In this episode of Scaling Emerging Beauty, I’m joined by Matt Putra, fractional CFO and founder of Eightx, a financial advisory firm helping CPG and beauty brands scale responsibly. If you’ve ever felt unsure about forecasting cash flow, managing inventory costs, or figuring out how to fund retail growth—this is your episode.

Matt shares his proven frameworks for financial planning, with a focus on what beauty brands need to know when transitioning from DTC to retail. He breaks down complex financial concepts in a way that’s clear, actionable, and rooted in real-world experience.

We cover:
✅ How to prepare your beauty brand financially before entering retail
✅ The difference between short-term sales growth and long-term financial health
✅ Smart approaches to funding—debt vs equity, and how to choose what’s right
✅ Cash flow strategies to avoid inventory shortages and payment crunches
✅ Why forecasting matters—and how to use your numbers to make better decisions

If you’re a founder navigating the leap into retail, or trying to build a more sustainable, profitable brand, Matt’s insights will help you move forward with confidence.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Links:
📌 Connect with Matt Putra on LinkedIn

📌 Check out Eightx Group: https://eightx.co/

🔗 Monique Benoit on Instagram
🔗 Monique Benoit on LinkedIn
🔗 Scaling Emerging Beauty on Instagram
🔗 Scaling Emerging Beauty Website

🚀 Subscribe to Scaling Emerging Beauty for expert tips on growing your beauty brand!

In this episode of Scaling Emerging Beauty, I’m joined by Sarah Gallagher—founder of e-commerce agency Gamma Waves and a marketing strategist behind powerhouse brands like Supergoop. Sarah has helped both emerging and established brands scale through digital optimization, brand storytelling, and smart consumer engagement strategies.

We explore:
✅ What makes a beauty brand story stick—and why clarity matters more than complexity
✅ How to optimize your website to boost conversion (spoiler: it’s not just about design)
✅ The keys to customer retention and how to increase lifetime value through personalization
✅ How testing and A/B optimization unlock meaningful growth—even for smaller brands
✅ Lessons from scaling Supergoop pre-acquisition, and how loyalty programs drive repeat business

Whether you’re refining your DTC site, launching new SKUs, or growing your loyal customer base, Sarah shares practical tips to help you build a better digital experience and tell your brand story with impact.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Links:
📌 Connect with Sarah Gallagher on LinkedIn

📌 Check out Gamma Waves: https://gammawaves.io/

🔗 Monique Benoit on Instagram
🔗 Monique Benoit on LinkedIn
🔗 Scaling Emerging Beauty on Instagram
🔗 Scaling Emerging Beauty Website

🚀 Subscribe to Scaling Emerging Beauty for expert tips on growing your beauty brand!

Trademark protection isn’t just for big brands — it’s essential for emerging founders too.

In this episode of Scaling Emerging Beauty, Monique sits down with Lauren Bercuson, founder of Storylock Legal, to break down the basics of trademarks, common mistakes founders make, and how protecting your brand early can save you major time and money later.

Lauren shares her experience helping CPG and beauty founders secure their brand names, logos, and even colors, while explaining the risks of skipping this crucial step. Whether you’re launching your first product or prepping for retail expansion, this conversation will make you rethink how you protect your brand’s future.

We’ll dive into:
✅ Why trademarking is a must, not a “nice to have”
✅ The most common trademark mistakes emerging brands make
✅ What to know about using your personal name as a brand name
✅ The basics of trademarking logos, slogans, and even colors
✅ How to spot potential trademark infringement early
✅ What to know about international trademark protection
✅ When to prioritize trademarking additional brand elements (like logos and packaging)

If you’re serious about scaling your brand and building long-term value, this is a must-listen episode!

Links:
📌 Connect with Lauren Bercuson on LinkedIn

📌 Check out Storylock Legal: https://www.storylocklegal.com/

🔗 Monique Benoit on Instagram
🔗 Monique Benoit on LinkedIn
🔗 Scaling Emerging Beauty on Instagram
🔗 Scaling Emerging Beauty Website

🚀 Subscribe to Scaling Emerging Beauty for expert tips on growing your beauty brand!