Tag: Beauty

Beauty by grace - Beauty therapist

Being a Beauty Therapist: Beauty by Grace

Grace is a self employed Beauty therapist, she retrained after having her daughter, Evie who is now three years old and in nursery part time.

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

My name is Grace Galley, I am 32, and married to my husband John who is a chef. John works 60 hour weeks, and at Christmas, even longer.
I have a daughter, Evangeline Rose who is 3. And at some point in the future, we would like to increase our family. At times I feel like I am a single parent! It has been hard, but John and I love each other and we are making it work!

What’s your business called?

Beauty by Grace

Can you describe it in one sentence?

My slogan is ‘Be your own kind of beautiful’.
I get fed up seeing overmade up women on social media. Be brave, and know yourself, and then tell your beautician what you want!

When did you become a Beauty Therapist and what inspired you?

I met John and fell in love, got engaged, got pregnant! Being pregnant made me so happy. Evie arrived and I continued planning our wedding, and we got married when she was 9 months old.
Even though I absolutely loved being a mum, I felt like I had lost myself, I felt like I had no identity.
I decided to go along to a college open day, with my aim to pursue a hairdressing course, when I got there I was told there was no availability on the course but there was room on the Beauty Therapist course.
I decided to go for it, and am so glad I did. My experience working in customer service has been so beneficial to this job, I feel like I am a natural. Although, I’m not a natural when it comes to business, and have found networking very hard. At times I have wanted to give up, there has been a lot of tears, but my love for Evie has kept me going. I want to be able to provide a future for her, and give her the opportunities that I never had.

How did you fund your start up?

I was lucky – my mother in law helped fund my college fees, and I received subsidised nursery fees for Evie, she went to the on campus nursery for one afternoon a week.
Since completing my qualification, any money I have earnt goes straight into the business, I completed my first year’s taxes and made a loss. But we are lucky that my husband is earning enough now to support us and allow for my business expenditures.
We have sacrificed other things to allow my dream to blossom, we don’t have a car, we rent our property, we don’t go on expensive holidays and don’t have regular nights out.

How do you manage working around your children?

I really struggle. Most of my big earning jobs are primarily at the weekend, however, John being a chef works every weekend.
Evie is now at nursery 2 days a week thanks to her 15 hours free childcare, so this has been a big help to allow me to get my important business related jobs done. I still have people wanting treatments in the evening, so I try to book people in on the evenings when John is home.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

No day is a typical work day, every day is a mum/housewife day, and then if I’m lucky – and depending on Evie’s mood, I may or may not get some ‘actual work’ done!
When I have a job booked and John is at work, I have to prepare everything the night before, and look after Evie up until the last minute and then race to my client. I then work without a break and then race back home to look after Evie! It is incredibly tiring, but the pay is good. I know in time it will get easier, or at least I hope it will!
What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?
I have successfully created my website and branding, something that took a lot of time to create and was completely alien to me!
I have had fellow colleagues let me down at a moment’s notice (twice this has happened), where I have then been left to deal with the clients on my own (both where a big party has been booked). Its shown me how hard working and conscientious I am, and that I am a true professional.

What’s the best thing about being Beauty Therapist Mumpreneur?

That I can choose the days I work, if I know I can’t find a close friend or family to look after Evie – I won’t take that client, work can always wait. Quality time with Evie is more important to me.

What are your plans for the future?

To continue to build my client base up to allow me to work solidly on the days when Evie is at nursery – and improve my work/life balance.
The ultimate goal is to one day have my own beauty salon.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

Don’t give up. It’s incredibly hard, and at times soul destroying! Believe you can do it and you will!
Also, before you start spending money, work out what it is you want and how you are going to get there. I did it all with no business plan and have wasted money as a result.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

I have tried to focus my business around being as natural as you can be, and highlighting natural beauty. I want to empower women and make them realise, that they don’t need ‘HD Brows’ and a smokey eye to be beautiful, they already are!
I also have recently starting introducing cruelty free and vegan products into my treatments. And I am now an Independent Consultant for Neals Yard Remedies.

www.beautybygrace.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com
https://www.facebook.com/gracegalleyNYRO/
https://www.instagram.com/grace.galley/

Self employed Beauty therapist

I feel you think that being a Beauty Therapist might be for you, have a look at the stories of other businesses offering professional services.

Mum running a food business skills while parenting

Launching a Wedding Beauty Business – Pretty Please by Katie

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

I became a mum on July 7th 2014. I remember it well ( i haven’t slept properly since!!) , I was overdue, id had the obligatory curry for dinner in an attempt to get things moving and then it began….. Just 8 hours later Felicity was in my arms. I was in shock for a good few days afterwards – what on earth had just happened?! How do I look after this baby?! What if I do it wrong?! Felicity is two years old now and I’m very proud to say she is the loveliest little girl ( I’m not biased at all!) so I must have done ok! My photographer husband Simon, our bichon frise fluffball Sunday, Felicity and I have recently moved to the countryside and into our new home and I’m pleased to report that life is pretty good!

What’s your business called?

My business is called Pretty Please by Katie

Can you describe it in one sentence?

I transform women from their daily selves into beautiful brides

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

After having Felicity I began to take my hair and make up business a lot more seriously. Where was I going with this? What was I trying to achieve? I decided to specialise in bridal. It was more lucrative, more controlled hours, and I could see that i would benefit personally from more job satisfaction working with brides on their wedding day. I work well under pressure, I’m creative and like every hairdresser – I can chat! For me my drive was the flexibility. Being able to be my own boss means that I can ( within reason!) choose my hours. I work evenings and weekends mainly which fits perfectly with my family. Felicity hasnt had to spend time in day care, i’m around to watch her grow, to teach her, to take her places and i love that. I love it that won’t miss Felicitys first day at school or her christmas play. I can work as much or as little as I like. If I want to take her on holiday and buy her nice things i can book more clients, if I want some time at home to potty train – I can book it off!!

How did you fund your start up?

Im proud to say that i managed to start my business myself. I spent many hours creating, branding, researching, writing documents, promoting myself at wedding fairs, on social media etc but hard work really does pay off. I didn’t have any type of investment or ‘money pot’, I attended every free course and networking event I could in order to meet people and learn from them. Im very proud of what I have achieved.

How do you manage working around your children?

I try to restrict myself so I’m not out every evening. i generally will send three full days with felicity at home and then three days at work. Even then ill schedule clients so i get up with her in the morning or I’m home in time to put her to bed. Sunday is my day off, thats our family time and thats really important. Balance is the key.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

On a typical day ill be up early, have a little bit of time with Felicity, get ready and leave the house by 8am to get to my brides location. The average wedding party probably takes around 5 hours so i might work from 9-2pm. Sometimes after this ill head home or sometimes ill go onto another location to meet another bride that has booked me for their wedding hair and make up. This bride will have whats called a preview session where we complete her hair and make up look so she can decide exactly what she wants to look like on her big day. Then ill head home in time for bath, bottle and bed ( and a glass of wine if I’m lucky!)

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

Becoming a mum was a challenge in itself. It added another full time role to my life. Time is an awful thing, it goes far too fast! I often found myself saying ‘theres not enough hours in the day’. I soon learnt that everything is about priorities. Once i sat down and really paid attention to what my personal priorities were, and put boundaries in place to protect these , life got much easier. I would always try to fit everything and everyone in, in order to keep them happy. I didn’t want to turn anyone away – what if they went to someone else? But now i don’t worry about that. If they go elsewhere thats fine. If they want for me and my next available slot then thats even better! Im much more focused on what I’m doing, and the life I’m living nowadays to have the time to worry about pleasing everyone else! Again, its all about the balance and even if it takes time you do get there in the end!

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

Creating something that I’m proud of, and being able to show Felicity that mummy works hard so she can have nice things. being able to show her that i really do love my job, and one day she will find a job she loves too! When I go off to work now i tell her I’m going to make the ladies pretty , she replies ‘mummy , work, lady , pretty hair’, silly as that sounds that really does make me proud!

What are your plans for the future?

Im a qualified tutor so my plans are to start offering training course and education that i have created myself. I can see where the gaps are from my own training and I’m going to work hard to fill them! I love the idea that i can inspire and educate others.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

Believe in yourself and go with your gut. There are a million reasons why it might not work, but as long as you have one reason that you believe it will – go for it! Things will change and things will evolve and as you go along your ideas and plans might change completely – thats ok too! There are no rules. when its your business – you make the rules! Be nice to everyone. You’re not better than anyone else, nor are they better than you. everyone is at a different point, with a different story. Find someone who inspires and motivates you. surround yourself with people that lift you up and push you to be better than you ever imagined you could be. Sometimes you will fall down, and that ok, because these people will help pick you up.

www.facebook.com/prettypleasebykatie
www.prettypleasebykatie.co.uk
instagram.com/prettypleasebykatie

mumpreneur run business transformation beauty

Launching a Skincare Brand – Transformation Beauty 365

Tell us a bit about your family?
I am a mum of 2, currently pregnant with my 3 rd child. I also home educate my children. I am enjoying being around them and see them growing up.

What’s your business called?
I am the owner and founder of Transformation Beauty 365, an all natural, vegan Skin Firming Line.

Can you describe it in one sentence?
Most potent non-toxic skin care line that gives you the results you have been looking for but haven’t yet found.

When did you start become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?
It all started in 2010, when my first daughter was born. When your whole life changes. I wanted to make sure that I only use natural products free from nasty chemicals. What I found was, that those natural products did not give me the Anti Aging Results I was looking for. And it was important to me to have healthy, glowing and flawless skin after becoming a mother. So I decided to do it myself.

How did you fund your start up?
I used up all of my savings, or shall I say my husbands savings:)

How do you manage working around your children?
I stay up long, to make sure I have the time to spend on my business while they are asleep. Sometimes I would ask them to occupy themselves so I can finish some of the work. I am now hiring more and more freelancers to assist me. It is not easy, but your passion, desire and drive keeps you going.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?
There is no typical day lol. Usually we wake up and have breakfast, we then go to some of the home education activities. I always check my phone for emails and orders on the go. We usually get home in the evening and depending on how much time is left before bedtime, I turn on my computer to do some of the work and ask them to either play with each other, or occupy themselves which things they enjoy. Otherwise I will do the work which needs to be done after I put them to bed.
On other days – if I have loads to do, we stay in. And I work the whole day, spending time in between on cooking and home educating.

I make sure I make to do lists and prioritise them. So I know what is the most important thing which needs to be done now.

Luckily I am now able to outsource some of the work. So I can concentrate on the most important things.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?
Main challenges were, that I wanted things to be done particular way and I have been told that they cannot be done that way. So I had to go and find other companies who can do it the way I wanted. And in the end it was possible:) Always listen to your gut. If you want things to be done a particular way, find the right person who will be able to do that.
The other challenge was, of course, the shortage of money. In this case I had to do all the work by myself and ask my husband for assistance. And accept that things were delayed. The good thing is though, that I am now an expert in so many different things and fully understand how they function. I would not have acquired that knowledge if I had the money to pay someone to do it for me.

What’s the best thing about being self employed?
Freedom. I love my freedom and be able to do what I want whenever I want while seeing my kids growing up.

What are your plans for the future?
I would love to open my own stores, yes, that is my dream. I also started teaching others how to use the power of the internet to start or grow your business, whichever applies to you. You do not even have to have your own products. That is my other passion.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out?
Stay focused. Know what you want. And keep going no matter what.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
I would like your readers to know that they are welcome to get in touch with me.
Either through Social Media or through this email: contact@transformationbeauty365.com

www.transformationbeauty365.com
(please note that I am currently updating my website as I am creating great free give aways for my customers – it will be up and running very soon)

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformationbeauty365/
instagram: transformationbeauty365
twitter: @TBeauty365
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX_NTxs4DhYvVIvLu7EQ31g

Additional questions for businesses that haven’t worked out

Previously I was involved in 4 different MLM companies. 2 of them were actually producing a bit of money. What I did not like is being dependent on others for my success. Also spending time teaching and training others and then see them leave.
However the knowledge and confidence I gained through MLM allowed me to start my own company.

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