July 17, 2012
BBR6 Thought Leader Q&A Series: Shel Pink – SpaRitual Founder
July 17, 2012
BBR6 Thought Leader Q&A Series: Shel Pink – SpaRitual Founder
For those of you who sat with BBR6 Thought Leader, Shel Pink, during one of her Beauty Biz Roundtable BBR6 roundtables, you were probably fascinated with her interesting path to the beauty industry and her roundtable discussion of “Slow Beauty – A New Evolution in the Industry.”
Lifestyle futurist, Shel Pink, captured the attention of the spa industry when she founded and launched SpaRitual in 2004. Dedicated to the ancient spa tradition, SpaRitual is committed to creating multi-purpose eco-friendly products and packaging – perfectly crafted for the enlightened consumer, using vegan ingredients from around the world, that are specially sourced, certified organic and fair trade. 
In addition, SpaRitual offers Nail Elixirs and Nail Lacquers, which are also vegan and free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP. Seven years later, Shel now sees the green movement transitioning towards a discussion of slow ideals in direct response to a lifestyle that has become too fast.
Please tell us about your career path/progression. The road to… where you are now? How did you get started? My journey to my current position as Founder of SpaRitual and Chief Creative Officer has been a dynamic one. I studied History of Art at the University of Michigan and after college I worked in several different industries including Music Video, Film and TV production, the music industry, and the fashion industry, and now the beauty industry.
Why did you choose this career? Why the [beauty] industry? The career kind of chose me. When I met my husband, I was a photographer and then launched my own clothing line. Shortly after we got engaged my father-in-law, who founded Orly International, asked me if I would be interested in joining the family business. I thought it over for several months and then decided that I would give it a try. I had never worked in the beauty industry before and fell in love with it.
Who/what are your biggest career influences? My father-in-law, Jeff Pink, has been one of my biggest career influences. He is a very tough mentor and I’ve learned a lot from him over the past 10 years. Carina Breda has also had a tremendous influence on me. I admire her authenticity, strength and determination.
Who is today’s [beauty] consumer? How are they changing? Today’s beauty consumer is making a connection between beauty, health and wellness. They are looking for more authenticity from their beauty care brands and want products that are not only effective but also safe.
What do [beauty] professionals need to do to continue to connect/attract with today’s beauty consumer? Share a compelling story with today’s beauty consumer. People want to make the world a better place and they will support brands who are contributing to that ethos.
What kinds of qualities do you look for in an employee/when hiring a candidate/someone to join your team? I look for someone who thinks holistically, and sees the big picture. Someone who shares their knowledge with the team. Someone who strives for innovation but knows how to make it happen in real terms. A good sense of humor is also nice.
What is the best way/strategy for someone interested in your company to employ to get a foot in the door? Intern.
What makes a candidate stand out? Experience and a positive attitude.