It's one of the biggest, most remarkable exits I'm aware of in ecommerce: in 2022, Hero Cosmetics sold for $630M.
So in this episode, I brought Hero's co-founder and former CEO, Ju Rhyu, on to the show to talk about how in the world they accomplished such a big outcome, what she's up to now, and whether or not all that money actually made her happy.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:03] Acne care brand and product.
- [00:03:18] Launching on Amazon.
- [00:08:30] What made Hero successful?
- [00:09:38] Focusing on profitable channels.
- [00:13:40] Prioritizing retail over DTC.
- [00:16:29] Acquisition and role transition.
- [00:19:44] Selling the business and the best day of her life.
- [00:23:08] Investment opportunities and exclusivity.
- [00:26:23] Scaling an e-commerce business.
- [00:30:56] Happiness after a successful exit.
- [00:34:46] Work and fulfillment in life.
- [00:35:27] Transitioning after a successful exit.
- [00:39:02] The value of mistakes.
- [00:42:04] Amazon-first distribution strategy.
EPISODE SPONSOR
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OTHERE AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Patrick Coddou Sold Supply" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Patrick Coddou, One Year After The Exit" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Bryan Porter Didn't Get To $100M On Amazon With Just Tips & Tricks" (Spotify, Apple)
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EPISODE MUSIC