Welcome to this episode of HALO Talks, where Pete Moore sits down with Angel Olavarria, founder of Strive mens skincare, and cosmetic chemist from Forest Hills, Queens. Angel reflects on his journey from a career in sales to becoming an entrepreneur in men's skincare. He reflects on the idea that people tend to attribute positive attributes to others who are very attractive, inspired him to dig deeper into self-presentation, which eventually led him down the path of skincare science.

Angel discusses the often confusing (and slightly sometimes sketchy) world of men's skincare, his hands-on approach to developing formulas, and the importance of using the proper amount of evidence-based ingredients. He also opens up about the process behind launching his business, staying true to his principles, and building a brand that values authenticity over flashy marketing tricks.

It doesn't matter if you're interested in men's skincare or not. What is key here are the lessons Angel has learned as he continues to (rapidly!) scale Strive. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or even seasoned business owner and are looking for fresh insights into building a thoughtful and impactful brand, this episode offers a candid look at balancing passion, discipline, and business in today's competitive market.

Key themes discussed

• Journey from sales to skincare entrepreneurship
• The complexity and science behind truly effective skincare
• Importance of authenticity and principles in entrepreneurship
• Product development: Balancing simplicity and efficacy
• Marketing strategies: Digital, SEO, and sampling challenges
• Pricing, margins, and growth without sacrificing values

A Few Key Takeaways:

1.The Power of Skincare for Personal Branding: Angel shared how men's attention to self-care and skincare can enhance the tendency for people to attribute positive qualities to those who appear attractive and well-groomed. This observation sparked his journey into men's skincare and eventually founding Strive.

2. Authenticity in Entrepreneurship: He stressed how he builds his business on strong principles, refusing to compromise quality or add unnecessary complexity to men's routines. He wants Strive to be genuinely useful, not just another product pushed by aggressive marketing.

3. Science-Backed Formulations vs. Marketing Gimmicks: The chat also highlighted the importance of using ingredients with proven efficacy, like niacinamide or retinol, both backed by decades of research. Olavarria pointed out that many competitors focus on trendy but unproven plant extracts, often prioritizing marketing narratives over results.

4. Lean Operations and Smart Growth: Angel explained how he handles most of his business personally, takes advantage of contractors and US-based suppliers, and leverages technology (like AI) to stay nimble. He emphasized starting with fewer SKUs and growing thoughtfully to avoid complexity and inefficiency.

5. Philosophy of Continuous Improvement and Authentic Brand Building: The brand name "Strive" embodies the drive to always work toward something and improve. Angel wants the brand to inspire men to strive, not just for looks, but for personal growth. He also values authentic ambassador relationships, only working with those who genuinely connect to his products.

Resources:

• Angel Olavarria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelolavarriajr
• Strive Skincare: https://www.striveskin.com
• Integrity Square: https://www.integritysq.com
• Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
• Promotion Vault: https://www.promotionvault.com
• HigherDose: https://www.higherdose.com

In this new episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore sits down with David Appel from KORB Health to dive into the rapidly evolving world of GLP-1s, fitness, and clinical care integration. Pulling from his experience as a longtime coach-turned-operator, Appel talks about the genesis of KORB and how they're working to bridge the gap between telehealth, health clubs, and innovative weight loss solutions. They bring up marketing strategies that connect with new demographics, the challenges and opportunities of GLP-1 programming, and the importance of education for both fitness professionals and their clients.

If you're curious about the future of fitness, medical wellness, and how health club operators can leverage these advancements to better serve their members, this one is a must-listen.

Regarding the role of provider relationships in weight loss success: "Through this provider relationship they're not going to ramp up the drug just to get the weight loss if you're not doing any of the other parts to help with it . . . because otherwise you're just going to end up feeling sick, because you have too much of the medication going on, your body isn't going to be able to adapt."

Key themes discussed

• Integration of GLP-1 therapies with fitness and clinical care
• Marketing challenges for GLP-1 workouts in health clubs
• Creating specialized programming for GLP-1 users
• Partnerships between telehealth platforms and health clubs
• Addressing stigma and privacy for GLP-1 medication users
• Effects of GLP-1 on muscle strength and aging
• Education and training for trainers on GLP-1 protocols

A Few Key Takeaways:

1.New Approaches to Programming & Marketing: David emphasizes the importance of offering low-impact, accessible workout programs for people on GLPs. However, clubs should avoid overtly labeling classes as "GLP Workouts" to spare members any stigma, instead designing inclusive, beginner-friendly options. The success comes from blending with existing offerings and focusing on education and engagement.

2. Partnerships and Revenue Sharing: Appel explains that KORB partners with established fitness chains like InShape Family Fitness, using marketing agreements involving SMS, email, and in-club signage. They've seen successful campaigns, with up to 3% penetration in club populations through integrated services and revenue share models.

3. Importance of Ongoing Support and Telehealth: KORB Health provides telehealth care without long-term contracts or membership fees. Members get virtual consultations and ongoing support, leading to better retention and more effective weight loss compared to drop-shipped, no-support solutions. The personal provider relationship is critical to sustainable results.

4. Market Challenges and Opportunities: The industry is still the "Wild West" with many low-cost and questionable suppliers. David stresses the importance of using vetted providers and compounding pharmacies. He believes health club operators should see GLP integration as an opportunity, not a threat, to grow their business and deliver improved outcomes for their members.

Resources:

• Dave Appel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-appel-8211305
• Korb Health: https://www.korbhealth.com
• Integrity Square: https://www.integritysq.com
• Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
• Promotion Vault: https://www.promotionvault.com
• HigherDose: https://www.higherdose.com

Welcome to another episode of HALO Talks! On today's Fast Break, host Pete Moore catches up with Erika Wasser, Co-Founder of Prospr. This is Erika's second appearance on the pod, her first being back in 2020. (Link below to the full episode.)

Wasser has been on a mission to streamline club and studio operations for years, tackling the challenge of consolidating disparate tools into one seamless platform. She shares some exciting updates about how Prospr has evolved into an enterprise-level solution, now integrating with major platforms like Awardco, Mariana Tek, and Mindbody, with more on the horizon.

She also touches on why a lot of businesses are switching over to her solution. Mainly it's because of its power to consolidate multiple management tools and create operational consistency across. She mentions tons of new features like auto-routed ticketing, robust operational checklists, AI-powered scheduling, and bilingual communications, all designed to make life easier for managers and frontline staff.

As always, Erika brings her trademark wisdom and humor ("If you're an entrepreneur, prep your liver!") offering candid advice for fellow entrepreneurs about patience and perseverance. Listen now to hear how Prospr is transforming the way studios and clubs operate.

Resources:

• Erika Wasser: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-wasser-b7176817
• Prospr: https://prospr.work/
• Erika's first HALO Talks: https://www.halotalks.com/erika-wasser-co-founder-prospr-at-work/
• Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
• Promotion Vault: https://www.promotionvault.com
• HigherDose: https://www.higherdose.com

Connect With Us:

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Website: https://www.halotalks.com