Sydney Robertson, An 18-year-old Richmondite, launched her natural cosmetic business with her pocket money. Photo submitted
Eighteen-year-old Sydney Robertson proves that anyone can start a business if you want to, and, commit to it.
The UBC Arts student has started her own cosmetic business, with nothing but her saved pocket money.
Her All Heart Cosmetics website was launched Jan 6, which features an, 鈥渁ll-natural, vegan, cruelty-free and kosher,鈥� clay mask.
鈥淭he inspiration for starting a business comes from my dad, who started his business when he was young,鈥� Robertson said. 鈥�(My dad) always said to me, 鈥榖e your own boss,鈥� so I took it from there.鈥�
Robertson started creating her own formula to make cosmetic products for family and friends twoyears ago, and turned this hobby into a business last summer.
鈥淚 saw other people doing it and then I started doing research on the Internet. There are so many resources to be able to get information from,鈥� recalled Robertson. 鈥淚 really refined the product over the summer 鈥� it was what I spent my entire summer on.鈥�
She wanted to create a product for her customers that are 鈥渃ompromise-free.鈥�
鈥淧eople鈥檚 choices are often compromised by purchasing products with fillers, preservatives, non-vegan or non-kosher ingredients, or from companies that don鈥檛 support its workers or being cruel on animals,鈥� said Robertson. 鈥淚 want to make sure that they are not really compromising anything by going with my products.鈥�
She also noticed that many natural cosmetics do not have a cool style. Robertson wants to combine the two 鈥渨ithout having to compensate anything.鈥�
Having very limited funding, Robertson learned about sketching and web design to create a 鈥渃ool look鈥� for the packaging and website. She also hand-makes and hand-packs all the products herself.
鈥淚t's been a really fun and a great learning process. There were times I nearly gave up, but I love it. It鈥檚 fun to be able to see something grow from next to nothing,鈥� she said.
Robertson hopes to see her business expand, but her vision goes beyond that. Five per cent of her net proceeds will go towards feminine hygiene products for women in need.
鈥淚 believe that everyone deserves to feel clean and confident. It鈥檚 so unfair that you have to pick between being clean and confident and having a meal," said Robertson. 鈥淓ven if at first I'm not able to raise a lot of funds for it, at least I can bring it to the attention to people.鈥�
For other young people who also dream of being an entrepreneur, Robertson said her recommendation is to act now.
鈥淚n our day in age, there are so many new opportunities that we never would have thought of before,鈥� said Robertson. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what your age is; Don鈥檛 stop yourself because you are only 18, because you are just as capable at researching as someone who is 25.
鈥淎t the end of the day, we say what we want to do. It doesn鈥檛 have to be standardized. You just need to have the right mindset and find something you are passionate about.鈥�
