Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Manna Kadar, founder of Manna Kadar Beauty, Inc., located in Irvine, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Manna Kadar Beauty is a fast-growing group of brands, including Manna Kadar Cosmetics, Beauty and the Bump, Goddess by Manna Kadar, Haute Dog Luxury Pet Products, Mason Man Skincare, and Manna Kadar Luxe Bath and Body. Manna is also the creator of the "7 Minute Face," a three-step, award-winning Beauty Simplified System that moms on the go all over are implementing.
Tell us about yourself
I was born in Paris; I relocated to Lincoln Heights, California, by age five and was raised by a strong single mom and grandmother. Growing up in a tough neighborhood, I witnessed first-hand the everyday battle to survive, viewing education and enterprise as a way out of the struggle. At age 16, I purchased my first cosmetics store at the local mall. At age 18, I became one of a handful of students accepted into college. I stayed close to home studied Finance and Distribution Management at USC. As a natural-born entrepreneur, I used what I learned in the classroom to grow my mall-based cosmetics chain to 7 stores in 6 years. After college, I sold my beauty business to enter the world of corporate banking. In 2007, I exited the finance world, taking everything I had learned and applying it to a new venture: developing a chain of tanning salons that would one day lead to the Manna Kadar Beauty empire.
Seeking to maximize revenues creatively, I turned the tanning salon lobby into a beauty bar. The idea quickly gained traction, giving me my first opportunity to develop an original cosmetics line. By really listening to the needs of my customers, I was able to craft products that delivered real-world beauty solutions, growing the small company into what is today a family of six brands with more than 600 SKUs in 40,000 stores nationwide - all without outside investment. Realizing that my motto - "when you look good, you feel good" - means something different to everyone, I designed products to suit multiple concepts of beauty, from minimalist to glam. Understanding that makeup can feel time-consuming and too technical for some, I developed my signature three-step Beauty Simplified System, coordinating instructions with numbered products to streamline application.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Earning a spot among the "Top 40 Under 40 Beauty CEOs" and the Manna Kadar brand making Inc. Magazine's 2020 "Top 5,000" list and being published among the fastest-growing enterprises in the LA Business Journal. Another great accomplishment was being named 2020 Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a business owner, my employees are family. I have to make sure they are taken care of in addition to making sure the company is profitable. The last two years haven't made that easy.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Build relationships. It's the most important rule of business.
- Start small. Don't look to be a billion-dollar company in 1 year. Grow and maintain the business you first.
- Prioritize. List one thing that you need to accomplish for the day. Make sure you do at least that one thing before you move on to the next.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://mannakadarbeauty.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mannakadarbeauty/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mannakadarbeauty/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manna-kadar-47ba0b35/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
