release other products just to be able to get a sale. Really, you just need to perfect your product and find your audience! Have faith in yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Q. How do you balance your passion for horror with the mission of promoting self-care through WhippedScream?
A. I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ve quite gotten there yet. I’ve been looking into markets that fit my theme and my audience. One day, it’ll be an absolute dream to sell my products at For The Love Of Horror! And that’s what I’ve got my eye on.
But I think physical events like that, where everyone that is there is passionate about the same thing, can really enlighten what you have to offer!
Q. What role has creativity played in your healing process and in the development of your business?
A. It’s given me something to look forward to. Being unemployed because of my ankle and then trying to balance my mental health with the loss of my mum felt like I had hit a wall. This was sort of the light at the end of the tunnel for me. Being able to look at my products every day, see how I can improve them, see what more I can offer. But also testing! Every product I make, I test (that’s a benefit, you get to indulge in your own goodies!). But it’s given me the time to be able to explore and learn.
Q. How do you envision the future of WhippedScream, and what are your goals moving forward?
A. I know it may take years, but to be able to do something like this full time is the goal. I’m hoping it will bring something to the market that people will love that isn’t already out there. There’s so many ways that it could expand and the only way is up! You just have to put the work in so that you can see results and that doesn’t happen overnight. So to keep going and see it grow!
Q. Finally, is there anything else you’d like to share with our audience, whether it’s about WhippedScream, your personal journey, or your perspective on entrepreneurship and self-care?
A. Everyone has to start somewhere. At first, you may feel silly or you may feel excited. But then it falls slightly when it doesn’t immediately take off. Never give up on what you do, learn to invest in yourself and believe in yourself and you can get anywhere you put your mind to. Life is a journey, there’s going to be bumps in the road, but the destination might just be worth it.
