An entrepreneur is an individual who recognises an opportunity, converts it into a product or service, determines receipts and profit, and produces a successful business with it. Now, the world is ruled by technology, and a new form of entrepreneurs has shown their ability to the world, they are known as techpreneurs.
Meet Lauren Smee the Co-Founder & CEO of EZ Vending. EZ Vending is a retail technology company that deploys our software onto vending machines and other specialized dispensing smart hardware to create completely automated, cashless, and compliant retail hubs for any good requiring identity validation.
‘’You wear so many hats as an entrepreneur in the earlier stages of a company.’’ Lauren Smee
The platform powers the vending machines themselves, while also providing a super-powerful yet simple EZ admin dashboard while at the same time thoughtfully designing a shopping experience with the end-user customers in mind.
Lauren Smee is the Co-Founder & CEO of this tech company. She orchestrates a million different things, often unrelated, at the same time. In this article, we will talk about the tips to be a successful technopreneur. So, let’s get right into the business!
What was your thought process behind starting EZ Vending?
Why in this age of technology do we have to stand in line and talk to a person to get a beer?
Can you open up a bit about your work and career?
Growing up, I worked in my dad’s auto body shop. From the time I was probably 6 or 7 I remember my mom making me file papers in her back office of the shop. As I got older, my dad gave me more serious roles so that by the time I graduated college (with a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice haha) I had 5-6 years of experience building B2-B relationships at age 22.
For a short time after college, I wanted to be the next Sherlock Holmes which quickly came to a screeching halt after I realized the financial compensation path that entailed. So, I got a job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car which was paying well for new college grad and had a great management trainee program.
Fast forward, a single mom at 23 and several jobs later my sales and relationship capabilities have really what’s gotten me this far.
After having my daughter I started a farm-to-table catering company and did really well for a couple of years until I sold my book of business and went back into the corporate world for some experience that would change my life forever!
I launched 3 different tech startups and they were all multimillion-dollar markets by the end of year 1.
While working for the second one was when I met my now co-founder, and after 2 years and with COVID’s help I was out of the 9-5 world and back into the 24-7 world for a rollercoaster I could never have planned for.
What has been some of your greatest stories involving EZ Vending?
Since starting the company in 2020, it has taken us to some strange places and have had the opportunity to meet some incredible people. The whole experience feels like a chapter book that is currently being written. We have found ourselves at music festivals in the woods, restaurants on lakes, and big businesses in Los Angeles I mean it really is a rollercoaster. My absolute favorite day so far was the day our prototype arrived at our office. After a year of developing software and designing the hardware, it was like I had birthed my 2nd baby!
How did you first become interested working for yourself?
It’s not something I had an epiphany about one day, it’s been through trial and error working for other people. I felt like a caged tiger, in the sense I felt like my capabilities were restricted.
I come from a line of entrepreneurs. My grandfather had 22 patents in his name, 3M bought his auto tape factory for the tape and patents which they still use today.
After selling to 3M he co-founded a chain of auto body shops which at its height had 38 locations across California. My dad worked for him and then moved to a different state to start his own in a new market.
How did you find the right co-founder? What advice do you have for future entrepreneurs on how to find business partner?
Totally serendipitous.. sat down next to each other at the bar of a restaurant. Fate put us in front of each other. After getting to know one another it’s been this very organic ebb and flow of ideas. A safe place where we expand on and support each other. Individually we feel like we can do anything, so together it’s a powerhouse on a whole different level. He’s the yin to my yang.
Whether it’s fate or an intentional meeting, you need to find someone who has the same vision, drive, and willingness to sacrifice for the big picture. Someone who has the same mindset and ideas about what is also important in the day-to-day decisions of running a business. Neither of us are fueled by our ego or vanity. We want to genuinely make the world a better, more advanced place and that’s what drives us—we rarely disagree about business-related decisions and it’s been just about 4 years!
What would a normal day be like for you?
I wake up at 6:30 am. Make coffee and breakfast before my daughter wakes up so I can enjoy in peace and quiet. I get my daughter ready for school and then hit the gym. After that, I go to my office or home office and work til basically 10-11 pm. I take breaks here and there to cook dinner and transport my daughter to school and sports but I am always working and basically take breaks for real life. I take the weekends to spend time at home and regenerate from the week.
Did you plan your career and your business path?
Absolutely not, however, I never felt like I belonged where I was. I have had a lot of different job types, probably more variety than most people. From a chef to a lifeguard to an insurance agent while my Bachelor’s Degree is in Criminal Justice haha. I have always just followed my heart/intuition and did what I felt was right which led to a culmination of professional experience that made me well equipped for the role I have today.
What sacrifices have you had to make during life?
I became a single mom at 23. Single in the sense of having zero physical or financial help ever from her biological dad— and I’m okay with it! It does however require me to sacrifice my own wants and needs 90% of the time. I go months at times without a break from parenting for more than the 6ish hours she goes to school. My daughter is truly an incredible little person who makes me complete and parenting whether you’re single or married is a sacrifice.
If you could go back by ten years, what would be some of the top tips you would give our audience?
Get started now, network, and don’t do dirty business.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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