Startup Canada Podcast: Building a new market category with Blo’s Devon Brooks

Devon Brooks

Not every 21 year old can start a blow-dry bar empire, let alone create a new market category in an age-old industry.

For Devon Brooks, it came down recognizing a problem and providing a solution through simplification.

“We didn’t realize it at the time, but we had really defined a new market sector. For us, it was really about identifying the need.”

Brooks accomplished international success as the founder of Blo Blow Dry Bar. With over 90 locations in four countries, Brooks grew her innovative hair styling empire through strategic partnerships with brands like Mattel and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Brooks is also the co-founder and CEO of sphereishere.com, a coaching company you can sign up for today. On top of being an entrepreneurial powerhouse, she is a socially conscious activist who is passionate about giving a voice to those who have experienced trauma.

In early 2017, Devon built baberally.org as a digital information platform for women to share their experiences and gain resources on sexual trauma.

In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Devon about identifying market gaps and how she’s using business as a medium for positivity and change.

The Startup Canada Podcast Show is a production of Startup Canada, a grassroots, entrepreneur-led movement to bring together, celebrate, and give a voice to Canada’s entrepreneurship community. On the podcast, award-winning entrepreneur host Rivers Corbett speaks with the movers and shakers of Canada’s entrepreneurship community to give a glimpse into the future of business, and share insights on everything from social innovation to the future of work, investing, and why we need to think bigger to take our businesses global. Join Rivers Corbett for new episodes every Tuesday airing at 10 AM ET for lessons, trends, and opportunities in entrepreneurship from Vancouver to Fredericton; and Israel to Peru.

You can find every episode of The Startup Canada Podcast Show at www.startupcan.ca/podcasts/.

Avatar

Startup Canada

Startup Canada is a grassroots network of entrepreneurs working together to build an environment for entrepreneurship in Canada.

0 replies on “Startup Canada Podcast: Building a new market category with Blo’s Devon Brooks”