Meet Trailblazer Brenda Mendez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Mendez.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
If you asked me where I saw myself five years ago, I would’ve never thought I would be where I am today. I always went after the most secured and guaranteed things in life. The farthest parking spot because that was a guaranteed spot, the most stable job, accounting because I would always have a secure job. I would say I got that from my single mother, who had to have three jobs at a time to secure a roof over our heads and food on the table for my siblings and I. I now understand why she wasn’t able to take any risks. Now, I am doing what most would say, the riskiest; entrepreneurship. But one thing I learned for sure was that believing in myself and betting on me was the thing I could be sure of, regardless of where life took me.

After graduating with an accounting degree from ASU in just three years, I had the great experience of working for the worlds biggest accounting firm Deloitte. It was then that I decided to leave such a great opportunity for another and go into entrepreneurship. It wasn’t until multiple trial and errors and years of finding the real purpose behind why we were in business. That’s when Snow Teeth Whitening was born and took off right away. Customers gave my partner and me the reason why we should continue to do what we do; give the gift of self-confidence and be able to smile. In just two short years, our business doubled every single year and we continued to improve and provide the best value in the industry. We weren’t just selling the best teeth whitening product in the market but we were giving people confidence, a reason to smile again. We continue to exponentially grow every quarter and have a lot of awesome products to come out within the near future. I love what I do and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely been one of the hardest things I’ve done and every day seems like a struggle. With that said, I am extremely grateful to have these struggles because it has also given me the happiest of times. I’ve faced and have gotten through so many challenges while growing this company. It’s been even more challenging having to solve these problems at the rate that Snow has been growing. In entrepreneurship, you’re not given a manual or a roadmap you can use when going through these. You figure it out as you go. The best thing from it is that you come out stronger, smarter and a lot more confident. I’ve learned to enjoy challenges and problem-solving. I’ve learned to master my mind into thinking positively about anything that has and will continue to come my way in business and in life. In the beginning, my partner and I had to do everything in the business.

I had to handle customer service, fulfillment, literally packing every single order that came in. Printing labels and having to go through multiple printers in just a single month. Inventory, contacting suppliers, vendors, designing packaging, choosing the best rates for each carrier and the list goes on. All while doing this at the same time and trying to mentally survive. I have to admit it felt like a real-life MBA. I remember doing customer service for 12-16 hours a day along with everything else that day and waking up the next morning and the same mountain you thought you got through just became bigger. Those were the growing pains and that’s when you know you have to continue the growth and elevate to the next level.

My advice for young women starting their journey in entrepreneurship is that it is all worth it. That every struggle is preparing you to be a better, stronger and more confident you. You are gifting the world of your skills and talents and you are doing one of the most thankless jobs out there. So, thank you for coming on this journey even though it might not be the easiest at times, it is the most fulfilling. Always look at every challenge in a positive way. Instead of being so stressed about having hundreds of emails to go through, look at it this way, people are begging for your service or products. It’s such an amazing feeling that your idea has gotten to the hands of others and you have people wanting it, now that is something to be grateful for. For what it is, allow yourself to have those moments when you cry it out, but never give up on you and doing what you love.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Snow Teeth Whitening – what should we know?
I was lucky enough to do a little of everything at the beginning of the business and figure out what I really liked. I manage the day to day operation of the business but I love focusing more on product development, branding, and enhancing the customer experience. I love creating a memorable experience for the customer by adding value to the packaging and making every product they receive the best from Snow. I’ve always had an eye for detail and this has definitely allowed me to shine. I’ve improved every single product at least three or more times in a year. I’ve gone from a regular travel bag where the product is inserted to a now a velvet texture with our logo printed on. I’ve had our fulfillment team gift wrap the box with a tissue paper and sticker both with our logo. I’ve designed a really nice thank you card that goes inside every order that has a soft matte feeling to it. I make sure everything has our color and logo if possible. It’s like having an apple product some would say. I love reading all the reviews from our customers explaining exactly what I’ve put into these products. Some of them don’t want to throw away the packaging because of how expensive it feels. I love reading their reviews about bringing them the confidence they didn’t have before because of the white smile they are able to show off. I love putting my work into this craft and of course, having a product that actually works makes the whole experience a delight. I am known for being really organized and detail oriented. I love that I can combine my analytical and creative brain together because who said you can’t have both. I am super proud of my team and the brand we have created in the oral space. We’ve tested the boundaries and set ourselves to increase the standard of quality and innovation.

Which women have inspired you in your life?
I love Sara Blakely, Lori Greiner, Jessica Alba, Sheryl Sandberg and all the self-made women entrepreneurs that have gone through extream struggles to be where they are. Sometimes, I listen to their stories and smile because I’ve gone through similar situations when they first started in business. Knowing that I am not alone and that it does get better and the amount of value they’ve been able to provide philanthropically. But most importantly, my mother for teaching me the importance of hard work and to never give up.

Contact Info:

• Website: trysnow.com
• Email: brendaforesold@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/brendamendezx

Image Credit:
Andrea Macias, Felicitas

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