AnaOno's Founder on True Inclusion in Intimates for Breast Cancer Survivors
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Digital Content Manager Kristina Stidham interviews Dana Donofree, founder and CEO of AnaOno, an intimates line exclusively designed for women that have had reconstructive surgery post-breast cancer. Donofree discusses her personal experience with breast cancer and why it led her to create a line of bras for other women going through a cancer diagnosis (0:51), as well as how AnaOno bras are unique from other bras on the market (3:40).
In addition, Donofree shares how word-of-mouth in the cancer survivor community has helped customers discover AnaOno (7:08), details the brand’s marketing strategy, and offers insights into why true inclusion is at the core of the AnaOno brand (10:42). Donofree explains how her career in fashion design helped her launch the company (14:10), the many ways she gives back to the breast cancer community and why that’s important to her (16:25), and her goal to continue expanding globally at AnaOno to help women diagnosed with breast cancer all over the world (19:29).
Diagnosed with breast cancer at 27, Dana Donofree founded AnaOno out of her own necessity and desire for pretty, sexy, beautiful lingerie. After a mastectomy, reconstruction bras no longer fit her surgically altered body, and Dana was certain there must be more than just sports bras and camisoles. With a degree in fashion design from Savannah College of Art and Design, and a quite successful fashion industry career, she took her 10-plus years’ experience and put it toward designing, launching and growing AnaOno.
Dana is very active in the breast cancer community and is involved with several nonprofits, including being a board member of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. She is also a Metavivor advocate. Her story has been featured on USA Today, “The Today Show,” HuffPost, The New York Times, INStyle, and many others. However, she’s most proud of being able to make a difference in the lives of women worldwide, and is honored to continue to spread her mission of beauty, confidence and empowerment.
Date: November 3, 2020
Credits: Dana Donofree
Duration: 21:25
More Episodes
Recurrent Involves Teens in its Business to Engage Gen Z
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Content Strategist Ashley Chiaradio interviews Tamar Rosenthal, co-founder of Recurrent, an eco-conscious, safe and effective personal care products company helping teenagers establish better hygiene routines. Listen in as Rosenthal discusses why she launched Recurrent; why it was important to her to create a company for young adults, by young adults; and the innovative ways the brand involves teens in its day-to-day business.
8:58 Primally Pure's CEO on Motivating Employees Through Self-Care Days
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Content Strategist Ashley Chiaradio interviews Bethany McDaniel, founder and CEO of Primally Pure, a holistic skincare and wellness brand that handcrafts natural and nontoxic products with a whole-person approach to well-being for skin, body and mind. Listen in as McDaniel shares Primally Pure's holiday marketing strategy; how she's keeping her team motivated, including hosting a self-care day for employees; and more.
16:50 How Perksy's Founder is Revolutionizing Consumer Research
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Nadia Masri, founder and CEO of Perksy, a next-generation consumer insights platform that powers real-time research with everyday people through contextual, in-the-moment mobile research. (Perksy was named the winner of Women in Retail Leadership Circle's very first Retail Tech Startup Challenge, which took place at last month’s Women in Retail Leadership Days virtual event.)
Stella & Dot CEO Jessica Herrin on Managing During the COVID-19 Crisis
This episode of Women in Retail Talks features an interview originally conducted by Women in Retail Leadership Circle’s sister brand, Total Retail, for its Total Retail Talks podcast. In the episode, Total Retail’s Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jessica Herrin, CEO and founder of the Stella & Dot Family of Brands, which includes Stella & Dot, KEEP Collective, and EVER.
27:59 How Gorilla Commerce's Co-CEOs Tackle Product Development and Customer Acquisition
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Jennifer Bernstein and Marissa Saporta, co-founders and co-CEOs of Gorilla Commerce, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce home, business, and pet product development platform. Listen in as Bernstein and Saporta discuss why they founded the company as well as the opportunities to fill white space in many categories using their product development system.
20:15 Manna Kadar on Launching a Company as a Young, Minority Woman
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Digital Content Manager Kristina Stidham interviews Manna Kadar, founder and CEO of Manna Kadar Cosmetics. Listen in as Kadar discusses her early start in retail, what led her to launch the beauty brand, and how she navigated the challenges she faced as a young, minority woman starting a company.
14:31 How It's A 10 Haircare's CEO Positioned the Company to Weather a Crisis
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Content Strategist Ashley Chiaradio interviews Carolyn Aronson, founder, CEO and owner of It's a 10 Haircare, one of the only female-owned professional hair care brands in the world. Listen in as Aronson discusses her inspiration behind founding the company, how It's A 10 Haircare pivoted and adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the company is well-positioned to weather a shutdown.
11:36 Bonobos CEO Micky Onvural on Building an Authentic, Purpose-Driven and Inclusive Brand
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Micky Onvural, CEO of Bonobos, a clothing brand focused on delivering great fit, excellent customer experience, and a fun approach to menswear. Listen in as Onvural discusses her career journey and how it led to her current role, why it's important to her that Bonobos is a purpose-driven brand, and a few of her favorite inclusive campaigns.
34:34 Fresh n' Lean's Founder on Focusing on Positive Changes During Crisis
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Content Strategist Ashley Chiaradio interviews Laureen Asseo, founder and co-CEO of Fresh n' Lean, the No. 1 meal delivery service for organic, chef-prepared meals. She shares the strategies she's used to motivate her team during uncertain times, how the health crisis has resulted in some positive changes for Fresh n' Lean, and the challenges as well as advantages that comes with being a bootstrapped company when competing with larger meal delivery services.
18:36 Salesforce Exec and Author on Staying Inspired While Working From Home
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Karen Mangia, vice president, customer and market insights at Salesforce, and author of the new book, "Working From Home: Making the New Normal Work for You." Listen in as Mangia discusses her career background, what led her to write her new book, and a few of her best tips for working from home successfully.
17:26 
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play Music
Stitcher