This time the guest of our EGN podcast was Sophie Kühn, the founder of the beauty brand Miss Sophie, which took us on an inspiring journey through her entrepreneurial adventure. In the talk with Efe von Thenen, Sophie Kühn shared how she had discovered a “blue ocean” opportunity in Europe by being the first to promote nail wraps as a nail polish alternative. Her story is not just about business metrics but about heart, resilience, and turning a dream into reality.
In our talk Sophie Kühn delved into the early challenges she had faced, including bootstrapping her company from a modest apartment and not drawing a salary for the first four years. Her passion for solving a problem many women faced—nail polish that chipped too quickly—was the driving force behind her persistence. Despite moments of doubt and the difficulty of competing against well-established brands, it was the returning customers and their positive feedback that fueled her determination.
From Dream to Reality
The episode highlights our guest’s strategic use of social media, particularly Instagram, to build brand awareness at a time when influencer marketing was in its infancy. A crucial turning point came when Facebook invited Miss Sophie to join its high-potential program, offering mentorship and additional resources that helped the brand scale significantly. Sophie Kühn also discussed with us the impact of traditional media, such as a pivotal TV appearance, which led to a massive spike in sales and solidified the brand’s reputation.
Moreover, during the interview our guest offered invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of passion, focus, and resilience. She also candidly reflected on the lessons learned from her mistakes, such as underestimating the importance of financial planning. We strongly believe that, therefore, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, particularly in the e-commerce and beauty sectors.
Want to learn more about Sophie Kühn and the story of her success? Watch the full talk below:
Can’t watch? No problem. It is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcast.
***