Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlee Sarai.
Hi Ashlee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Hi everyone! My name is Ashlee Sarai, CEO and Founder of Mink Envy, a company that specializes in cruelty-free, bold, distinctive, false eyelashes that many people like myself, truly can’t find anywhere else.
I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and I am a new mom of a 2-year-old and will be a wife of an amazing man who is my biggest supporter! Before I started Mink Envy, I was a school bus driver. Even though I loved my job and the stability it gave me, I stepped out on faith to do something that made me happy. Plus, I always knew deep down that I was meant to be my boss.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all even though it appears to be on the outside looking in. Some of my earlier struggles were finding time to deliver eyelashes, maintain a 9 to 5 job, and ship orders at the same time. It stressed me out having to decide which route to take when I had a great job but also a great dream ahead of me. The road to success is never smooth.
It’s so important for women to understand that roadblocks can be blessings in disguise. I want women to know that they can do anything they want in life and that they don’t have to live tied to a job. I leaped and left a government job with benefits to start an eyelash empire! I didn’t have a business background but I had faith in my vision. It’s never too late to be anyone you want to be and follow your dreams.
The journey is certainly not always easy but it’s important to make lessons from your losses. Struggles never end. You just know how to deal with them better.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
While we produce a range of beauty products such as lip glosses and lip scrubs etc, Mink Envy is truly recognized for our lashes. Mink Envy is the go-to lash brand for the confident, unapologetic, fearless young woman who loves experimenting with subtle to dramatic looks and glam styles. We create lashes that you won’t find anywhere else. Our lashes have durable bands which ensure extra strength when applying and removing which allows you to reuse them up to 25 times. Even with durable bands, our lashes are lightweight and never compromising volume, they never fall flat.
Mink Envy started with my love of eyelashes and how they made me look and feel. My favorite thing about eyelashes is how easily they can enhance your look without makeup. I’ve probably tried hundreds of different pairs but couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for on the retail shelves. I decided to create the perfect pair for myself and I realized there were thousands of other people wanting the same things I wanted in a pair of lashes.
Although we’re always launching the hottest new dramatic lashes, we never sacrifice quality. We only use the highest quality materials in our lashes, and we are obsessed with excellence. I still personally inspect every single pair of lashes before they ship and before they get into anyone else on my team’s hands, and if there are any imperfections or inconsistencies, we don’t send that pair.
Another aspect of Mink Envy that sets us apart from our competitors is our attention to what customers want. Mink Envy has become a huge community of people who want the perfect lashes they can’t find anywhere else. From customer emails, social media interactions, surveys, polls, and more. Our community has always played a key role in product development and we live for feedback from our community. We truly value a close relationship with our community.
Within our short time on the market, Mink Envy has grown into an award-winning beauty brand and has already received recognition among celebrities, beauty gurus, and influencers, enjoyed features in the top beauty magazines, and gained an impressive social media following. We’ve been worn by the likes of Ciara on national television, as well as Ari Fletcher and Jess Hilarious.
We’ve also graced the pages of American Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Allure. Our products are trusted by beauty editors, professional makeup artists, and consumers alike. And with over 100K followers on Instagram, Mink Envy has its finger right on the pulse of pop culture. We understand what the young, consumer is looking for when she shops for beauty products on an intrinsic level.
Mink Envy is all about confidence. The confidence that the perfect lash set can give you, and the inner confidence that empowers you to go for whatever you want–and get it.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Traveling brings me so much happiness! I love exploring new places and soaking in the beauty of different landscapes. Being on the move and having the freedom to make my own choices resonates with me deeply. Being my boss allows me to follow my passions without being told what to do.
And let’s not forget about the joy of indulging in delicious food from around the world! But you know what truly lights up my day? It’s the incredible feeling of helping others become their best selves. Seeing others thrive and grow brings me immense happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.minkenvylashes.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/theashsarai
