Shan Berries began her journey five years ago–out of her mom’s house in San Francisco–to create her cosmetics brand, Shades by Shan, now available in hundreds of nationwide stores. Berries also founded The MamaBerries Foundation, which aids single parents in need. Learn about Shan Berries…
Follow at: @shadesbyshan; @mamaberriesfoundation; @shanberries
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
First job: Hostess at Sears Fine Foods in Union Square, San Francisco
Favorite ways to spend your free time in CA: One of my favorite ways to spend my free time is going shopping at Marshalls! I love to browse through all the racks. I’m a big TJ Maxx and Marshalls shopper, I could spend all my time there.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Besides Shades By Shan, my first baby, being a mom of two has been my most significant achievement. It has given me a profound appreciation for the dedication and hard work my mom put in to provide for our family. Now, it’s my turn to work hard and ensure the best for my children. Each day presents unique challenges, but the journey is undeniably worth it and fills me with immense pride.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: The biggest obstacle I overcame was entering the beauty industry without any prior makeup background. Coming from a radio and TV host career, I found myself in the beauty field alongside individuals with diverse makeup backgrounds. Despite this challenge, I had a genuine passion for makeup and a keen understanding of the distinction between high-quality products. With determination, I worked to build our business and make a name for ourselves in the beauty space with my amazing growing team.
Someone who inspires you and why: The people who inspire me the most are my kids. I want them to understand the value of hard work, starting from the bottom and striving to achieve their dreams! It might sound a bit cheesy, but they inspire me to be the best version of myself.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: I would advise you to want it badly because people will often talk about how saturated the market is. Remember that anything worth achieving doesn’t come easy, and where there’s a will, there’s a way! If you possess that unwavering drive and discipline, and if you understand that challenges will arise, it’s the individuals who persevere that ultimately find success. Keep problem-solving when things go wrong, as setbacks are inevitable. It all boils down to how badly you want it and how hard you’re willing to fight for it!
Favorite quote: “Work harder than anybody else” was the advice I received when I had the opportunity to interview Jennifer Lopez during my former career as a radio host.
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I am a violinist and a drummer. I have been playing the violin since I was 3 years old, and I am eagerly waiting for my daughter to be old enough to start learning the violin with my own violin teacher.
What makes someone fabulous: What makes someone fabulous is their kindness, niceness and ability to radiate positivity. There isn’t always enough of that in the world, but I naturally gravitate toward people who see the good in everything and everyone. Genuinely happy people are fabulous in my eyes, and I absolutely love that!