About
Founder & CEO of Rodial Beauty & NIP+FAB / Best Selling Author
@mrsrodial
Articles by Maria
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Is Entrepreneurship the Right Career for You?
Is Entrepreneurship the Right Career for You?
So you’ve come to the point of realising you're in a dead-end job or career, and decide you want to venture out on your…
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Taking These Risks Made Me CEO Of The Rodial Group
Taking These Risks Made Me CEO Of The Rodial Group
I owe a huge chunk of my success as CEO of The Rodial Group to risk-taking. If you have read my book Overnight Success,…
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How To Hire People Smarter Than You, Especially As A Start-Up
How To Hire People Smarter Than You, Especially As A Start-Up
My motto is hire slow and fire fast. Your team can make or break your business, even more so as a start-up.
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We're Hiring Community Experience Manager Ready to drive community strategy for a bold, independent beauty brand? We're looking for a…
We're Hiring Community Experience Manager Ready to drive community strategy for a bold, independent beauty brand? We're looking for a…
Liked by Maria Hatzistefanis
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Passionate about beauty and ready for your next opportunity? We’d love to connect. There has never been a more exciting time to join our dynamic…
Passionate about beauty and ready for your next opportunity? We’d love to connect. There has never been a more exciting time to join our dynamic…
Liked by Maria Hatzistefanis
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Raghuraman Shantharam
The Middle East is emerging as one of the fastest-growing fashion markets, with buyers demanding premium knitwear that blends comfort, style, and compliance. From lightweight cotton for hot climates to private-label loungewear for luxury boutiques, sourcing decisions here require both flexibility and trustworthy partners. India, and especially Tiruppur’s knitwear hub, is proving to be a strong alternative to China and Bangladesh - offering: ✅ Lower MOQs ✅ Wide fabric options (cotton, blends, eco fabrics) ✅ Export-grade compliance (OEKO-TEX, GOTS, BSCI) ✅ Faster shipping routes to GCC markets I’ve put together a deep-dive blog on this topic for Middle Eastern buyers 👉 https://lnkd.in/g5qxmWyU What do you think: Will India continue to strengthen its position as a preferred knitwear sourcing destination for the Gulf region? #SourcingKnitwear #MiddleEastFashion #KnitwearIndia #ApparelSourcing #PrivateLabelClothing #Tiruppur
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Tara Lalvani
The Strategic Art of Choosing the Right Retail Partner 🛍️ When I first started scaling Beautifect, I saw landing retail partnerships as a milestone that meant you had “made it.” And in many ways, it is. The right partner can open doors to new audiences, build credibility overnight, and accelerate brand awareness. But over the years I have learned that retail success is not just about saying “yes” to every opportunity. It is about choosing carefully because the wrong retail move can actually hold your brand back. We launched Beautifect DTC, which meant we immediately started building valuable customer relationships and gathering direct insights from day one. Just two months later, our Harrods partnership launched. Having that initial DTC foundation meant we already understood our customer’s behaviours, preferences, and expectations. It also gave us extra negotiating power with retail partners, because our success did not rely solely on them. This balance can shift the dynamic in your favour and ensure the terms truly work for your brand. Here are some of my biggest lessons from navigating the retail landscape: 🛍️ Alignment is everything Your retail partner should reflect your brand values in every sense, from their customer experience and sustainability stance to how they tell stories on the shop floor. Without that alignment, you risk diluting your brand rather than elevating it. 🛍️ Retailers talk One thing many founders do not realise is that retailers may hesitate to take you on if you are already stocked with their competitors, especially in the same region. Exclusivity or at least smart channel separation can make you more appealing, while spreading yourself too thin can make you less desirable. 🛍️ Bigger is not always better A huge name might look impressive, but if your brand gets lost in the mix or if reorders and merchandising are not prioritised, you can end up with little impact despite the logo association. 🛍️ Every market behaves differently Consumer habits, beauty rituals, and attitudes to promotions vary drastically between the UK, US, UAE and beyond. What sells out in one market may need a completely different strategy in another. 🛍️ Ask the tough questions early Payment terms, marketing commitments, returns policies. They may not sound glamorous, but these are the levers that protect your cash flow and ensure partnerships are sustainable. Retail can be a powerful growth engine, but only when it complements your brand strategy and is built on a foundation of understanding and owning your customer first. Fellow founders, I would love to hear. Do you lead with DTC before retail, or jump straight in? #BeautyBusiness #FemaleFounder #RetailStrategy #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BrandGrowth #FoundersJourney #DTC
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