We (@aj_mclean and @sureitsjosh) started discussing the idea of Ava Dean Beauty way back in 2016. It took time, research, patience and testing to make sure we had the right formulas, products and business plan to launch properly when we released our first collection of five in November 2020.⁠ ⁠ Did we make mistakes? Hell yeah, we did. Are we still? Of course. We're human and we're still learning how to navigate owning a small business, especially in times that are still incredibly tough for entrepreneurs! Costs in some areas have doubled, while lead times on deliveries to us have sometimes tripled. All at the same time, we're working hard to make sure you don't see any of that when purchasing from us.⁠ ⁠ Our goal is always to make sure you have high-quality products from us that are safe, fun and bring a smile to your face every time you use them. ❤⁠ ⁠ Now, because of you + your support, we have:⁠ • 22 polishes (with 5 more coming + a 4-polish fall box to come!)⁠ • Organic sugar-based hand scrub⁠ • Soy nail polish remover⁠ • Vegan leather handbag⁠ ⁠ Plus so much more in the works. 👐⁠ ⁠ We're encouraging you today to shop small. Support the business owners out there that may not get the love they deserve until they hold some big holiday sale and have to take a hit on their profit margins. Whether they are local to you, on Etsy or even a blog or podcast that has a business owner busting their ass behind the scenes to produce! Whatever the business, take time today to support it, share it and buy from it, if you can.⁠ ⁠ And, if you own a business yourself, feel free to tag it in the comments below. We're here to support you! ✨