Four years ago, the Savannah Morning News featured Michelle Peth and her revolutionary vegan spray tan, Beettan.
Since then, Beettan is sold in more than 280 retail locations nationally and is administered by over 100 women in their own spray tan locations. In September, Peth opened her first storefront location on Liberty St. and is opening her first brick-and-mortar this month.
Four years ago: Beettan: Michelle Peth
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Why did you start your company Beettan?
Peth: "[My original company] started with my sister because she had some skin cancer scares as a teenager. Beettan came because I… just really wanted a product that was simplified and easy not only for the customer, but also for me — the sprayer.
"When you give some people too many choices it can be overwhelming… Simplifying it just made the woman feel comfortable instead of so overwhelmed with all of the choices. I cleaned up the ingredients. We have all clean, organic ingredients. I wanted my customers to feel comfortable, happy and confident with the product and the spray-tanning process.
"I met a beauty chemist through a friend of my mom’s… and she helped me. That’s kind of how Beettan was born. The 'beet' [of the name] comes from the active ingredient that we went with. It’s derived from sugar beets."
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How has the experience of owning a business changed you?
Peth: "Confidence… I was a bartender and got my real estate license and then, Beettan was born. My Savannah community gave me confidence. They validated [my work], and then I ran with it. I think it gave me the confidence to have something that’s all on my own.
"Others saw that, and not only did they trust it on their skin, but it’s also now because of the Savannah community. Truly, it’s a nationwide company. I have 142 girls that I’ve now taught how to spray the product on. It’s [been] really cool to carry that confidence and then teach it to someone else and watch them grow and thrive from something that I started. It’s empowering for me, and then to pass it along has been life-changing."
So, you’ve signed over 100 partners nationally. What has that experience been like?
Peth: "I have 142 girls [that] go through a training process and business coaching based on my success and experience here in Savannah. Whether they want to do it part-time, full-time or just need something that makes them feel good, that’s the business model. I kind of made it up myself.