FAKE BAKE continues their Stateside Story: a date with Ladonna Sheridan…

 FAKE BAKE continues their Stateside Story: a date with Ladonna Sheridan…

Here at Team Fake Bake we like to think we know a lot about the world of self tanning, but when it comes to getting the full lowdown there is one gal on our speed dial: Ladonna Sheridan. Ladonna is a beauty industry expert extraordinaire and has been with the brand since its inception. When we planned our trip to Beauty Con, Ladonna was in the US driving seat and also welcomed us to LA with open arms. So we decided to find out more about her, while she showed us around The City of Angels, and worked like a true team player from the moment we touched down until we waved our final farewells.

Ladonna, you have experienced Beauty Con at its finest in LA - what was it like for you?

Here in the US we do a lot of shows where we meet our salon customers, but Beauty Con LA gave us the chance to also mix with our retail clients: it was a real end users forum! It was wonderful to get their feedback and listen to their suggestions. The industry has changed beyond recognition and it was great to meet Jake Jamie, who I know has a huge following, and some of our US influencers, too, like Dana Patterson. These guys create content and they really do influence - the real girl/guy at home can follow influencers they identity with, and hear their valuable views on what they like to try and buy. This development really came through at Beauty Con - I still love a glossy magazine, of course, but I like to see how products work in real life on someone similar to me, and that seems to be universal now, and as brand Fake Bake embraces that. Fake Bake USA is all about building our Insta right now and increasing our reach. But events like Beauty Con provide a real time, real life experience that’s about human connection, and that always counts!

Fake Bake is so at home in the US - what is it about the brand that makes it so popular?

Fake Bake is SO natural looking - it’s our USP - Unique Selling Point! It has made us unique for two decades, and in a busy market, it still sets up apart. Pardon the pun - we are the Original and the best, IMHO! Here in the US we really do like to look good - it’s that simple. Fake Bake has stood the test of time because we have taken our winning formula, created lots of new innovations, but always kept impeccable standards. Clients know that if they go for a Fake Bake spray tan, or purchase a Fake Bake product, they are going to get results that work with their skin tone to create a natural finish. Also, we are really getting the message about sun damage now. I used to be a sun lover, but now I know I can get a golden glow without it, and it really has saved my skin. So Fake Bake allows you to get a sunkissed look, it never lets you down, and helps you look after your skin - as a brand we are still flourishing!

You get to work with some amazing people - we noticed you are friends with Ashley Alexiss - how do you think the industry is changing and becoming more inclusive?

Beauty is not a size. I love that Sports Illustrated has taken note of this and their recent campaign really illustrated this.

Ash, who participated in the campaign, at 5ft 3ins is not traditional model height, and I call her curvalicious! She really has presence - she is authentic and healthily confident and I think it is wonderful that we get to see people who really represent us in all areas of the media. Brands that have a slim focus are now becoming outdated - contemporary brands involve us all and I love that, so that we can now all step up, to feel and look great. And I am so proud that Fake Bake has always been inclusive, right from the get-go.

You are really experienced in what you do and all about the hard work - any tips for readers who are new to the industry?

Having been with Fake Bake USA since its beginning, the brand has a family feel and over the years I have done everything from answering phones, attending photo shoots, and literally being involved in any area of the business where I could add some input. Being familiar with so many areas of the business enables me to do a good job - I am a naturally inquisitive person and I never stop learning. I am Director of Sales and Marketing at Fake Bake USA now so my advice to anyone is - get involved, work hard, and you can move on up in the industry.

Cover shot of ‘Society’ magazine (image courtesy of @lelaradulovicphotography)

If you could Fake Bake anyone on the planet, who would it be and why?

As a brand we are so lucky at Fake Bake USA that we have worked with so many high profile names and they have supported us all the way.

Rumer Willis stood out to me as she’s such a natural beauty.

More recently working with famous faces like Ruby Rose has been amazing - we love seeing Fake Bake on the red carpet!

Personally, I would love to work with Melissa McCarthy - she is an outstanding actress and so talented.

But in my working life, it is my role to tan anyone and everyone! I really love to tan people who have been undecided or nervous, and break down barriers as I go. Fake Bake is for everyone, and it’s my aim to make every girl and guy FLAWLESS!

So there you have it. We had an absolute ball spending time with Ladonna, and as a brand, it is always amazing to have someone around who knows her stuff, is so positive and upbeat, and really embraces the future and where the brand is heading. Her belief in Fake Bake is infectious, and her championing and support of others is a beautiful thing. In a time when we are all about self promotion, Ladonna is quite happy to take a selfie but when it comes to being all about the brand, she’s a real go-getter.

Plus, she does a mean Scottish accent. You see, we left a bit of Glasgow in LA when we left.

It would be rude not to, right?

Find Ladonna on Insta @thefakebakeguru

Follow Fake Bake in the US on Insta @fakebakeusa

For further information go to www.fakebake.com

FAKE BAKE takes LA: Our Victoria WOWS Beauty Con 2019…

As a rule, Team Fake Bake never turn green. Not with our roster of award winning products. But we did adjust our shade a bit when our fabulous Business Development Manager, and all round Fake Bake legend, Victoria Halliday, headed off to this year’s Beauty Con Exhibition in Los Angeles. Vic is also our Global Celebrity and Influencer Outreach expert, so she was the perfect person to take Fake Bake to LA. Victoria has been with the brand for over a decade now, and there is nothing she doesn’t know about what makes it great. Plus, her super down-to-earth attitude brings sunshine wherever she goes.

So for the rest of this week’s Blog we are handing over to Victoria, to tell us more about her adventures.

Beauty Con is known in the US as the Super Bowl of the cosmetics industry, so it really is big news! It is also about so much more than beauty, and is a real beacon of inclusivity and diversity. As a brand, Fake Bake has a huge presence over in the States, and I was joined for the convention by Ladonna Sheridan who heads up the team for Fake Bake USA, and also Tanya Pongrac, who is a senior Brand Ambassador for us.

Ladonna quite simply took me under her wing and kept me going: she is so warm and humorous, and is so well informed about the brand as well as being an approachable and gifted salesperson. She taught me so much, and was my partner-in-tan! She also showed me the city, which was mesmerising.

Tanya is someone Fake Bake fans in the UK may already be aware of, she has recently featured on the Blog. She certainly is the person to bring a fashionable edge to the brand as she regularly works with celebs like Olivia Culpo.

It was also a real honour to have blogger extraordinaire, Jake Jamie, to accompany me on the trip. With over 600,000 Insta followers, he really is a power player and has a big presence over the pond, so it was quite something to see the response having him on the stand brought.

Beauty exhibitions are becoming so much more than selling points, although I am so proud of what we achieved as a brand at Beauty Con this year. Clients and customers from all over the States were so enthusiastic about Fake Bake as a brand and with Ladonna on hand they certainly went for it when it came to sales!

The exhibition is also now about inspiration and the Main Stage area was packed with the great and the good, and as a team we were able to take some time out where we could hear some of the guest speakers. I personally really enjoyed hearing from Arianna Huffington, who built Huffington Post from the ground up. I can’t think of a woman who is better placed to talk about building a business and a brand.

Kelly Rowland is a legend and it was wonderful to see and hear her in action. We did a double take when she was accompanied by Tina Knowles. They are definitely fam!

Woman-of-the-moment Priyanka Chopra looked simply stunning but is so much more than her beauty. Her intelligence and class shone through as she spoke about her own much-talked-about journey in life.

Huda Kattan has become a worldwide sensation. As poised and confident as she is, Huda became really emotional discussing how her success has grown. The audience adored her.

Anastasia Beverly Hills literally waxed lyrical about brows and building her own legendary brand, and we were quite simply in awe. She was absolutely right - a great brow changes everything, and she is certainly the best placed expert to talk about them!

I had the most wonderful time in LA. Of course, Beauty Con was my highlight. Working with Ladonna and Tanya was so rewarding, and I can’t wait to team up with them again. Having Jake Jamie with us really made me realise how the industry is changing as everyone is welcome - I can’t imagine having a blogger with us at an expo ten years ago! But Jake Jamie is a show stopper when it comes to really connecting with his own audience and with Fake Bake’s, as there is such a great crossover.

Beauty Con is such a professional event and really teaches a lesson in how to connect with smaller clients to huge beauty brands, to customers of every demographic, and to a hugely growing beauty industry which Fake Bake is proud to be a part of.

Will I be back next year? Fingers crossed. I certainly left Beauty Con feeling energised and inspired both professionally and personally, and it is always great to be on the ground with clients, getting feedback and hear them telling us about their own thoughts and aspirations.

Tinseltown and its inhabitants certainly stole my heart and as I stood beneath that famous sign, I felt a little bit of a spotlight myself. An action packed few days, accompanied by now good friends and around some of the most inspirational people on the planet made me realise how much I value my role here at Fake Bake.

I’m now off to Vegas for a few days, and you know what they say about Vegas.

What goes on in Vegas….. ends up on your Insta Stories!

For more info on Beauty Con go to www.la.beautycon.com

To catch up with Victoria on Insta go to @vicfakebake

You can follow Ladonna on Insta @thefakebakeguru

For Tanya go to Insta @tanyap126

To find out more from Jake Jamie follow him on Insta @jakejamie

Many thanks to all the team at Beauty Con LA for making us so welcome.

FAKE BAKE talks being a new beauty Girl Boss with Natalya Kelly and why the industry is HUGE….

Avid beauty fans will already know this, but the British Beauty Business is a huge success, and is on the march. Millie Kendall MBE, as CEO of the British Beauty Council, heads up an organisation which represents the industry with integrity, enthusiasm and experience. The Council produces The Value Of Beauty, which reports back on the industry’s value, is so proud that it is now worth upwards of £27 billion a year, making it a bigger earner than our car industry, and employing 600,000 people.

Millie Kendall MBE

Millie and her team represent everyone within the industry, from big players to new entrants and the Council has devised what it calls its three pillars; of reputation, innovation and education. One thing Millie has talked about is young entrepreneurs and beauty workers and how they should be encouraged and supported. So after looking at the bigger picture, we sat down for a chat with Natalya Kelly, who has set up Beauty By Natalya, after leaving college. Here’s what she had to say…

Natalya, you’ve just set up your own beauty business. Is this something you have always wanted to do?

Yes! I have grown up in and around the beauty industry and it is something I have always wanted to be a part of. For me, it’s not just a business - it’s also about helping people look and feel their best, too. I was brought up to work hard and put 100 per cent into everything, but also to follow my heart. So with my new business, Beauty By Natalya, I get the best of both worlds. The beauty industry has changed so much as I have been growing up - it is such a busy market but there is always a place for talented and hard working people.

What are you specialising in?

Fake Bake tans, of course, are a part of my work. I am just starting off right now so apart from tanning, nails and lashes are something I am concentrating on at the moment as I am new to the industry, and they are things I love personally, too! I am a real perfectionist, so I want anyone who visits me to go away feeling fabulous. Every client is different: some will want a statement tan, for example, and another person will want something subtle. The key is to listen and ask questions, and work from there. It is also important to me that my work space is immaculate and relaxing. People come to see me to get pampered and expect results at the same time - it’s all about being professional.

Who do you admire in the beauty business world?

My mum is a beauty entrepreneur and her own mum, my late grandmother, was a business-minded person so of course I have to say my inspiration started at home. Within my family, I am surrounded by strong, self-made women and that’s how I have been brought up. In this industry, I am going to have to earn my own place although they support and encourage me hugely. In the industry, it’s hard not to notice the Kardashians and Jenners - they have taken an opportunity and run with it! But I really admire home grown beauty business successes like Jade Elliott, founder of Iconic, which is such an aspirational brand and one which is so popular. She just understands what women want from their beauty products. She started her business from her bedroom - now, I can relate to that!

It can feel a bit scary working for yourself - any tips for anyone younger out there?

It is a risk to start out on your own instead of working for someone else but doing it while you are young is brilliant! You need as much support as you can get from family and friends, and it is vital to be well trained and really confident in what you are doing, and also see what is available to you - organisations like The Princes Trust are amazing. My advice would be - just go for it!

How do social media platforms like Insta help with a new business?

Social media gets a bad reputation but if you are a young Girl Boss, it’s a valuable way of promoting your work - and free, obviously! Back in the day, new salons or brands would have to rely on traditional advertising or posting leaflets, but now you can reach people really quickly and simply via your phone. It’s something I am learning about myself as I go along. Insta helps you connect with other users in your niche, and you can make your ‘brand’ more visible using hashtags. It enables you to upgrade your opportunities to attract followers and increase your engagement. Insta stories has also been great for me - my clients also tag me in their stories and that shows off my work to potential clients. It’s a win-win!

Could you tell us about your beauty future dreams and plans?

I am starting off small and living in the moment, but always have an eye on where I am going. In this industry, you have to keep learning and educating yourself because clients expect up-to-the-minute services, treatments and techniques. My mum started off from a similar angle to me and has been a huge success, and luckily for me I get to learn from that experience - and I also see how hard she continues to work! Ultimately, I would like to learn more skills and expand what I am doing. Would I like my own beauty brand one day? That would be my ultimate goal, and I know it’s going to take a lot of dedication to get there. But for now I am concentrating on Beauty By Natalya, and giving that my focus and dedication. Start small, dream big - I think that’s a great way to start being your own Girl Boss!

We left our meeting with Natalya feeling inspired ourselves, and we feel the future of the beauty business is safe in the hands of Girl Bosses just like our Nat. Sometimes you have to determine your own future.

Start from wherever you are, but always look up to the stars. That’s where you are heading, baby…

To find out more about training with Fake Bake call 03448 565758

Find Natalya on Insta @beautyybynatalyax

For more info on Millie Kendall and her work go to www.britishbeautycouncil.com and follow her on Insta @milliekendall

For great business advice on support and young start-ups go to www.princes-trust.org.uk

FAKE BAKE talks September Issues, diversity and how beauty is no longer just one-size-fits-all…

The world can be quite a challenging place at times. Politics? We are staying out of that subject right now. Here at Team Fake Bake we try, on our Blog, to talk about points of interest whether it’s tanning trends, what we are watching, what we adore style-wise and who we admire. We love spying online and at social media, but when one certain publication lands at our Head Office, we never get tired of arguing who gets a first look.

British Vogue September Issue 2019

 

Who doesn’t want to devour the world’s most famous style-bible? Since Edward Enninful took over as Editor-In-Chief two years ago, the magazine has changed totally, whilst still managing to stay true to some of its elements and traditions. And this month, HRH The Duchess of Sussex has guest edited the edition and been involved with handpicking the cover stars and the magazine’s content. Leave the tabloid headlines about MM behind. She’s definitely done a great job here.

The September Issue has traditionally been about bringing us all of the news about Autumn/Winter trends. It still does that. But in a time when we already saw the shows live on our laptops months ago, we no longer have to wait for magazines to give round-ups. Yes, we love seeing how they put everything together, but that format of pages of ads mixed with pages of editorial snaps is definitely changing. Now, to stay relevant, magazines have to do so much more than that. British Vogue’s September Issue is absolutely on the money when it comes to standing for change.

And here’s why we love it, and who is featured…..

Matt Haig on his brilliant perspective on beaches and bodies.

Brene Brown on social media navigation.

Jameela Jamil on campaigning for self acceptance.

The backstories of all 15 cover stars including Adwoa Aboah, Ramla Ali and Sinead Burke. All different and incredible women.

After reading it from cover-to-cover, as a team we talked about how our own landscape is changing. When Fake Bake first came to the UK back in the day, in 2002, it wasn’t just a business idea. True, the market for self tans was tinier by comparison then, but in Sandra Vaughan, who pioneered its launch, it was more than just a fake tan in a bottle. Having witnessed the terrible effects of over-use of sunbeds, Sandra wanted to provide an alternative for those who wanted a golden glow whilst having healthy skin. She was the first to pioneer a campaign to get rules and regulations around sunbeds changed, and her Save Your Skin campaign was the first of its kind. She wanted to take on big brands and corner offices and the world.

The daughter of an independent and business-minded lady herself, Sandra started off small and put in the hours, weeks, months and years that a new business needs to even get a head start. She employed the best people she could find, and championed in particular her female employees. She didn’t particularly want to go down the route of huge advertising campaigns, or have the brand associated with a particular type of famous name or customer.

Everyone was welcome.

Sandra spearheaded two successful Real Women Fake It campaigns, where the brand searched the UK looking for everyday heroines to star as faces of the brand.

Even as we put together these pieces each week, we are aware of how our language and imagery is changing. Looking good is no longer just about the exterior: you have to feel good inside before work on the outside commences. When we talk about relationships and romance, boy-meets-girl is not the only option. ‘Model’ no longer means just someone who is 5ft 10 inches, a size 4, and under 21, although if you are any of those: good for you! We genuinely talk about the pressures placed on us all by what we see in the media. None of us is immune.

When we took our recent trip to Ibiza, the bloggers and influencers who came with us weren’t all standard ‘Insta models’ either. Beauty doesn’t end when you are 25, have a baby, don’t have a baby, lose weight, put on weight, or go through any life changes that are coming your way. And beauty isn’t just an identikit ‘look’ that used to stalk the Victoria’s Secret runway.

The Victoria’s Secret catwalk show has just been cancelled for 2019. Brands are beginning to understand not just what they are selling, but what we are asking for.

As a brand, Fake Bake has always had a hint of fun about it. We’ve been in Vogue. We’ve been in the Geordie Shore house. We can do London Fashion Week and a Friday night out in Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds or Liverpool. We can feature in a super-luxe glossy and be the spray tan you opt for when you feel like you just need a bit if a beauty boost.

We don’t make daft claims. We don’t aim to change the world in one go. We want you to look your absolute best if having a bit of a glow is where you are at, but we are glad that in 2019 YOU get to choose what beauty looks like.

And beauty is so much more than an Insta image. It’s the absolute joy you get when you get a text from your bestie which makes you laugh, or a Whatsapp group chat that makes you howl. It’s realising your grandparents were young once, when you talk to them what life was like back in their day. It’s knowing that life doesn’t fall apart if you fail an exam, or your driving test, or someone you have fallen in love with doesn’t feel the same. It’s when  you know that money might buy some nice stuff, but the truly good stuff is what happens when the great people show up when you need help with something, or when they share your good news when everything feels like it is going right.

As a team, and a brand, of course we want to keep innovating and creating as we are here to do a job, and we want to do the best one we can: but it’s for you. And we are all ears. Talk to us on any of our social media channels and tell us what you think. We want to represent everyone who feels like they have a home with us, and invite new peeps through the door any time.

We are never going to stop talking about reality telly and shoes and festivals and hair trends. These things may not give us life but, if you take them all lightly, they can add a bit of joy and a few talking points to your world.

What we are learning to do is to make them right-sized. We are never going to secure world peace with the invention of a tan corrector, but let’s just say, if we can solve a streaky ankle situation, every little helps in our increasingly complicated lives. We started off with three products back in the day, with a marketing budget that wouldn’t buy a few rounds of drinks but with ambition, hope, a work ethic and a feet-on-the-ground-but-aim-for-the-stars attitude. We have been through lots of changes, but as a brand, we are still here.

We are still learning, and we keep moving along right beside you. We have always prided ourselves on being a brand that has no snobbery involved, and while that makes us quite different in our own way, the fact that we are still thriving nearly two decades later says a lot.

Stick with us, every single one of you. Diversity to us means simply that: nobody is excluded, and we all have more issues than Vogue, don’t we? So maybe this week, spend a little bit less time worrying about what you look like and a little bit more time actually appreciating all that you are. If you want to throw a bit of Tanning Water on before you hit your hols, then go for it, but then get your bikini on and get to it. Life’s too short to give yourself a hard time about, literally, anything.

And, just for the record, the member of the team who wrote this is not an HRH. But she is demanding the best biscuits we’ve got left, another tea brought to her and an extra ten minutes on her break as all of this power editing is just exhausting her, apparently.

Royalty? It’s gone to her head already…..

British Vogue is now available at all reputable news retailers

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