3 Mistakes I Made When I Started Curly Temple | SMH Branding
Have you been day dreaming of your product sitting out the shelves of your favorite retail store. Have you walked through beauty aisles and wonder where your products will fit? Do you want to own your own business? And do you want to start your journey of being your own boss today? I've been there too!
When I created my brand Curly Temple I created it in a rush! I was so excited to build my business I ended up making tons of mistakes in the process. I wanted to be financially free as soon as possible. Below are three mistakes I made that you need to avoid when you decide to start your own beauty empire.
1. I quit my job too soon.
Many people dream about becoming their own boss. They often envision the classic image of entrepreneurship: triumphantly giving one’s notice, and then pounding the pavement to hunt for clients.
Quitting your day job to be your own boss sounds amazing in theory. You get to set your own hours and make your own decisions. It would be a dream come true for anyone stuck in a job they hate. That’s all great but, the reality is that quitting your day job cold turkey to start a new business is definitely not a good idea.
I quit my job and I didn’t really examine how much money I actually needed. I created unnecessary stress for myself. Not only did I have to run a business but I had to figure out a way to pay my bills. As a result, I had to quickly look for a new job again in about 6 months.
A lot of beauty brands do not make any money the first few years in business and you have to be willing to take that blow. It is important to take stock of your complete cost of living, including rent, utilities, food, and other miscellaneous expenses.
2. I did minimum product testing.
Another major mistake I made at the beginning is I did absolutely no product testing. I made a product that did not cater to the masses. I loved thick and heavy creams for my hair but most consumers love light products that give a lot of slip for detangling.
To stay ahead in the beauty industry and maximize your company's reputation and profits, it is important to have guidelines to follow to ensure your products meet customer expectations.
I am sure I lost tons of money and customers for not really testing my products out. But to ensure quality and reliability of a product, required testing should be set in place. You won’t know how your product holds up until your customers use it and put it through its paces.
Allowing friends and family to try and use your products more than once lets you determine if there are any defects in your design or workmanship that could result in significant return, refund, and replacement costs.
3. I hustled instead of making a plan.
When I started my brand I hustled A LOT! I went to vendor events, tradeshows and hand delivered samples of my products to salons only to have my efforts and time wasted.
If that is your plan of action to start your beauty brand listen to me, DON'T DO IT! I started Curly Temple that way and let me say it was no fun because it only made me mentally and physically exhausted.
When your business grows you will come to realize that time equals money. This is why its important to acquire as much information as possible before you start your beauty business.
Building a beauty brand is not hard ONLY WHEN you have a clear and concise direction for you to follow.
Business owners make many mistakes when they have a business idea, start a new business, and rush into things before considering the important aspects of their brand. A good business plan can help you keep organized so that you can anticipate important issues and possible challenges before you start growing.
In conclusion
With a business built on a solid foundation it's EASY to make a sale...even if you’re self-taught, self-funded, a newbie or not even very popular. Constant and consistent motivation comes when you build your business around an idea that's bigger than just making money. Learn from my mistakes, make a plan, test your products and remember never to quit your job too soon.
In my Masterclass I plan to teach you everything I did from A to Z to build a product line that you will be proud to stock in any store.
I want to help inspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow their online beauty products on a solid foundation so you can gain consistent revenue allowing you to live a life of financial freedom.