Michele Henry, founder and CEO of Face Foundrié, on learning as you go and pivoting quickly

Face Foundrié Founder and CEO Michele Henry knows what it’s like to be scrappy in business. Years ago, to secure a loan for her first company, Primp, she put up her Mitsubishi as collateral. She didn’t mention to the bank that the car didn’t work — and that she planned to ride her bike to Primp’s retail buildouts, she says in the latest episode of Off the Record. 

“We opened the doors at 4, we were serving wine, we were all excited, and we sold out of every single piece of merchandise that night,” Henry says of Primp’s grand opening party. “We didn’t even have backstock. We didn’t have that in the budget.” 

According to Henry, she and her business partner ended up overnighting an order of inventory from California at 10 p.m. that night — and they kept going. 

Listen to Henry’s conversation with MSPBJ Publisher Kathy Robideau and Platinum Bank CEO Dave Faust to hear how she transitioned away from Primp and the inspiration that sparked the genesis of her facial bar, Face Foundrié. Other topics explored in the episode include: 

• Formulating Face Foundrié’s skincare line. 
• How Face Foundrié protected clients and staff during Covid-19. 
• Elements that must align for a franchisee to be successful. 
• What Henry sees as the biggest challenges with Face Foundrié’s niche concept. 
• How the Savant Aesthetics Institute aims to close the gaps in esthetician education. 

Leaders like Henry understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.