Jamie Kern Lima

I was like pumping myself up. And I was like telling myself like, they'll be lucky to have us and all these things. Anyways. He, that phone call, he was very kind, but he basically said in these exact words, we've received your samples, all of them. And I was. And I wanted to call you directly and let you know myself that I've met with our entire buying team.

And it's unanimous that you are not the right fit for QVC or our customers.

And it's unanimous that you are not the right fit for QVC or our customers.

My worst rejections were to come, but that was a pretty bad one. Especially after that grind. And also at this point, how much money do you have in the bank account? Close to zero. Yeah. We were basically getting one to two orders a day on our website and barely keeping the lights on. And we couldn't afford marketing or advertising.

My worst rejections were to come, but that was a pretty bad one. Especially after that grind. And also at this point, how much money do you have in the bank account? Close to zero. Yeah. We were basically getting one to two orders a day on our website and barely keeping the lights on. And we couldn't afford marketing or advertising.

So it was just word of mouth that people were even hearing about it. Everything was about how do we stay alive. And I remember at the time we got an inbound from a potential investor. And I was like, oh my gosh. I started doing all my homework. I'm like, they've invested in all these companies that like used to be very tiny. Now they're big names in grocery stores and big box retailers.

So it was just word of mouth that people were even hearing about it. Everything was about how do we stay alive. And I remember at the time we got an inbound from a potential investor. And I was like, oh my gosh. I started doing all my homework. I'm like, they've invested in all these companies that like used to be very tiny. Now they're big names in grocery stores and big box retailers.

I was like, oh my gosh. Okay. I was freaking out. I told Paula, my husband, I'm like, look, look at this email. And And it was a big potential investor, so a big private equity company, very well known. And they got a hold of our product and they wanted to have a meeting. Oh, my gosh.

I was like, oh my gosh. Okay. I was freaking out. I told Paula, my husband, I'm like, look, look at this email. And And it was a big potential investor, so a big private equity company, very well known. And they got a hold of our product and they wanted to have a meeting. Oh, my gosh.

And so the thought of like, oh, my gosh, this investor is going to be my saving grace because if he invests in A, we're not going to go bankrupt. B, like maybe he can use all his connections to get us in these stores. And we took our first meeting and it was amazing.

And so the thought of like, oh, my gosh, this investor is going to be my saving grace because if he invests in A, we're not going to go bankrupt. B, like maybe he can use all his connections to get us in these stores. And we took our first meeting and it was amazing.

We did meeting after meeting after meeting and we flew up for the final meeting where I presented like the whole future product pipeline. And I thought this was going to be my saving grace. And I was so excited. And I'll never forget, Paolo, my husband, was standing next to me about three feet from me. And the head of the private equity firm was there. He was lovely.

We did meeting after meeting after meeting and we flew up for the final meeting where I presented like the whole future product pipeline. And I thought this was going to be my saving grace. And I was so excited. And I'll never forget, Paolo, my husband, was standing next to me about three feet from me. And the head of the private equity firm was there. He was lovely.

And his whole team, who was great, they were all there. At the very end of the meeting, he says to me, you know, congratulations. You should be so proud. This is a really, really great product. But it's a no. We're going to pass on investing in IT Cosmetics. And I was like – I was so used to hearing no. But it felt like –

And his whole team, who was great, they were all there. At the very end of the meeting, he says to me, you know, congratulations. You should be so proud. This is a really, really great product. But it's a no. We're going to pass on investing in IT Cosmetics. And I was like – I was so used to hearing no. But it felt like –

You know, like a punch in the gut because I was like, I don't know how we're going to make it. And so I said, can you tell me why? What did he say? Well, I mean, feedback can be a gift. So I said, can you tell me why? And he got really quiet. And I'm standing here in person. I'm like two or three feet from him. And he got really, really, really quiet.

You know, like a punch in the gut because I was like, I don't know how we're going to make it. And so I said, can you tell me why? What did he say? Well, I mean, feedback can be a gift. So I said, can you tell me why? And he got really quiet. And I'm standing here in person. I'm like two or three feet from him. And he got really, really, really quiet.

And he says to me, do you want me to be really honest with you? And I was like, yes, please. And he just paused. And I remember feeling like my heartbeat in my ears for some reason. I was like, what could this be? And I remember his mouth started moving. And I remember looking at his mouth and his teeth for some reason.

And he says to me, do you want me to be really honest with you? And I was like, yes, please. And he just paused. And I remember feeling like my heartbeat in my ears for some reason. I was like, what could this be? And I remember his mouth started moving. And I remember looking at his mouth and his teeth for some reason.

And he says to me, I just don't think women will buy makeup from someone who looks like you with your body and your weight. And when he said those, first of all, I never even got angry or felt anger toward him. But when he said those words to me, it felt almost like a lifetime of body doubt and self-doubt like flooded my body all at once.