Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley Simien, owner of Sultry Skinbar, located in Houston, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sultry Skinbar is a beauty brand that is dedicated to nurturing and enhancing a person’s natural beauty. Currently, I offer makeup services but will also offer spa and wellness services in the future.
Tell us about yourself
I first started my business back in 2015. I was always into glamming myself and wanted to take a shot at making others feel beautiful as well. I also love taking care of myself when it comes to my skin also, which led me to take it a step further and obtain an esthetician license from Ogle Hair Skin & Nails to offer skincare services when the time is right. I’m honestly motivated by the fact that I created a business, especially in beauty. It is not easy creating and running a business, but it’s definitely rewarding knowing that I built this idea that can serve others. The makeup inventory shopping and creating a look for someone is fun, but overall, Sultry Skinbar is my baby. Doing anything to take my business in the right direction is motivation alone.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Ok, let me be transparent. I honestly don’t think about my accomplishments. Is that weird? Lol. I guess I can say how far I’ve come with this brand. Over the years, I have made a lot of changes to this business, from my name to the logo to the color schemes. Even when I created products, inventory was always changing. Even though all of that, I never gave up. I’m always revising or redirecting my steps. Sometimes I question if I should get rid of the business, but in hindsight, it has so much potential to be a household brand. I’m very proud of it.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, it’s the marketing strategy, especially in this day and age with social media. I’m great at visuals and creative ideas; I’m great at the mundane stuff that is important, like paperwork, but marketing? I’m better off hiring someone to help me with that. It’s definitely not my strong suit. I’m learning as I go, though.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Coming from trial and error, the first tip is to be sure of a product or service you want to offer and be consistent. For my fellow multi-hyphenates, this is hard for us, I know, but use the other talents as hobbies for now until there’s an opportunity to create another business. You don’t want to waste time and money. Especially money that you have put away to start the business.
Tip two, get all of your paperwork in order after you have established what your brand is and what you offer. Also, knowing how you’re going to execute it and who you would need help from to execute it. It can take a village but make sure you’re on top of your game and believe in your brand, and people will follow.
Tip three, just like I explained in tip two, connections, who do you need to be around to learn and grow? Attend networking events, and pay for any classes or seminars for knowledge. Ask people in your environment that may have businesses what tips they are able to give you. What you are seeking is seeking you.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
This is for the creatives who have ideas of different business ideas or are just multi-talented; you can do it all. Work on one project first to get it off the ground, then when you have time, create the other business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sultryskinbar.square.site/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sultryskinbar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sultryskinbar/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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