“It felt like eight, nine years we were like, ‘Did anybody ever see our videos? Does anyone ever comment on our stuff? Like, what is going on? Why? We work so hard, we edit new stuff every day!’ Until we started to commit to the audience and give them more of our attention and our time and listen to them, is when it really shifted.” -Sarah Potempa
In this episode of Entreprenista, we talked to Sarah Potempa and Erin Potempa-Wall, sisters who, along with their sister Emily, co-founded Beachwaver, a hair care company specializing in innovative styling tools. Celebrity hairstylist Sarah was known for styling stars like Reese Witherspoon and Camila Cabello when she invented the original Beachwaver, a revolutionary rotating curling iron. Recognizing the potential of this innovative product, Erin left her role in corporate law to focus on research and development, playing a crucial role in bringing the invention to market. Together, the sisters have built a woman-owned, self-funded company that emphasizes empowerment, innovation, and sustainability.
Today, the Beachwaver has grown into a global brand, inspiring confidence and beauty in women worldwide through its award-winning products and strong community engagement. Tune in and hear our conversation with Sarah and Erin, recorded live last month at our Entreprenista Founders Weekend event in Orlando. Sarah and Erin tell us about the evolution of the Beachwaver, how they use analytics and data to understand and build their audience, and the importance of pivoting and evolving as a self-funded, women-owned brand.
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Guests
Hosts
Stephanie Cartin is a serial entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, community builder, and a champion for women founders. She created the Entreprenista League, a community for women founders, to provide resources and support necessary at all business stages. She’s also the Co-founder of Socialfly, one of the first social media marketing agencies, as well as Entreprenista Media and Pearl Influential Capital which was recently acquired by Cherub. Stephanie has shared her journey managing her health challenges with Multiple Sclerosis, Infertility, and a complicated pregnancy and is an advocate for women going through similar challenges. Her story and businesses have been featured on the Today Show, Bloomberg and Forbes. Consider Stephanie your biggest business cheerleader.
Courtney Spritzer is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, and advocate for women founders. As Co-Founder and CEO of Socialfly, a social-first digital agency launched in 2012 and acquired in 2024, she has helped shape the industry with innovative strategies. She co-founded the Entreprenista League, a community for women founders, offering essential resources and support for all stages of business growth. Courtney’s entrepreneurial journey and business insights have been highlighted in top publications like Entrepreneur.com, Bloomberg, and Forbes.
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Highlights
- Launching the Beachwaver on QVC 03:45
- Using live social media platforms to educate and market to consumers 04:41
- Dividing and conquering as co-founders 09:33
- Forecasting production for a new launch 17:50
- Tailoring social content to individual platforms 23:31
- The inspiration behind Beachwaver’s many collaborations 24:54