The MASAMI Story: Bootstrapping a Premium Haircare Brand Through Collaboration (episode 556)
Lynn Power is the co-founder and CEO at MASAMI a premium haircare brand. Founded in 2019, they now sell via their Shopify store and wholesale via Faire. Currently, sales have reached just under $1million. Lynn’s also the founder of the Power Beauty Collab which she launched in 2022 as a way for indie brands to help each other grow.
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Dive in:
[03:48] Hair Hydration Breakthrough Partnership
[09:35] Conscious Beauty Collective Origins
[13:30] Temporary Retail Partnerships Strategy
[16:54] Multi-Location Strategy Stabilizes Business
[18:21] “Brand Values and Smart Collaborations”
[21:21] Listen to Lynn’s Top Tips!
Nail Your Brand Foundation—Especially If You’re Bootstrapping
When you don’t have deep pockets, a clear brand foundation becomes even more important. Lynn built MASAMI with strong values from day one—clean formulas, sustainability, and giving back. That clarity guided every decision, from packaging to partnerships. It also helped her avoid wasting money on things that didn’t align. For bootstrapped brands, your story and values can be your biggest growth lever.
Collaboration Can Fuel Growth Without Big Budgets
The Power Beauty Collab is a smart way to grow without spending big. Lynn’s approach—placing her brand in other retailers’ spaces as a “pop-in”—cuts cost and boosts reach. Instead of running full stores, she shares space, marketing, and momentum with like-minded brands. It’s a model any niche brand can learn from. Especially if you’re bootstrapped and need visibility fast.
Inventory and Cash Flow Can Make or Break You
Lynn is clear: cash flow is the top killer of eCommerce businesses. She advises founders to double whatever launch budget they think they’ll need. Inventory surprises, taxes, and fees pop up fast—and they’re expensive. Without a cash cushion or plan, you’re always at risk. Planning ahead can mean the difference between scaling up and shutting down.
Fewer Products, More Focus
MASAMI’s growth hasn’t come from endless new products. Lynn has been intentional about keeping the product line tight and focused. That allows for better inventory control, stronger brand messaging, and deeper customer trust. She resists trend-chasing in favor of staying true to what works. It’s a great reminder that more SKUs don’t always mean more success.
Retail Shelf Space Is Just the Beginning
Getting into stores is exciting—but Lynn says it’s only the first step. What really matters is sell-through. That means educating store staff, giving out samples, doing events, and driving awareness. Her model incentivizes store owners with rent and commission, keeping everyone aligned. If you want to win in retail, you need to drive demand—not just secure space.
eCommerce Book Top Tip
eCommerce Traffic Top Tip
- Pinterest is Lynn’s secret weapon for low-cost, high-volume traffic.
- She combines it with smart retargeting on Facebook and SafeOpt to drive conversions.
Tool Top Tip
- Canva and social media scheduling tool, Marky
Carbon Top Tip
- Lynn recommends using recycled packaging and carbon-neutral shipping to cut your footprint—every small change adds up.
Interview links
Related Episodes
- Influencer marketing, Pinterest Ads, and Lead Gen Quizzes with Simon Driscoll from UXB Skincare (episode 305)
- Taking a Sustainable Products brand to 2million+ customers with Jennie Perry from Grove Collaborative (episode 377)
- How Dapper Boi Bootstrapped to $1.3M with Preorders and Viral Content, with Vicky Pasche (episode 550)
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