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From Selling Copiers for Xerox to Building a
Multi-Billion-Dollar Beauty Empire, Who is Gregg Renfrew?
Gregg Renfrew is the CEO and founder of Beautycounter, a billion-dollar clean beauty startup that sells safe and high-performing skincare and makeup products. But before she became a successful entrepreneur, she was a college graduate with a mountain of credit card debt and a job at an advertising firm that didn’t fulfill her.Renfrew’s career path took a surprising turn when she decided to leave her gig at the advertising firm and join the sales training program at Xerox, a company that produces printers and copiers. She saw it as an opportunity to learn how to sell, make money, and pay off her debts. She also saw it as a challenge, as she had to compete with hundreds of other salespeople in the crowded and competitive market of Manhattan.
Renfrew quickly proved herself as a natural salesperson, using her charisma, confidence, and creativity to persuade potential customers to buy Xerox products. She became one of the top salespeople at Xerox, earning commissions and bonuses that helped her clear her debt and save for her future. She also gained valuable experience and skills that helped her launch her own businesses later on.
Renfrew said that working at Xerox taught her how to be resilient, resourceful, and adaptable. She learned how to deal with rejection, overcome obstacles, and find solutions. She also learned how to communicate effectively, build relationships, and negotiate deals. She said that these skills were essential for any entrepreneur, especially in the beauty industry, where customer loyalty and satisfaction are key.
After working at Xerox for four years, Renfrew left the company to pursue her passion for beauty and wellness. She started her own consulting firm, The Wedding List, which helped brides plan their weddings online. She later sold the company to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and became the president of the division. She then founded another company, The Phoenix, which was a lifestyle brand that offered curated products and experiences for women. She also invested in and advised several other startups, such as The Honest Company, Sugar Paper, and Cuyana.
However, Renfrew’s biggest venture was yet to come. In 2011, she discovered that the beauty industry was largely unregulated, and that many of the products she and her family were using contained harmful chemicals and ingredients. She was shocked and outraged by this, and decided to do something about it. She launched Beautycounter in 2013, with a mission to create safer and better beauty products, and to advocate for more health-protective laws in the industry.
Beautycounter has since grown into a billion-dollar company, with over 150 products, 65,000 consultants, and millions of customers. The company has also been recognized as a leader and innovator in the clean beauty movement and has influenced the passage of several bills and regulations that aim to improve the safety and transparency of personal care products. Renfrew has also been named as one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine, and one of the most powerful women in business by Fortune magazine.
Renfrew said that her journey from selling copiers to building a clean beauty empire was not easy, but it was rewarding. She said that she was driven by her passion, purpose, and vision, and that she was grateful for the opportunities and challenges that shaped her career. She also said that she hoped to inspire and empower other women to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact in the world.
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