Meet Laura Burget and Connie Lo, Founders of NIU BODY

Laura Burget and Connie Lo’s vision for NIU BODY, a 100% natural, certified cruelty-free and vegan skincare company, arose out of frustration with the lack of affordable and natural beauty products on the market. The two best friends were eager to utilize their backgrounds in business and engineering to launch NIU BODY in March of 2017. As a brand that seeks to support women and help them recognize their worth, beauty, and purpose, NIU BODY is becoming the golden standard of natural and vegan skincare.

My first job ever was…

Laura – As a lifeguard at the local YMCA.

Connie – At the age of 13 as a café barista in downtown Toronto. I had a blast learning to make fancy delicious caffeinated drinks, chatting with regular and new customers, and almost-but-not-quite mastering basic latte art.

Entrepreneurship in one word is…

L – Creativity.

C – Rewarding.

My boldest move to date was…

L – Leaving a six figure job in software sales to pursue my passion with NIU BODY full time.

C – Leaving a great job and committing to NIU BODY full-time. I was terrified, but also very excited. There’s a saying that some of the scariest moments in life are the most rewarding, and I wholeheartedly agree.

I surprise people when I tell them…

L – That I’m an introvert! I definitely need my alone time to recharge, but that’s something most people wouldn’t necessarily guess about me.

C – That I’m in my mid-twenties. Many people assume that you need to be much older to run a company. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need decades of experience, an MBA under your belt, or insane connections to start a business!

My best advice to people starting out in business is…

L – Get comfortable with failing and learn how to sell. Don’t worry about having it all figured out at the start – it’s far better to launch and let the market guide you!

C – To just start! There will never be a perfect time, perfect idea, perfect team, or perfect number in your savings account.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would…

L – Spend more time outside while the sun is up! Something that I find I am constantly craving.

C – Wake up slowly (ideally with meditation, a solid workout, cuddles with my dog, and a mindful breakfast), rather than my usual rushed mornings.

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know…

L – I’m 1/4 Chinese!

C – that I’m deathly afraid of spiders. Even the thought of one is making me squeamish!

My advice for entrepreneurs who are starting out is…

L – Surround yourself with great partners and advocates of you and your business. These connections will serve you far more than you could imagine and will help to keep you sane.

C – Use your networks as much as possible. Reach out to those around you – you’ll be surprised how much they can help (or might know someone who can).

Having a co-founder is…

L – CRUCIAL! I’ve run businesses alone in the past and have so much respect for entrepreneurs who can do this long-term. I really value having someone who I know is running towards the same vision.

C – The BEST thing ever. I can’t imagine being on this crazy journey without Laura by my side. Nothing beats being able to bounce ideas off of each other, working grueling hours until we’re both laughing deliriously, and sharing the amazing wins together.

I stay inspired by…

L – Listening to podcasts (like How I Built This) about entrepreneurs who I admire. Hearing their stories and struggles helps to keep things in perspective for me.

C – Chatting with friends and family, reading books from the never-ending stack by my bedside, and traveling.

My next step is…

L – Doubling our product line assortment and 10x our sales this year!

C – Tackling our first beauty show in LA!