Authenticity in Business with Daisy Jing

Tell us about yourself and what your company does, & how long you've been working on it.

Banish creates a product line that gets to the root of problems, not just to cover them up temporarily. We use fresh, natural ingredients sourced from the West Coast of the United States. We focus on internal rather than external healing. Now I have learned to realize that this struggle was given to me to help others. I realized that it's not the way you look that matters; it's the confidence to be who you are, without hiding from others.

What inspired you to start your own company - tell us the story?

She realized that many current skincare ingredients, such as fragrances or fillers, break out her skin, so she created her skincare products in her kitchen. She documented her struggle on her YouTube channel, which now garners over 70M views. Eventually, her followers saw great results on her skin and encouraged her to launch her own business. Now she and her diverse team focus on inspiring confidence in others. Together with the Banish Warriors and Soldiers, Daisy joins the acne community in their skin journey.

How did you decide on your company name and logo?

I am a minimalist; I wouldn't say I like complicated designs. For me, skincare is needed by both men and women. I don't want to introduce it as feminine skincare, but an uncomplicated way of taking care of your skin. I chose BANISH as a name because it is my ultimate desire to banish insecurities, negativity and self-hate caused by acne and scars. The word Banish also means removing the "bad" things in our lives so we can "highlight" the good stuff we already have, but we never recognize it.

How long did it take from having the idea to your first customers?

Not that much, my followers immediately see a big difference in my skin that I don't even recognize at first, and I am glad that they supported me from day 1. Because of their support, I was able to have a community and a good number of loyal customers.

Who were your first customers? (Or: Tell us about your first sale. Or: Tell us about your opening day.)

In terms of starting my business, my biggest struggle is the feeling of isolation. I feel alone with my thoughts and ideas - figuring out how to do everything. I talked to people, read books, and executed what I learned ALONE. It was time-consuming! I made the products, labelled them, did customer service assistance, packed my products with bubble wrap, ship it, and the list goes on. The process made me confident that if I want something, I can do it without other people's permission and acceptance. I'll do it because I want it and I know I can do it.

What's been the right way of growing your customer base and sales? Can you share a few success stories with us?

Relatable post stories without filtering theirs before and after photos. We become the voice of our customers who are unheard of. We are marketing people who have skin issues. Most of the time, skin issues lead to emotional problems as well. We want to connect with our customers or others who have a lot of concerns, questions or need someone to talk to. We want our brand to show more compassion to our customers. We plan to connect with more people through an internet forum. Connect in a way that our advocacy to encourage and empower is met. We love to answer people's questions and attend to their emotional needs as they go through their battle of having skin issues. This is not just about customer service. This time, it's about our company has a heart.

Can you share some insights that your customers often overlook?‍

Points - we have a lot of ways to reward our loyal customers. May it be through recycling, purchasing more from Banish, birthday gifts, etc. - we got you covered!

What did you wish you knew before you started your company? What advice do you have for first-time entrepreneurs?

We can always do the do's and don'ts in posting, but if we're not consistent, it's all useless. The strategy is to be consistent in the message you want to say, the number of videos and posts in a day to be posted, and the kind of engagement we do with our followers. The strategy isn't just to be consistent in posting, but also to be consistent in engaging with followers - that's how you know you won!

What are the trends in your industry that you are excited about?

Content Creation - I love how we make time to be creative in sharing our stories and how we can normalize acne and imperfection by being open about all these.

What are you looking forward to in the next week/month/quarter or year, and what are your aspirations for your company?

My dream for the company is to be a blessing to everyone - may it be through a giveaway, our products, etc. We love an opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially during this trying time.

What's been your biggest challenge in life thus far, and how did you overcome it?

My story is about taking risks and being courageous to launch my business and face the future without knowing what to do back then. I had to take the plunge and to trust myself and my business that I can do it. I experienced many challenges: from the fear of the unknown and not knowing what to do next to other things that I have to charge to experience. As the CEO of the company, I also had to take steps and measures to ensure that my company's mission/vision is aligned with what my employees do. If not, I have to ask them to leave. I also made some changes to my lifestyle and relationships. I had to phase out some activities that are not healthy for me and cut out people that aren't helping in my personal growth anymore. Since I started my business, I have become a different person - courageous, risk-taker and smarter.

Where is your favourite place in the world?

Budapest - Budapest is known for its abundant thermal springs. I would be drinking their tap water, and I was so excited to visit their thermal baths! I had heard and read about their therapeutic aspects of water; hearing it cures many skin conditions and can even reduce cancer signs. What? The sulphur in their thermal springs has 'healing properties'