Meet Brittani and Derek Newman of Savoy Beauty in Lewisville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittani and Derek Newman.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Brittani and Derek. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Savoy started as Savoy Cosmetics. I had been freelancing for MAC for a few years and had decided I wanted to create my own line in 2014. I focused on eyeshadow and colored glosses with 100% natural ingredients. Just like anyone who starts a new business, I thought it would take off! For a second, it did. Every makeup consultation ended with a purchase, but like all things, business slowed completely down. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my product or because of the lack of support. My uncle convinced me to move to Dallas in 2015 and I came with hopes of revamping Savoy Cosmetics and getting my name out. Unfortunately, I got scared! Coming from such a small area to Dallas is terrifying at first. For the first three years of my being here, I worked in optical and got comfortable with the money I made. It wasn’t until I met Derek and he saw all of the talents that I got into gear. I told him about Savoy Cosmetics and the fact that I wanted to birth it into Savoy Beauty with a handcrafted bath and body. I made lip scrubs and glosses and body butter for the first relaunch in June of 2018. The sales went crazy, with the support of friends from home and the many connections I made in Dallas in my first three years. As time went on, I was able to add bath salt soaks, body scrubs, and face masks. I decided to combine my other talent, crocheting, and I added in hand crochet loofahs, soap savers, and face and body scrubbing. With doing so many shops in the Dallas area, I was asked to plan a few pop up shops for Tipton Properties and my newest company, Newman Productions Plus, was birthed. We provide events to help bridge the gap between the community and small businesses. Within the start of our company, July 2019, we have successfully held ten pop-ups at various apartments in the DFW and two events in Monroe, La. We hope to continue to expand Savoy Beauty and Newman Productions Plus.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road at all. With this question, I had to decide if I wanted to be completely transparent. The truth is, I suffered from ISE. Inaccurate Sense of Entitlement. I had made the precognitive decision that my family and friends would be the first ones in line. I was wrong, and exactly who do I think I am to think that? If there is one thing I’ve learned on this journey, we are not entitled to anyone to like, buy, or support our product no matter their relation to us. Once I kicked that into my mind, I was able to prosper. Instead of focusing on those that weren’t supporting me, I focused on those that were. I asked my current customers what did they want to see and tried my best to provide. I entered pop up shops, which help me understand that business, network, and expose myself to new people. Over the course of one year, I’ve collected over 250 business cards from the 24 pop ups, and I’ve been able to send Savoy all over the world from recommendations.

Another challenge has been money management. Because I am young and just stepping foot into entrepreneurship, I’m still learning how to budget for expenses, bills, self-payment, etc. I have self-payment bad! If it were up to me, every dollar would go back into Savoy.

Please tell us about your business.
Savoy Beauty is a handcrafted bath and body line dedicated to making you “Feel Like Royalty” in the privacy of your own home, never having to step foot into the spa. All products are handcrafted and made with love in small batches with 100% natural ingredients. We offer body souffle (body butter), body polish, butter cream (lotion), cold process soaps, bath soaks, face masks, and hand crochet loofahs, soap savers, and scrubbies. We are becoming more known for our bundles. The bundle consists of almost everything we offer from our line. It is $30 a month, and you can either go online and purchase monthly or actually subscribe to receive it by the 10th day of each month. This way, our customers do not have to remember whether or not they have placed their order or wait for a new supply of products. The customer can test and use our products and determine which they like most. Each month the bundle is different, allowing our customers a new experience each time.

We offer favors for parties, weddings, etc. If purchases are made in bulk, we do offer discounts. We also offer spa parties. At our spa parties, the participants decide on one product and learn the steps to make them properly. They are able to leave with the product they created and a goody bag full of Savoy products.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
With our re-brand and new website, we hope to start on the path of opening a store front. Our goal is to make it into a spa with estheticians, nail techs, massage therapists, and more. We will continue to offer our products so that our customer can still enjoy the spa like feel in their own home; that is the goal after all. In order to do this, we must expand. Marketing classes are in the works to learn how to reach more people all over the world.

Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.