Hey! Thanks so much for having me. I’m 25 years old, and I’m a female Founder, CEO, and Creative Director at Honey Belle, Inc. I’m also a life coach, real estate investor, and an aspiring writer. I started my first business (Honey Belle) in my kitchen in 2013, and that’s where my creative and entrepreneurial journey started. Our products are now sold in over 1000 stores nation-wide! I was born and raised in Southern California, and am predominantly in the Orange County and Greater Los Angeles area.
What is your proudest achievement so far?
It would have to be starting my own business, and having exponential growth. When I started the business in 2013, everyone had all their doubts! Friends chuckled, family members shrugged and laughed. In 2015, the year after I graduated college, I got really into these self-development classes, and that’s when I realized there was so much stopping me in achieving everything I dreamt and sought after. So, I quit my job in 2015 with my boyfriend Calvin and we never looked back. Our first year of business in 2016, we were able to generate a revenue of over 6 figures at $150K. The next year in 2017, we tripled our growth and generated $500K. Now, for 2018, we’re still growing and are working with larger retailers like Ulta, and are in discussion with Target, CVS, and WholeFoods.
Which is the best compliment you have received?
I was 14 years old. I was at Lawry’s Prime Rib with my family, and I had just stepped outside on the phone over an argument with my teen boyfriend. I came back into the restaurant a little flustered and teary-eyed, and a forty-something aged man stopped me and said, “You are so beautiful, and you will be accomplishing GREAT things in life.” He said this in the most sincere and inspiring and non-creepy way.. I will never forget how much he stumped me!
Where did the inspiration behind Honey Belle come from?
Like I mentioned earlier, I started this line of beauty products in my kitchen in 2013, when my mom and I realized that using commercially bought products had so many chemicals, to a point where it started amplifying our skin reactions and allergies. My mom (who’s a holistic herbalist doctor) had this sudden realization that she could make her own lotions out of her knowledge about herbs, and it inspired me to look further for natural alternatives and recipes. At the time, I was in my third year of college at University of California, Santa Barbara, and I realized that everything natural plus organic was suuuper out of my price range! Especially as a broke college student… so naturally… I started making my own!
Do you have any guilty indulgences for food?
Yes definitely! All types of food. Sweets like freshly-baked cookies, ice cream.. any type of artisanal chocolate… LOVE trying any and every type of chip (I’m a chip connoisseur). I also really like burritos. And french fries. Oh my god – yes. French fries. Yes…. That’s all I need in my life.
Would you rather be able to teleport or read minds?
I’d rather teleport without a doubt! I would love it if I could travel to any part of the world, and be in any place at any given time. With mind-reading, I’m not sure if I’m ready to hear alllllll of people’s thoughts……
If you could collaborate with anyone past or present, who will it be?
If I could collaborate with anyone, it would be Jessica Alba and the Honest Company! She’s such an inspiration, and she created an entire beauty line and brand from nothing! I would love to partner with her on an exclusive line, or even just to host an event together would be so amazing.
What is an ideal first date to you?
My ideal first date.. wow! I haven’t had a first date in 5 years… But.. we would have a nice dinner at a thoughtful restaurant, and we would share our meals family-style to be able to try all our food choices! Going somewhere lively yet private would be lovely. After dinner we’d grab ice cream and stroll the streets, and have engaging conversations about our ambitions, our fears, and anything to get to know each other really. We would end the night by getting late-night tacos, and just laugh the night away together..
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions Iris. One question before we end, how do you define sexy?
Sexy, to me, is capturing the essence, beauty, and desire of being. It captures the physical, emotional, and mental ability to be confident in your actions, be courageous in your thoughts, and be self-expressed and communicative to people in the face of fear. It’s sexy to be smart, it’s sexy to be ambitious, and it’s sexy to want to make a difference in the world!
Follow the talented Iris Cherng on:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/iris_
Instagram: www.instagram.com/
Website: www.honeybelleshop.com
Images courtesy of Iris Cherng
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