Tru Beauty Lash Academy - Patricia Guerrera

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Patricia Guerrera, owner of Tru Beauty Lash Academy, located in Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

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

Tru beauty Lash Academy is a Lash extension, makeup, and waxing training studio! Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, founded in 2010! An independently owned business specializing in continued education in the beauty industry and providing esthetician services to clients.

Offering extensive classes to instruct others to learn and perfect their skills in the beauty industry. Being in beautiful Santa Barbara, there are many weddings that Tru beauty caters to, providing makeup services to the bride and the bridal party on their special day!

Tell us about yourself

I'm Patricia Guerrera, licensed esthetician, and national makeup artist. Born in Italy and raised in Santa Barbara! I was influenced by my grandmother and my uncle, who were artists in Italy.

I have always had a passion for art, from painting on canvases to painting on beautiful faces. At 18yrs old, I worked in retail stores as a makeup artist. I was so excited; it was like my dream come true to be there. Then in my twenties, I went to esthetician school and got my license. I started working at Nordstrom, then Macy's in SB and SF, then back to SB at Saks Fifth Avenue. I have traveled Nationwide doing makeup for special events, Independent films, print, and fashion shows, as well as Barneys New York, collaborating with my sister's own makeup line.

I'm motivated through makeup because it lets me meet amazing people from all walks of life, and I'm part of their special moments. Through makeup, I touch people's lives every day, if it's a happy occasion like a wedding, birthday, or anniversary. Sometimes not-so-happy moments like divorce or a funeral. I take every moment in and make it a beautiful moment. Through my passion and love for art, I can transform beautiful faces and enhance and bring out the best in people. My motto is "Tru beauty starts from within," I have jumped into volunteering to donate my time during disasters of floods and fires in Santa Barbara.

Pampering people that lost their homes & their family members. Through makeup, we gave them joy and something good to look forward to. During the pandemic, my beauty business was shut down three times, losing half of my clients. I pivoted my beauty business and Incorporated a new business as a wine consultant with Scout and Cellar Tru Vino. I loved their concept of being clean crafted, vegan wine with no toxic pesticides.

I really love that because having such a sensitive stomach; I couldn't drink for a long time opened up my eyes to so many opportunities. Meeting amazing people through this wine journey to share cleanly crafted no sugar added wine has been amazing!

So now, I have combined a few businesses that go hand in hand with the beauty, wine, and jewelry business! Always move forward, and you can always reinvent yourself when things don't go as planned.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I opened my own business 12yrs ago with little money because I believed in myself with my God-given talent. I wanted to live out my dream and accomplish what I have wanted to do for years, be my own boss!

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

Finding the balance of turning off the business side and enjoying personal time. When you own your own business, you feel like you have to be on all the time and answer phones throughout the whole day and night. It's important to set boundaries, and creating a balance between business and pleasure is challenging.

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

1. Give yourself time because your experience will lead you to open your own business. Don't rush the process.
2. Make sure to do your research. Don't just jump in. Hire a Social Media person and have a great website.. line your ducks in a row first. Have some savings put aside to plan for it.
3. Make sure you set boundaries, set up your office hours, and then shut it down. Don't think about work 24/7; it will consume you. Set vacation days, set time off, and days off for yourself, and the best part is to have fun with it! Learn as you go; there will be very challenging days Where It's great to Be Your own Boss but also not so great days. But in the end, it's very rewarding.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

It's not easy, but it's worth it! Enjoy every moment of your journey when you have your own business. It's amazing overall! Find what you're really passionate about, and just go for it! Remember to have fun, and when you follow your passion and do what you love, you will never work a day in your life! "Tru beauty is where beauty starts from within."

Where can people find you and your business?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trubeautylashacademy/

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.