We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hayley Rose. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hayley below.
Hi Hayley, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Thank you for asking this question, because it is a topic I know all too well. For background, I spent 27 years in the energy industry. I had a successful career there because I thoroughly understood the commercial and regulatory aspects of our contracts, the hydraulics of our pipeline systems, and built successful relationships with my customers based upon trust. I loved what I did and the customers we served, but I didn’t enjoy the corporate politics that seemed to be taking over a lot of my role. At the age of 50, I voluntarily retired. After some time, I decided to open my own store in my hometown of Rogers City, Michigan, and decided on an organic bath, body and beauty store, and Harborside Bath & Body was born. I thought it would be fun because it was completely different, I loved the products, and it would give me a good challenge. However, here is where the imposter syndrome snuck in. I left a role where I felt very confident and competent in my knowledge and skills. I KNEW what I brought to the table in negotiations, how I could create value for the company I worked for and our customers. I KNEW my customers, their pain points, and what solutions would work best for them, but guess what? I didn’t know any of this in the bath, body and beauty industry! Sure, I knew what I knew from my own experiences, but I didn’t know how to open, much less run a small business. I didn’t know all the challenges small businesses face. I didn’t know the in’s and out’s of organic products or know all the ingredients and what they did nor how to do social media marketing, and the list goes on and on. I went from knowing something extraordinarily well to something I didn’t, and it was SCARY. I knew I had to change my mind set and remind myself of some things if I wanted any hope of making this new endeavor work.
First, I had to remind myself that many of the skills I acquired in the corporate world would help me in running a business, such as understanding financials, working with customers and the value of customer service, being solution oriented for our customers, creating a solid team, etc. These were all very valuable and while they would be used differently, these skills would still be used and help me in running Harborside Bath & Body.
Running your own business is not for the faint of heart, so you do have to be tenacious and not give up at the first hiccup. Thankfully, I was born with a healthy dose of grit. I don’t give up easily, and when I hear the naysayers, either real or perceived in my head, I do my best to tune them out and try to prove them wrong. I started thinking of all the challenges I overcame in my career and personally, and remembered the lessons I learned from those challenges, because there were always lessons. Taking inventory of what I learned, reminded me of just how much grit I do have and helped me refocus and develop new strategies.
This may sound crazy, but I had to embrace my lack of knowledge. We all know that when someone is knee deep in something, someone just joining the party can offer a fresh perspective. I needed to remind myself that my lack of knowledge in this new business landscape, may offer a fresh perspective to someone who’s been in it for their entire career. Trust me, I KNEW I had a lot to learn, am still learning, and thankfully I have suppliers that are willing and gracious to teach me about their products, ingredients, their take on the FDA and the regulations (or lack thereof) in the industry, but I also recognized that my inexperience in the industry, could offer new perspectives for my suppliers and potentially offer some insight for them that they previously had not considered. It was important to me that I was viewed as an active partner in our business arrangements and wanted the best for their business as well. Additionally, because of my corporate experience, I needed to remember and focus on what my vision and what my reasons were for starting this business. After seeing the challenges firsthand many women, including myself, had in the corporate environment, part of my vision and passion was to uplift successful women owned businesses and help them become even more successful by expanding their market while carrying and promoting their products. That, along with having all these amazing products under one roof gave Harborside Bath & Body, a distinctive vision which sets Harborside Bath & Body apart from other bath, body and/or beauty companies’ “why”. I needed to understand and communicate that with an audience where that message resonates.
No one gets anywhere on their own. I believe that to my core. If you look at any successful person, they have a strong support network, whether it be their spouse, their family, their friends, their co-workers, their team, a mentor, etc. I hate admitting this, but there have been more tears since owning my own business than I like, but I am so incredibly grateful for those that unwaveringly support me, whether it is to give me a much-needed hug or words of encouragement, a sounding board, a different perspective, help me list out solutions, are able to tell me the hard truth when I need it, etc. Whatever it is, building a support system is crucial when facing imposter syndrome. If you don’t feel like you have a great support system, then I suggest seeking out like-minded individuals who have experienced or are currently experiencing similar challenges. Connect with fellow business owners, ask someone you admire to mentor you, or even join online communities where you can share your thoughts, concerns, and triumphs. Surrounding yourself with a positive, supportive group of people who you trust, will remind you that you’re not alone in your journey and provide invaluable advice and encouragement along the way.
Learn, learn and learn some more. This one may seem obvious, but it needs to be said. At the crux of imposter syndrome is being in a position where you don’t feel like you have the knowledge or skills to be what you are. Many people opt for the strategy of “fake it until you make it”, but I completely disagree with that strategy. I think learning as much as you can by trusted individuals and owning what you don’t know will help combat those negative feelings and build trust with your clients. There is nothing wrong with saying, “I am new to this and still learning, but I can ask my supplier and get back with you as soon as possible”, and then be sure to follow through. This will gain you more respect and trust within your community because your clients know that you are not trying to sell them something for the sake of selling, but that you want to make sure they are getting the best product to meet their needs. I’ve learned so much in the three years since starting this business. I’ve learned from my suppliers, my most trusted confidants, purchased and worked through several digital classes, listened to small business podcasts regularly, and read, researched, read and research even more. You have to invest in your own growth if you want to eliminate the imposter syndrome from rearing its ugly head. I’m still learning and will continue to do so, because this industry is constantly evolving, and chances are, your industry is as well. This commitment to ongoing learning will not only boost your confidence but also demonstrate to yourself and others that you’re dedicated to providing the best possible service and products for your customers, and that YOU are worth it!
Lastly, celebrate your wins. This is sometimes hard for me, because it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to celebrate accomplishments, but it is so important to remember, every obstacle you overcome deserves recognition. Each happy customer, positive review, or successful marketing campaign is a testament to your skills and hard work and that of your team. Celebrate these wins and celebrate with your team and acknowledge their contributions. It keeps the vision, mission, goals in focus, motivates them to continue to do their best, and shows them that you really appreciate all that they do for you and the business.
Imposter syndrome is a real and nasty feeling, but don’t let it bring you down as you embark on an exciting new chapter in your life. Embrace your journey, trust in your abilities, and remember that you have the power to create something truly amazing. Surround yourself with a supportive network, commit to continuous learning, and celebrate your wins along the way. By doing so, you’ll not only slay the imposter syndrome beast but also thrive.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As mentioned previously, I worked in corporate America for 27 years, but the more advancement I achieved, the less satisfied I became with my role. I retired early and after my youngest graduated from high school and went off to college, I told my husband I wanted to open an organic bath and body store in my home town, of Rogers City, Michigan. We built our retirement home there, and Rogers City had recently been selected for a Main Street town in Michigan. With both my kids in college, I felt the timing was right.
My goal when opening this retail shop was to not only promote and help other women owned businesses grow, but to simplify life for women where they only need to go to one store (or website) to buy skin care, hair care, nail care, make up, bath and body care, etc. I am now 3 years into this new career and love it. I curate products from incredible women owned brands, such as Elina Organics, a skincare and make up company that is 100% organic. She predominantly sells in clinical and holistic spas (more than 175 across the USA), has received SO many awards in this industry and is nationally recognized as a leader in the organic beauty industry, so it truly is a privilege to carry her products in my retail store. Additionally, we carry brands such as Kitsch, Rustic MAKA, Design Me Fragrances, all of whom have been recognized many times in national publications as well as many other reputable natural bath, body and beauty brands with a lot of recognition in the upper Midwest. We also sell complementary products such as robes, slippers, pajamas, candles, bath caddies, etc. It’s your one stop shop for self care!! I get to interact with so many wonderful people including our customers, suppliers, community leaders, etc. We have been growing each year, which is amazing, and have sold to nearly 20 different states with repeat customers from New York to California.
In addition to the wonderful products we sell, in the latter half of April, Harborside will also start providing free virtual skin type consultations that come with a customized skin care routine. If a customer wants to take it one step further after the consultation, they can pay a fee to have samples of these products sent to them to try and then, should they choose to buy, they will receive a discount on their first order. Stay tuned for that, because I am close to having that new service launched!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I am still relatively new in my small business journey, celebrating our 3 year anniversary in March. However, the top 3 things that helped me time and time again are my tenacity, willingness to learn, and being flexible. As I said, running a small business is not for the faint of heart and it would have been easy to throw in the towel many times already. Starting this business in a tiny community (less than 3,000 people) in a very rural area and watching it grow has been so exciting and fun. Every small business owner I know wears a bunch of different hats, works long hours and tries something different if the first or second time didn’t work out like you planned. You have to be committed to your vision, try, try and try again, and be excited about what you bring to your community and the public.
Being willing to learn new things and being flexible, even if you’ve been in business a long time, are critical for a business’ success. In my previous life as a corporate executive, one of our former CEO’s used to say we were in a constant state of becoming. That resonated with me back then, but especially now as a business owner, because if you stop pursuing new goals or stop learning, you and your business will become stagnant very quickly. The world changes so quickly, and small businesses need to be able to readily adapt and make adjustments, which often requires learning new skills. There are so many great business podcasts to listen and learn that are free and relevant. Plus, many of those offer digital classes, for a fee, that you can work on your own time. I’ve done several of those and for someone being new to small business, I can say they really helped me learn skills I lacked. Three of my favorite business podcasts are: 1) The Product Boss; 2) Amy Porterfield and 3) Marketing Made Easy. Lastly, being able to adapt quickly means you have to recognize that maybe one of your great ideas didn’t resonate with your customers. It doesn’t always mean you have to scrap the idea, but maybe change how you roll a new product or service out the next time or change the messaging. I think one of the worst things a business can do is get so set on one way of doing things and not being able to adjust and shift as needed, especially as technology, marketing, business requirements, etc. evolve so quickly.
Lastly, even though I gave my 3, I have to add is have fun. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and bogged down with the never ending to do list, but if you don’t have fun with it, it’s going to make a challenging road all the more difficult. This is your opportunity to make your business be what you want it to be, and if you are not having fun and enjoying what you do, it will reflect in everything you do and be noticed by your customers.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
There are many things I learned from my parents, so it’s hard to name just one, so I’ll name two impactful things. The first is a hard work ethic and always giving your best. Both my parents were great examples of that, and it transcended into our daily lives at home, even with as mundane things as answering the phone. I remember as a kid, I was not supposed to answer the phone “Hello”. Rather, I was to answer, “Mertz residence, this is Hayley speaking”. It’s funny because with cell phones, everything is so much more casual, but my parents believed being your best should be shown in everything you do. Tying that back to Harborside, one of the things I stress is product knowledge, which some may feel is a more mundane part of the job. However, knowing how to help guide our customers to the right products that will help them with a specific pain point, is rewarding, but it also helps build trust and loyalty. I look back and recognize how hard both my parents worked, the sacrifices they made for my siblings and I (there were 5 of us), and I am so grateful that they stressed the importance of hard work. When I was in college, my mom had two jobs working seven days a week for years to help me out as much as she could. The sacrifices she made are not lost on me. She wanted me to reach my goals, even if it meant little rest for her. I also remember my Dad having a conversation with me when I was really young when I asked what “initiative” meant. He told me it meant to not do only what I am told to do, but to look at other things that need to be taken care of and do it without being asked. He said that if I did that when I had grew up and had a job later in life, it would set me apart. He was right.
The second really impactful thing I learned from parents was the importance of giving back. I saw this play out regularly in small ways and big ways. From fixing people meals to creating a neighborhood “carnival” in our back yard to raising money for Jerry Lewis’ Muscular Dystrophy Telethon that occurred every Labor Day weekend. This backyard carnival was complete with being able to throw a pie in my brother’s and/or Dad’s face or stop in a tent to have your fortune told by my older sister with her Magic 8 Ball, among other activities. This left a huge impact on me because giving back was viewed by my parents as something you do. There was never a question about it. My mom always used to say there was no time to feel sorry for yourself because there were plenty of people who had it worse, and if we could make it better somehow, we needed to figure out a way to do it. Great standard to live up to, and one I am so thankful they taught us. Giving back has always been important to me, and now with Harborside, we’ve had the opportunity to give back to local schools, sports programs, community efforts and on a larger scale to give back to veteran programs and breast cancer causes. My parents instilled this not with words, but with actions, and I hope my kids will be able to say the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://
harborsidebathandbody.com - Instagram: @
harborsidebathandbody - Facebook: @harborsidebathandbo
dy - Twitter: @HayleyR6821433
Image Credits
The first picture with me on the porch with a bottle of lotion, the photographer’s business is Heather Mertz Photography. All the others are just snapshots of a Barbie party we had in the summer, our team dressed in soaps and loofas for our Nautical Festival and a 6 year old tee ball team that Harborside Bath & Body sponsored. Thank you!
