Fashion Tech App Mixes Nail Art with Photography
NailSnaps is a fashion tech apps that allows you to turn your photos into custom nail wraps. We chatted with Angel Anderson, CEO of NailSnaps, who shared her inspirations that led to her success in the fashion tech world.
How was the idea for NailSnaps born? I love nail art, but I don't like sitting around watching paint dry! I’ve tried every brand of nail wraps but I’m always frustrated because generic, off-the-shelf designs are so underwhelming. As a UX designer, I started sketching out how an app might work to let me turn my photos into nail art because I wanted way to express myself through nail art with my own designs from my photos. There wasn't a tool to do this, so I decided to create NailSnaps.
What was the most challenging aspect of building the company?
The most challenging thing is getting so much done with very few resources. When you're a small team it means that you personally have to take care of little details all while staying focused on the big picture. We have to be very focused about how we prioritize our resources and our messaging. There is always the balancing act of knowing where we want to take the business but being focused in the short-term on hitting our next milestone.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
Only work with the right people and right partners. Your business is an extension of your vision and if you partner with the right people, you have a better chance at seeing the vision come to life in a way that's close to what you wanted. If you choose unwisely, you might end up with a painful fit, or worse.
How are you making a name for yourself in the fashion tech world?
NailSnaps got a lot of great press during our Kickstarter. We're soft-launched with an iOS app but soon, we'll be rolling out an official launch when our Android app is out of beta. We are very engaged with our customers across Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. We also partner with artists, influences, fashion designers, and entertainment brands to introduce their fans to the fun, creative possibilities within NailSnaps. Recently, we signed a partnership with a Japan-based lifestyle company to introduce NailSnaps to 50 million customers across Asia over the next two years, we're also reaching out to beauty influencers from all over the world to help us reach new audiences. We want to disrupt the 8.4 billion dollar nail industry with the world's best way to create, share, and wear custom nail art.
What is one of the best stories you have from starting NailSnaps?
Every day is a crazy adventure. We're always in meetings or in transit to pick up samples and no matter where we are or what we're doing, people always expect us to have perfect nails. As a result, I've gotten very good at applying them EVERYWHERE. I DO NOT recommend doing nail art while driving BUT I'm grateful that our self-adhesive NailSnaps require no heat, mess, or need for topcoat. All you need is a nail file so in a pinch, I have been able to put them on while I'm driving!
Special thanks to Angel Anderson, Founder of NailSnaps