In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Penelope Cheshire takes us back to where it all began: an £8,000 leap of faith funded by selling her partner's Rolex, and a belief that premium hair extensions didn't have to feel exclusive or unapproachable. What followed was a masterclass in retail grit, from cold-pitching salons and building a team from the ground up, to navigating investment rooms where beauty wasn't taken seriously, and a partnership with Molly-Mae that sent the business into a different stratosphere. Penelope gets refreshingly honest about what actually happens during and after an exit, why she's channeling everything she learned into her next venture Killer Brush, and the moments that shaped her as a founder along the way.In this episode, we cover:The build of Beauty Works from an £8,000 Rolex watch saleBusiness growth through hair salonsFacing stereotypes against the beauty industryBehind the Molly-Mae partnershipThe story of the Beauty Works sellLaunching her new business, Killa BrushIf you’re a founder with an idea mixed with grit and determination, this episode is for you.We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Meet Penelope Cheshire, Founder of Beauty Works05:35 Beginning of Beauty Works 06:38 Selling My Partners Rolex to Start11:17 First Big Retail Order18:42 Rejected by Investors23:47 Creating a Premium Positioning29:28 Behind The Molly Mae Partnership35:49 Leadership & Letting Go47:38 The Truth Behind Leaving Beauty Works57:57 Private Equity Reality Check01:01:37 Starting Killa Brush01:12:12 Sharing Entrepreneurship Truths01:15:40 Rocket Round 01:22:57 Final Advice & Wrap🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW PENELOPEPenelope’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/penelopecheshire/Killa Brush: https://www.instagram.com/killabrushofficial/Killa Brush Website: www.killabrush.comFOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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