ANOVÉ

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:

I'm Evonna S. Kuehner, founder of ANOVÉ. We offer inclusive luxury skincare, consciously crafted with clean, plant-based ingredients in Los Angeles, CA. All of our formulas are designed to work for all skin tones and are cruelty free.

My background is in Product Development and Program Management and I think this has served me well in implementing certain business processes as well as maintaining a high standard of quality for our products. I also think my love of formulating can be linked to my Product Development experience - I love finding innovative ways to delight our customers, more effectively meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?

Our hero product is definitely the Perfecting Oil™. This is the product that started it all back in 2012. It was originally created for myself and a small group of family and friends. It was such a hit that when I decided I wanted to start a skincare company I knew this was the starting point as I hadn't found anything on the market like it. Prior to launching I worked to build a full product line to complement our initial facial moisturizing oil (the Perfecting Oil™).

What makes your business unique to the industry?

What makes ANOVÉ unique is that we focus on inclusivity on both sides of our business. On the front end we strive to create clean, consciously crafted products that work for all skin tones and types. On the back end, we seek to contribute to more diverse foundership within clean beauty - especially as it relates to luxury skincare. We believe that diversity in who makes products in this space is just as important as who the products are made for.

What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?

We are 100% self-funded. This has led to some really creative moments but it has also led to relentless prioritization of initiatives. Limited funding means we have to be really diligent about were we focus our attention and where the money goes first. Sometimes this means, postponing or completely tabling an initiative if it's not high enough priority to warrant spending money in that area.

How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?

Our supply chains have had the biggest impact due to Covid-19. Lead times for specific things are longer and some materials have had more limited availability. This has been overall an eye opening experience proving that it's always wise to have a contingency plan of some sort. As of now we are navigating this situation by doing our best to forecast what we will need moving forward and securing the necessary goods with enough advance notice to account for the longer lead times.

What is your favorite part of what you do?

My favorite part of what I do is making our products! It's such a grounding and peaceful experience but also empowering since I know that what's being created will benefit our customers in various ways. Not to mention the fact that the studio always smells amazing during and after making batches of our products.

**What is your must do local activity?**

My must do local activity is having brunch at Wildflower Cafe in Redondo Beach. Whether or not you go to the beach afterwards is up to you, but eating at Wildflower is an absolute must. I discovered this gem on a short weekend trip to LA before I moved here. And it has been a staple of subsequent weekend trips prior to moving here and now that I'm a permanent LA resident I frequent this restaurant when I'm in that area or whenever I have friends/family visiting from out of town. There's often a wait if you get there more than an hour after they open but it's 100% worth it.

Honorable Mention: Donut King (there are probably 100 donut kings between downtown LA and San Fernando Valley but the one you want is on Sepulveda Blvd in Culver City (across the street from Tito's Tacos). Simple mom and pop type donut spot but EVERYTHING on the menu is great and worth trying at least twice. This place is a must visit if you're a fan of supporting small businesses and love a quality donut.

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:

What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?

What makes your business unique to the industry?

What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?

How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?

What is your favorite part of what you do?

**What is your must do local activity?**

Where to find ANOVÉ:

Jackalope Arts

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:

What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?

What makes your business unique to the industry?

What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?

How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?

What is your favorite part of what you do?

What is your *must do* local activity?

Where to find ANOVÉ:

Jackalope Arts

**What is your must do local activity?**