Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christina Kollias, Owner of DASHLASHEZ™, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

DASHLASHEZ™ is a brand that provides everyone worldwide with the best of lash extension innovation, quality, and learning. Not only do we have a cruelty-free product line, but we also have a newly launched online academy. We aim to empower entrepreneurs & lash lovers worldwide looking for top-quality lash products & access to education.

Tell us about yourself

I started my entrepreneurial journey at only 21 years old. At the time, my days consisted of doing lash extensions on a massage bed in a spare bedroom. I realized along the way that my passion grew for the business side of lashes. In five years, I was able to expand my business into a storefront, a six-figure e-commerce product line, & an online academy. I always believed that if you love what you do, it will never feel like work. Having a passion for my business and work is what motivates me every single day. The sky is the limit, and I cannot wait to see where the next five years will take me.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been being able to pass on my skill set to others and offer them a skill that leads to financial freedom. I have recently launched a Mentorship program, "Call Me CEO," where I take on ten students a month and offer them full mentorship for their business. Watching my students expand and grow their business has to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is responsible. When you run your own business, the responsibility falls on you 100%. If you're not succeeding, if there is more work to do, if there are complaints -- it all comes down to you. Being able to juggle ten different jobs at once and piecing it all together can sometimes be a struggle, but it is also what makes your business so unique. It is unlike anyone else's.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Three tips I would give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today are:

  1. Be your biggest cheerleader. When you are starting a business, a lot of people may not see your vision as you do. That being said, never give up on your dreams, even if you don't have support.
  2. Reinvest your business. Once you start making profits, it can be difficult to save because you want to upgrade your lifestyle. Always take your earnings and reinvest them in your business. Whether you are launching a new product, upgrading your photography, or revamping your website, when you put money back into your business, it is never money wasted. If you want to make more money, you have to spend more on your business.
  3. Be personable with your audience. In today's day and age, you have to connect with your customers! As a small business, it's essential to know who your customers are, and it is also important that your customers know who YOU are. Be active on social media, and start interacting with your audience. Utilizing Instagram Reels & TikTok is a free way of advertisement and can help you grow your customer base organically.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dashlashez.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dashlashez/

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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