How To Be An Overnight Success, According To Rodial Founder Maria Hatzistefanis
When Maria Hatzistefanis founded Rodial back in 1999, she had no idea if the brand would take off, but she took the risk and put in the hard work, and now look at her! Rodial is a hugely successful brand and one of our go-tos for skincare & beauty products alike (we're particularly fond of the contour powder, as well as the newly-launched Vit-C collection).
We caught up with Maria to hear more about her entrepreneurial journey ahead of SIMPLY NYC, where she'll be speaking on our "Becoming An Entrepreneur" panel. If you haven't grabbed your SIMPLY NYC ticket yet, be sure to do so!
Keep scrolling to learn more about Maria and how she found success in the beauty industry.
SIMPLY: Tell us about how you started Rodial and what that process was like.
MARIA: Beauty has always been a passion of mine, and I identified a gap in the market for a skincare range that would offer targeted treatments for specific skincare concerns. I started the business in 1999 from a back room at home. At the beginning I was doing everything myself, from packing the orders to selling product on the shop floor. I was prepared to do anything to get the business off the ground.
What was the biggest challenge you faced when starting your business?
I had no idea on what I was getting into when I first started the business. I was naive with not much to lose so went for it. I also had to build up a thick skin. I had a lot of doors slammed in my face, but I persevered and the hard work paid off!
Rodial's new Vit-C collection
What is your personal favorite product from Rodial?
The Rodial Bee Venom range is my go-to at the moment, the formulas work really well with my skin and they are full of the latest anti-aging ingredients. I am also really excited about the launch of our new Vit C range.
You have an incredible social media following, and we’re obsessed with your Instagram! What role do you think social media has in a brand’s success?
Social media is very important for me and I was slightly late joining Instagram, so I am really excited to have 1 million followers for my @mrsrodial account and a great following for our brand accounts. My personal account allows people to see what happens behind the scenes, and they identify with that.
In addition to Rodial, you recently launched your book How To Be An Overnight Success! What’s one piece of advice from the book that you can share?
You have to believe in yourself, your ideas, your hopes and dreams. When you start a business a lot of people will question you and there is fierce competition. You need to stick with positive people who encourage you and want you to succeed. Find role models and inspiring stories to keep you motivated.