A personal experience can be an organic way to start a business. That’s the case with this week’s Wild Business Growth Podcast guest, Shannon Erley. Shannon is the Founder and CEO of Pomp. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast platforms.
Episode 214: Shannon Erley – Skincare Customizer, Founder of Pomp
Shannon Erley, the Founder and CEO of Pomp, joins the show to share her journey from struggling with acne to creating a company to connect consumers with licensed estheticians. Hear how to validate your idea, create a marketplace, focus your time as an entrepreneur, host a fantastic dinner party, and Shannon’s secret apple pie ingredient. This episode covers everything from beauty to baking. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
- How did Shannon get into the beauty world in the first place
- When was she first exposed to estheticians aka estes
- What did the validation process look like
- How does Pomp today compare to what Shannon initially envisioned
- What do estheticians do
- How does Pomp work for the end consumer
- What’s Shannon’s favorite thing to bake
- SPF on SPF
Connect with Shannon at PompBeauty.com.
Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.
Show Notes
- Intro & Beauty
- [0:34] Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
- [0:44] Connect with Shannon at PompBeauty.com
- [1:49] Couldn’t resist
- [2:27] How did Shannon get into the beauty world in the first place
- [2:43] Acne
- [3:25] Dermatologists
- [4:44] When was Shannon first exposed to estheticians aka estes
- [5:04] Adult Hormonal Acne
- [6:07] Beauty Influencers, Beauty Bloggers
- [6:32] “Aha” Moment
- The Pomp Story
- [6:54] When did Shannon first realize she could start a business in this space
- [8:26] What did the validation process look like
- [9:33] Clients
- [10:19] How does Pomp today compare to what Shannon initially envisioned
- [11:00] Technology (Tech)
- [12:04] What do estheticians do
- [13:13] LLC (Limited Liability Company)
- [13:31] How has Shannon been able to create the marketplace
- [13:45] Startup
- [13:54] Network
- [14:01] Referrals
- [14:51] MaxPodcasting
- [15:03] Podcast
- [15:26] How does Pomp work for the end consumer
- [18:16] There’s a Wocket in my Pocket!, Polly Pocket
- [18:55] What is Pomp’s main revenue stream
- [19:24] How does Shannon divide her time building the business
- [19:56] Software as a Service (SaaS)
- [20:19] Entrepreneur
- [20:24] What’s the biggest challenge Shannon’s had to conquer so far
- [20:44] HR (Human Resources)
- [20:58] Fundraising, Investor
- [21:53] Quarterly Estimated Payments
- [22:03] What has been the biggest driver to Pomp’s success
- [22:14] Offsite
- [23:41] Shoutout my wife, Dana!
- [24:14] Bazinga
- [25:31] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool. Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity
- Inspiration & Creativity: People, Hobbies, and Resources
- [26:23] How do you be and stay creative
- [27:13] What’s Shannon’s favorite thing to bake
- [27:31] Sourdough Starter
- [27:59] How long has Shannon been riding horses
- [28:34] Still not bitter
- [28:58] Who’s inspired Shannon as an entrepreneur
- [29:19] CMO (Chief Marketing Officer)
- [30:20] What resources helped Shannon learn about skincare and entrepreneurship
- [30:47] CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women)
- [31:07] Developer, Product Roadmap
- The Unusual: Pet Peeves, Quirks, and Weird Talents
- [31:47] What’s a pet peeve Shannon has
- [32:05] What’s a quirk she has
- [32:40] The Cat’s Meow
- [32:49] What’s a weird talent Shannon has
- Rapid-Fire Q&A
- [33:29] Butter-Flavored Crisco
- [33:43] Arabian Horses
- [34:02] SPF (Sun Protection Factor)
- [34:12] Shoutout, Mother-in-Law Sheryl!
- [34:40] How do you host a fantastic dinner party
- [35:19] What’s the biggest difference between living in Ohio, California, and Colorado
- [35:57] Shoutout, Jeff & Emma!
- [36:12] Shoutout, Ohio!
- [36:47] Connect with Shannon at PompBeauty.com
- [37:10] That was bad, Max
- [37:14] What are Shannon’s Final Thoughts
- [37:55] Follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And 5 stars on Apple Podcasts & Spotify if you’re feeling super nice
- [38:12] Check out the Wild Business Growth Podcast on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
- [38:14] Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @MaxBranstetter
- [38:15] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
- [38:21] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity
- Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo
What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?
Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.
How do you start a podcast?
Interested in starting a professional-sounding podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.
Thanks for listening to Shannon Erley on the Wild Business Growth Podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about it. And practice saying “esthetician” with them. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!
