2020 Year in Review (and a Sneak Peek at 2021!)

Hey everybody, it’s Renée right here at the beginning of a brand new 12 months—one we’ve got all been ready for, proper? I hope 2021 brings you a contemporary begin with a brand new perspective, and which you could put some objectives into motion. Since we’re a small, founder-owned, founder-led firm and we really feel so shut with our prospects, I wished to share the place we’ve got been and a few superb issues we’ve got in retailer for 2021! Right here goes!

2020: What a 12 months at Renee Rouleau Pores and skin Care!

For sure, 2020 was a wild trip of highs and lows. These had been among the most memorable moments and occasions at Renée Rouleau Pores and skin Care final 12 months!

A Chapter Closes for Our Spa Location 

In January of final 12 months, our lease ended for our spa in Plano, Texas. This spa location had been open for twenty-three years, and for eighteen of these years, I used to be a service supplier there (together with 5 different estheticians providing pores and skin therapies to shoppers).

Together with being a hands-on esthetician, I developed a product line that I began promoting from our web site in 1999. Yearly, we’ve got skilled large progress in demand for our merchandise from prospects throughout the globe. The choice to not renew the spa lease was not a simple one, however with our company headquarters and warehouse being primarily based in Austin for the final 5 years and my residence being in Austin, it simply appeared time to focus 100% of our efforts on being an e-commerce firm.

We took nice care of our long-time estheticians and they’re all thriving of their new locations of employment. I’m tremendous happy with the nice companies we supplied for all these years and am so grateful for the entire assist from our shoppers, then and now.

Awarded “Finest Place to Work” by the Austin Enterprise Journal

I’ve gained numerous awards all through the years for being a feminine CEO, being a skincare knowledgeable, and for our merchandise. However I have to say, getting acknowledgment for being a finest place to work felt like successful an Oscar.

You see, when Florian, my husband/companion of twenty-two years and our firm’s COO, handed away in November of 2018, one in every of his dying needs was that I proceed to construct a terrific firm that will be deserving of an award. He mentioned, “Renée, we’ve got labored so exhausting to do proper by our individuals. I do know you’ll proceed to make me proud.” The award wasn’t about our gross sales progress, income, or any of these business-y sort metrics, however relatively about our tradition and the way we deal with individuals who select to work in our firm. I’ve at all times been about “individuals over income” and have run my firm with my coronary heart. I’ll by no means promote my soul for the almighty greenback however as a substitute will at all times have a look at how we will proceed to construct a terrific working expertise for our crew. To me, that is the final word success. (Learn this interview with Inc about why I consider greater just isn’t higher.) This award. Wow…a dream come true.

The COVID Life—Skincare Throughout the Pandemic

When the pandemic hit, it was the final word unknown as to the right way to navigate each our private {and professional} lives. However like the whole lot, you simply need to put one foot in entrance of the opposite and drawback remedy the perfect you may.

For our firm, being completely direct-to-consumer on-line (that means, not being in retail shops that now had all closed), we knew we fortunately had been most likely going to be okay.

However then, the deal with skincare grew to become even greater for these 5 causes:

1. Folks had been carrying much less make-up and now their pores and skin. This made them wish to tackle the problems they had been beforehand hiding below make-up.
2. Folks had extra time on their arms they usually wished to really feel higher. This meant taking additional time for some self care with the “extras” like at-home peels and masks, issues that their busy lives beforehand didn’t permit for. This created a renewed curiosity in skincare.
3. “Maskne” entered the scene (and remains to be an enormous concern). Since we’ve got numerous merchandise that tackle pimples, we had been the go-to for thus many individuals seeking to preserve their pores and skin clear. (Learn my knowledgeable ideas for serving to maskne.)
4. Folks relied on on-line procuring to ship merchandise to their door with out leaving residence.
5. Folks had been searching for consultants through Zoom to obtain steering on the right way to finest care for his or her pores and skin and get on the proper residence routine. We have now supplied digital consultations for the final ten years, however now the demand has actually elevated throughout COVID. You’ll be able to e book a digital seek the advice of with one in every of our two knowledgeable estheticians, Polina and Jessica.

Serving to Out The place We Can

Initially of the pandemic, our firm donated provides and face cleaners to hospitals in New York and Jersey by means of Donate Magnificence. We realized it wasn’t a lot, however wished to assist in any means attainable. We additionally developed a very nice hand sanitizer that was randomly added to orders to shock and delight our prospects. A few of them had been donated to service staff in Austin as properly. 

COVID—No Layoffs or Paycuts

Due to COVID, we as an organization made numerous inside adjustments to deal with the disaster. These adjustments weren’t simple, however I’m so very proud to say that we didn’t have to put off any of our staff or scale back their pay or schedules in any means. We gave everybody full flexibility as to how they wished to navigate this new actuality to maintain themselves and their households protected. We’re so grateful that we had been in a position to provide this sort of flexibility and that we might proceed to care for one another throughout these unprecedented instances.

All in all, we survived and thrived in the course of the worst of days. Thanks for the entire continued assist and loyalty that you just present our firm. We’re really grateful. 

No Backorders

Regardless of the large surge we skilled final 12 months, I’m tremendous proud to say that we by no means had any backorders. We hate ever disappointing our prospects when one thing is out of inventory so we’ve got perfected our provide chain course of to maintain this from occurring. We’re at all times pondering of the client expertise!

Our Deal with Studying and Rising

As an organization, we’re at all times striving to get higher. We took the time to deal with new initiatives to make Renée Rouleau a extra inclusive office by increasing our range outreach when hiring for open roles, in addition to donating to numerous minority causes.

We had conferences with the Texas Civil Rights Challenge, Austin Justice Coalition, and the Heart for the Research of Race and Democracy at UT Austin to know their group, their scope, and their trigger. All of that is to teach ourselves on how we may be higher in our group.

A 12 months of Giving Again

We made a $5,000 donation to every of those three non-profit organizations: Texas Civil Rights Challenge, Austin Justice Coalition, and the Heart for the Research of Race and Democracy at UT.

We developed a year-long partnership with Tankproof, a company that teaches underserved kids with restricted or no entry to a pool the right way to swim, and supplied month-to-month donations to assist them additional their mission. 

I personally donated to Beam (previously named Girls@Austin) and am now on their advisory board. This can be a native group created to assist girls who want to scale their corporations by means of information, connection, capital, and mindset on the most crucial moments of their entrepreneurial journeys.

Award-Profitable Merchandise and Evaluations

We have at all times gotten numerous love from the media and 2020 was no completely different. I’m proud to say we gained NINE magnificence awards!

 These skincare awards included:

• Cosmopolitan Holy-Grail Award for Fast Response Detox Toner
• Glamour Magnificence Award for Anti Bump Resolution
• GQ Grooming Award for Anti Bump Resolution
• Well being Finest Skincare Award for Fast Response Detox Cleanser
• HelloGiggles Magnificence Crush Award for Fast Response Detox Toner
• Actual Easy Good Magnificence Award for Fast Response Detox Masque (within the print journal)
• The Wholesome Finest Summer time Serum for Pores and skin Correcting Serum
• Girls’s Well being Better of Skincare Award for Fast Response Detox Cleanser
• Refinery29 Magnificence Innovator Award for Fast Response Detox Cleanser 

Right here’s the reality about skincare—there are an unimaginable quantity of merchandise on the market, and that quantity is rising by the minute.

For me, creating a very progressive product is a enjoyable problem when it looks as if the whole lot has already been achieved. My course of requires numerous analysis on issues like substances percentages, pH ranges, and cruelty-free testing for efficacy. My primary focus is at all times fixing a selected skincare drawback. Creating a product just isn’t solely a science, however an artwork type, and one I’ve been perfecting for the final thirty years. Getting all of those awards is really an honor!

As you may see, our Fast Response Detox merchandise are fairly particular. Do you know we promote all of them collectively in this helpful package? 

A New Product Launched

Regardless of our labs being shut down for some time as a consequence of COVID, we nonetheless managed to get out a brand new product! Meet Mint Renewal Cleanser. Each time I develop a product, I say, “What drawback am I making an attempt to resolve?” For this product, I wished a cleanser that will get up drained pores and skin within the morning, brighten uninteresting pores and skin to offer it a glow, and supply some skin-smoothing advantages. I’ve to say, I hit it out of the park with this one, and the responses from the media, influencers, and our prospects have been so optimistic. Should you haven’t tried it, get it now! You’ll be addicted. It’s so good.

A 12 months of Podcasts!

I used to be requested to be interviewed for thus many podcasts final 12 months, which was tremendous enjoyable and an honor. At age fifty-one, I’d hope I’ve a number of nuggets of knowledge that may present worth for others!

Subjects I cowl on the varied podcasts embrace: 

• Skincare and wonder recommendation
• Profession recommendation for estheticians
• Life recommendation
• Grief and resiliency
• Working an organization and classes I’ve discovered

You may give all my podcasts a pay attention right here. Take pleasure in!

The Weblog Continues To Thrive

Since 2009, I’ve been delivering my knowledgeable recommendation by means of my fashionable weblog. For therefore a lot of these years, it was simply me doing the entire work. Quick-forward to 2020—I now have a small crew, led by our Content material Editor, Ella, who helps me so we will push out content material extra regularly than in years previous. And new to the weblog this 12 months, we’ve got had eleven exterior consultants contribute their experience!

Consultants on the weblog embrace:

In earlier years, the weblog has at all times simply been my data, so it’s nice to ask others to share their ideas and ideas.

Moved Into Our New Austin Headquarters!

Earlier than the pandemic, we had been wanting into shifting as a result of our authentic warehouse and workplace area not match the wants of our rising firm. When the pandemic hit, we nonetheless continued with our authentic plan to discover a new residence. We ultimately discovered an 11,000 SF area, and it’s lovely and excellent. We moved into it in September and the warehouse is now absolutely operational, however we’re nonetheless ready on workplace furnishings for our advertising and buyer care groups. Whereas we do provide work-from-home (which many individuals favor proper now), we even have some individuals who wish to come into the workplace for a change of surroundings from their home. In fact, we’ve got all the suitable security measures in place.

Our Renée Rouleau Crew—My Household

After I relocated the corporate to Austin 5 years in the past, Florian and I didn’t know anybody. We simply knew we wished to create a optimistic atmosphere the place individuals would get pleasure from coming to work each day and really feel like they had been a part of one thing nice. Since Florian’s passing, my crew has change into such a degree of energy and stability in my life. They’re additionally one of many causes I wish to keep small and have full possession. I’d by no means wish to lose the spirit of our crew or have my individuals really feel like only a quantity.

What I miss most since COVID hit is having my whole crew gathered round for a lunch or for one in every of our well-known “Lotteria” giveaway days. My crew is my household, and I’m so grateful for every of their contributions. 

2021: What We Have Coming!

As COVID Continues

We’re persevering with to observe strict COVID tips for each our workplace and warehouse. This features a cleansing crew twice per week, carrying masks always, sustaining 6′ distance, no double occupancy in bogs, no in-person group conferences, and full work-from-home flexibility. Out of our crew of 17, nobody has been affected by COVID and we plan on protecting it that means. (Fingers crossed!)

We Are Hiring

We have now an open place obtainable for a Junior Content material Author. Considering employment at a “Finest Place to Work”? Get particulars right here!

Sustainability Initiatives

Certainly one of our largest initiatives of 2021 (and an ongoing program shifting ahead) would be the discount and offsetting of our carbon footprint as a part of our company sustainability technique. That is an initiative that’s near all of our hearts. It’s one thing that all of us (each as an organization and as non-public residents) should take accountability for by altering our habits the place attainable. 

Over time, we’ve got been doing the perfect we might internally: we use easy, recycled cardboard containers with craft paper for transport, we don’t make pattern sizes (be taught extra about why they’re wasteful on this nice article), and we attempt to be as intentional as attainable about the whole lot we do. As we proceed to work on our inside aim of changing into carbon impartial, we all know we’ll need assistance from exterior professionals. We just lately engaged with a consulting agency that focuses on carbon- and water-footprint evaluation for corporations. They’re fully unbiased and unbiased and can give us an trustworthy inspection. This makes them the best companion to assist us assess and enhance our environmental influence. They may develop a bespoke carbon footprint calculator for Renée Rouleau Inc, making use of related US emission components to translate exercise knowledge into emissions.

We shall be very completely satisfied to replace our group as soon as our evaluation is full and let everybody know what our subsequent steps, together with our timeline, shall be.

New Merchandise Coming!

I’ve been working with my lab on fairly a number of new merchandise. As talked about on this submit, I’m engaged on two new merchandise that may assist restore the pores and skin’s barrier when it’s compromised. One factor that may harm the pores and skin’s barrier is utilizing prescription retinoids or different topical pimples merchandise. Barrier restore is an enormous space of focus since at-home merchandise are driving higher outcomes than ever for bettering the pores and skin. However when used too typically, your pores and skin may be thrown out of steadiness.

I’m additionally engaged on a brand new cleanser in addition to a facial scrub. As for when the brand new merchandise will launch, it will likely be a lot later in 2021. The method takes a very long time once I’m searching for absolute perfection.

Our 25th Anniversary!

This upcoming August, we shall be celebrating twenty-five years of Renée Rouleau Pores and skin Care. We’ll positively be doing all kinds of celebrating! I can’t consider that it’s been 1 / 4 of a century since I moved to Texas on my own with out understanding anybody and took out a small enterprise mortgage to start out a small skincare spa in Dallas. Typically it’s simply so exhausting to consider how a lot the corporate has grown since my humble beginnings. Pinch me, is that this all a dream? Grateful for what was, what’s, and what shall be—and all who helped alongside the way in which.

Lastly, As For Me Personally…

Like everybody, life as we knew it got here to a halt when the pandemic began. For me, I went from touring a minimum of 3 times a month to no touring in any respect. Having a lifetime of fixed go-go-go after which feeling prefer it stopped so all of the sudden was an adjustment for certain. I really feel like I’ve been residing a European way of life (having spent numerous time in France with my late husband, who was French). I shortly noticed the pandemic as a possibility to see what I might obtain at a slower tempo. Longer lunches, mid-afternoon naps, extra significant conversations and connections, being of service to these in want, and simply extra time to THINK with out the busyness of life getting in the way in which. So on this means, it was a gorgeous 12 months and there was a lot good that got here out of it. There are at all times silver linings if you happen to look exhausting sufficient.

Wishing everybody security and luxury and a terrific begin to the brand new 12 months with a contemporary perspective. Let’s all do our greatest with the brief time we’ve got allotted on this earth.

With gratitude,

Renée

You’ll be able to observe my journey on Instagram to see all of the issues occurring in my world. And naturally, for all my knowledgeable recommendation on the right way to finest care in your pores and skin, learn our weblog. It’s been a labor of affection since 2009 and remains to be going sturdy!

Movie star Esthetician & Skincare Knowledgeable
As an esthetician educated in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world information and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “probably the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”