Detroit Mom’s Local Love series highlights local women and the businesses they have built. We love supporting small business! Today’s Local Love Spotlight belongs to Dr. Fatima Fahs, owner of Dermy Doc Box.
We asked her to start by sharing a few fun facts about herself. She is obsessed with the real housewives franchise, and watching the show is her guilty pleasure. She was an art minor in college; she had a hard time choosing between going to medical school and pursuing her passion for art. As a dermatologist now, she definitely uses her artistic side daily in her practice! And, she’s a first generation American–her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon.
We asked Dr. Fatima Fahs to share a little bit more about her business with us. Get to know her and her business, Dermy Doc Box, below!
How did you come up with the idea of your business, and how did you start?
“As a board certified dermatologist I saw a ton of misinformation when it came to skincare recommendations and tips on social media. I knew that I could help cut through the noise and bring clarity to the overwhelming process of finding quality and effective skincare. My husband and I would spend our evenings brainstorming at the kitchen table after the kids went to bed to come up with our mission, business plan, logo, designs, etc. We fulfilled our very first round of subscription boxes out of our living room! As we started to expand, we realized we were going to need a lot more space.”
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
“Started sooner! I was so nervous to act on my idea and I had a ton of imposter syndrome that kept me from starting Dermy Doc Box sooner. I wish I would’ve given myself a bit more credit and a lot more grace. Starting a business is scary, and the first step can be the most intimidating.”
What is the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
“Failure is an expected part of the process. No business runs perfectly all the time. Failure, mistakes, mishaps are all a part of the process and there is so much opportunity for growth within those low moments. We’ve had plenty of failures, but we’ve learned from them, pivoted, and it’s helped our business grow stronger and better.”
How do you persevere in challenging times?
“I learn to take breaks. Some people might say the opposite: “Just truck through it.” But sometimes, it’s better to instead take a step back, walk away, cool down, find some clarity, and redirect your focus and energy. “
What impact do you want your business to have?
“I want to empower women to feel good about their skincare routines. More importantly, we want our subscribers to become educated about ingredients, their benefits, how to incorporate them into their routine, and ways to make it work for their unique skin. We want to take the guesswork out of finding quality products and help subscribers see past the marketing ploys and fancy packaging.”
What are the pros and cons of being a woman business owner in 2023?
“A big pro is you get to prove people wrong on the regular. Nothing feels better than showing the people that doubted you the most that you are more than capable of running your business and letting them watch it thrive.”
What knowledge would you share with someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
“In today’s day and age, everything we want to learn is so accessible. I didn’t have the slightest idea of where to start, but I slowly found ways to teach myself about my business by listening to podcasts from experts on the subject, watching tons of YouTube videos, and even attending in-person conferences. Take advantage of all of this information just waiting for you at your fingertips!”
What mantra or quote do you live by?
“Be your biggest cheerleader. No one wants something as badly for you as you do for yourself.”
Where can our readers find you on social media?
You can follow Dermy Doc Box on TikTok, Instagram (@dermydocbox or @dermy_doctor), and on their website!
