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Karen Bowers - At Home Pampering
(At home Pampering provides a mobile/freelance beauty & makeup service to clients at the clients location)
What were your reasons or motivations for wanting to start a career in beauty/makeup
After experiencing workplace bulling I decide not to go back into the workforce when my 2nd child was born in 2003. I really missed having my own income so I decided to sell Avon. Within a year I became one of the top representatives in Ireland. After a couple of years it then lead to customers asking for advise with skincare and makeup. I didn’t really have the knowledge so at age 29 I went back to train as a beauty therapist. I continually do courses and update my skills.
What was your ambition when you started out or what were you hoping to achieve
I wanted to learn some new skills. At the time i didn’t quite know what i wanted to achieve. For me it had to be something that i could work around my 3 children. After thinking and researching and discussing options with my hubby Gerry, I decide to become a mobile beauty therapist. I also remembered when my own children were babies i was housebound a lot of the time, I felt other mothers may be in the same situation and may benefit form the services i was about to provide.
How has your career in beauty/makeup progressed
I set up At Home Pampering in July 2009. During the 1st 2 years I used my Avon customer base to help get me established. Word of mouth started to get me business and of course facebook was a huge help
What are your future plans or ambitions
I have a few - but the main ones that I am going to be working on in 2014 is expanding the business.
For the last few years I have been a one woman business providing service to ladies in their houses, hospitals and nursing homes. It is getting to the stage now where I am having to say no to work as I am unable to do it. I want to take on other therapists so I no longer have to say no.
I also want to take on other practitioners in massage, hairdressing, makeup artists, reiki, reflexology etc...
Eventually At Home Pampering will be providing a Nationwide mobile service across Ireland.
3 things you love about your business
The beauty industry is very fast paced with new treatments and products coming out all the time and I get to learn about them.
I love making ladies feel special and pampered especially brides on there wedding day. There is something great about being part of her day doing her makeup.
No one day is the same as I am meeting different people and going to different locations.
List your 3 top tips for anyone starting a business in beauty/makeup
It is important to have a support network around you, whether its parents or a spouse. You need someone to bounce ideas off, to ask advise or sometimes just a shoulder to cry on.
You need to remain positive, surround yourself with positive people and situations. Read at least 2/3 positive books a month.
Realise early on you cannot do everything. If you try you will burn out and your business will fail. Take all the help you can get. Even if you feel you cannot afford to get help there is always a solution - bartering is great and everyone is happy :)
What is your motto or favorite saying e.g. mine is “Vision without venture will remain
vision”
I have a couple but my main ones are
“Feel the fear and do it anyway”
“You are your only boundary - if you think you can - you can, if you think you can’t- you can’t..
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