- How the Founder of Headkount started her business just before the pandemic
- Paula’s commitment to saving as many animals as possible
- Why she makes a conscious effort to journal and spend quiet time alone daily
Paula Floyd is the Founder of Headkount, a beauty retail strategy company. Paula talks to 35 Thousand about the challenges of launching a business right before a pandemic, being an extrovert, and her commitment to saving animals.
Describe yourself in 3 words…
“Trustworthy, positive & personal”
Tell us about your work…
“We partner with beauty brands and execute their go to market retail strategy to help them scale nationwide with speed, which includes everything from in-store education, building brand relationships to gaining powerful insights and data.”
What parts of your work give you energy?
When I speak to our Beauty Educators, they are passionate about their craft, they are the ones connecting with the consumers, they are the front line. It’s one of the places where I learn what’s working and what’s not in retail.
What parts of your work drain you?
Some of the day-to-day administrative work when I’m not connecting with others. I usually schedule these tasks first thing in the morning when I am most focused.
Most pivotal point of your career so far?
Late in my career, I accepted a job based on money, this blurred my vision on whether the company values were aligned with mine – the win is it led me to start Headkount and share with others what I learned in the corporate world.
Best piece of advice you received that you now pass on to others…
Get uncomfortable and challenge your business always.
What event or situation is funny now but wasn’t at the time. Please expand!
Our first pitch decks were a disaster. We spent hours and hours every day brainstorming to create our first decks, at least 50 versions. We subscribed to numerous creative sites working towards why we are different, it was a time zapper and frustrating because we were starting from scratch. I’m embarrassed to this day about our first few brand pitches. Today we have customer testimonials and data to share and we know better what we stand for. It’s funny to pull those old decks out, they’re our forever dose of humility LOL.
Pets, hobbies, external commitments?
“Right now I have one dog and a horse, lots of gran-fur babies and I’m committed to saving as many animals as possible through various animal rescue organizations.”
Describe your pre-pandemic day-to-day…
“I just launched my business three months before the pandemic, so there was nothing routine established with my day to day.”
How has your daily life changed, what’s your new normal?
“We are better prepared, we planned a lot during our pause, we planned as if our business was going to continue to grow post pandemic. It kept us all very inspired and positive.”
Has the Corona crisis impacted you personally and professionally? How?
“Yes both I make more time to connect with others and myself.”
What, if anything, keeps you up at night?
“It’s rare, but when it happens it always fear based, like when I started my business I would say to myself ‘Will I ever have a customer’?”
What have been your best coping strategies over the past year? Do you have any objects, routines or tools that you found particularly uplifting? Gin or Gym?
“No gin or gym, but lots and lots of journaling, I’m a huge extrovert so spending quiet time is something I have to make an effort to do. It helps ground me, it’s where I find my truth and creative mojo.”
What has kept you sane? And kept your family sane?
“Laughter.”
Did 2020 change your outlook on life in any way?
“Yes, now more than ever I believe we are better when we stick together.”
Are you ready to travel ready? Where do you want to go, with who or would you rather stay home?
“What once used to be my comfort zone, traveling, is now not so comfortable. This will take me some time, I plan to ease my way back into travel. I’ve taken a couple of road trips recently, one with my daughter and the other with my husband.”
Finish this sentence “If you look in my handbag at any time you will ALWAYS find….”
“At least one lipstick and a pair of sunglasses.”
What are your work from home saviours?
“I’m a beauty junkie, I’m obsessed with clean beauty products, too many to list.”
Describe your style?
“Intentionally, unintentional.”
Name your 5 essential items of clothing:
“Yoga pants, or denim, T-shirt, denim, leather jacket and a pair of Converse.”
How do you see your business or career in two years from now?
“If all goes as planned, you won’t recognize us by the size we’ve grown into, but our integrity of service will always remain the same.”
What’s something you haven’t conquered yet but really want to?
“I’d love to be part of a loving cause, like a sanctuary, to help animals and humans that are in need of love and care.”
What could you say to your 20 year old self that would help her the most?
“You are smart enough; you are beautiful enough and you are worth it!”
Do you have a life motto or mantra that really resonates with you?
“We give a sh*t.”
Take a look at Headkount’s website here and their Instagram here.
If you loved reading this then you will love peeking into the life of another beauty brand founder, Meg Maupin, Founder of Atolla.
