Have you ever felt overwhelmed finding a gift for the girl who has everything? Fret no more! Pretty Please Nail Polish, founded by Sara Alter, produces personalized nail polish, and the customer has the opportunity to choose the color and name. Although Sara initially studied fashion design at the University of Delaware, she decided not to pursue it and founded her own company instead. I have always admired Sara’s entrepreneurial spirit and her brand’s unique products. I am so excited to feature Sara Alter, the founder and “Chief Polish Officer” of Pretty Please Nail Polish on The Zeitgeist this month. Be sure to check out the brand’s website HERE.
When did you realize you wanted to start Pretty Please Nail Polish? What inspired you?
It was a complete surprise how the company came about. I was looking for a gift for my mom for the holidays, and I was just over the same old scarf, jewelry, and spa gift card routine. I was falling asleep one night when I came up with the idea to name a nail polish after her. She has gotten weekly manicures since I was a kid, and the idea just clicked. However, I couldn’t find a company that personalized nail polish anywhere! After a lot of planning and research, I made the gift myself. Today, anyone can create their own nail polish with Pretty Please. You select from 27 shades, you can name your polish for wedding events, party favors, baby showers, company branding, and pretty much anything in between!
What does a typical day look like as the founder and Chief Polish Officer of your company? Is there such thing?
As I’m sure you hear all the time from business owners, there is no such thing as a typical day. Depending on the time of year, some days have a more creative focus, where other days are less glamorous. The only consistent part of every day is my morning trip to Starbucks.
What is the best thing that has happened to you since starting your own business?
There have been some incredible moments over the past five years. What feels special at one stage, like my first print placement, can often change over time; I now feel proud of large orders coming in from established companies. A huge highlight was seeing my nail polish on Good Morning America two years in a row! Not only was it validating to see a product I created on national television, but it also allowed me to reach so many new customers, which is priceless.
Who is your personal beauty icon?
Kate Hudson. She always looks fresh and glamorous in a very attainable, natural way. Day or night her makeup never feels forced or overdone to me. Plus, she gravitates toward the same colors that work well for me so I can relate and replicate!
What piece of advice do you have to share with young entrepreneurs?
If you want to be an entrepreneur, surround yourself with other entrepreneurs – that’s where you’ll really learn and understand what it takes to run your own business. Having an awesome idea and a profitable business are two very different things, and any entrepreneur knows that. Your family and friends will be there to cheer you on and tell you your idea is awesome because it probably is! However, building a network of like-minded, knowledgeable, and passionate business owners will be extremely beneficial to help you achieve success. Apply for internships or reach out to a business owner you admire and ask to take them out for coffee! Someone once told me that an hour of sitting down and chatting with me about my business was more helpful than all of grad school!
What’s next for you?
I am about to have my first baby, and creatively, I had to take a step back. Once I get into a post-baby groove, I’m so excited to move forward with fresh colors, new collaborations, and to breathe new life back into our social media channels. I am also in the process of adding new products to the site to complement our polish.
Images courtesy of Sara Alter and Lyndsey Fagerlund Photography.