Page 87 of Renegade Roomie

I’m a long way from the corner drugstore and their laxative displays, that’s for sure.

“Callie Delgado, for Pearson and Associates?” I give my info to the receptionist, but a friendly looking guy in glasses, khakis, and a button-down is already making a beeline for me.

“Callie? Great to meet you. I’m Ed,” he shakes my hand enthusiastically, “Come this way. We’re so excited to sit down with you,” he adds, leading me down the hall to a meeting room. “Cosmetics is such a big market, lots of potential for major growth.”

He opens the door. Two more people are waiting inside at a conference table, and he makes the introductions. “This is Julie, she’s our marketing maven, Keith, in product, and I’m the boring numbers guy.”

“Nothing boring about dollars and cents,” I crack, and they all laugh.

“Exactly.” Ed takes a seat, so I do also.

I take a deep breath, reading the room. Everyone seems relaxed and friendly, which is a big relief. “I have to admit, I’ve been running this out of my kitchen,” I confide, “I’m still getting my head around this next phase.”

Plans and dreams are one thing, but now that people are finally taking me seriously as an entrepreneur? It’s still a lot to take in.

“Hey, every great company starts somewhere,” Julie reassures me. “The key now, is how do we use this investment from Mr. Dashford to set you up for success. Why don’t you tell us a little something about where you want to focus, and take the business in the next six months, one year, five…”

OK, in at the deep end.

I pull out my documents and start taking them through my business plan: From launching with a direct-to-consumer website, using social media to drive traffic, to my plans to get into high-end beauty retailers. “… I know the profit margins are smaller with retail, but so many people discover the product there in-store. You can play with it, see the shades, really interact. Oh, and I brought some of the product for you to see,” I smile, setting out the lipstick shades. “I’m still experimenting with the final packaging prototypes, but I think this is getting close.”

They don’t touch the lipsticks.

“We trust you on product,” Ed says. “We’re more about the bottom line. Streamlining production, making this a lean, mean, makeup machine.”

“Oh. Well, great. I’m all ears,” I say brightly.

Julie and Ed exchange a look. “Well, what we’re concerned about is your production costs. You’re planning to make the line here, in the States?”

I nod, smiling. “Yes, I’ve leased a laboratory space, and I’m talking to packagers.”

“We would suggest a different path.” Keith slides some papers over to me. “There are some great factories in China that can take care of all of that, from the physical products, all through packaging.”

“China?” I repeat.

“Or the Philippines. Great reviews of a place out of Taiwan,” he adds. “Either way, it’ll cut your costs way down.”

I shake my head and push the papers back. “Thanks but… I want to keep things local. Create good jobs here.”

They exchange another look. “That isn’t really going to work.”

“For who?” I can’t help snapping. “Sorry,” I add quickly, “I just thought I was clear about the mission of the company. To empower women—”

“—at every stage of the process,” Julie finishes. “Yes, we read the memo, very touching.”

“It’s how I want to build my business,” I say firmly. “Here, in the States, with employees who need a second chance.”

More looks. I sigh. “Let me guess, you don’t want me to do that, either?”

“Hiring here, even at minimum wage, significantly eats into your profits.” Ed says gravely.

“Then that’s just the price I’ll have to pay for treating my employees like actual human beings,” I reply. “Just out of curiosity, have any of you worked minimum wage?”

I look across the table. Silence.

“I thought not.” I gather my things and stand. “Thank you for your time, but it feels like we’re not seeing eye to eye here about how I want to do things.”

They get up, looking shocked. “Look, we’re trying to help you here,” Keith says, frowning. “Mr. Dashford has an excellent investment record, and if your company can’t even get off the ground—”

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