Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shay Danielle, Owner of Shay Danielle PMU Inc., located in Calgary, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Shay Danielle PMU Inc serves both permanent makeup students and clients who wish to have permanent makeup service done. With over a decade of experience, I have been able to use my passion and knowledge to create numerous online training programs that have revolutionized the Permanent Makeup industry and serve over 60,000 students.
I strive to create community over competition and want to give students the tools to bypass the mistakes I've made early in my career. My goal is to focus on creating the next generation of Permanent Makeup business owners and supporting all my students through their journey in order to hit their highest potential.
Our studio is located in SW Calgary, Alberta. Shay Danielle Studio provides quality Permanent Makeup services from highly trained professionals. Our team shares a mission to help clients feel beautiful inside and outside. In our studio, we provide brow services, lip blush services, tiny tattoos, paramedical tattoos, and permanent jewelry.
Tell us about yourself
For as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued by everything beauty. I won't get into the time I was four years old and thought it was a great idea to use my mom's clear nail polish on my best friend's eyebrows to make them "shinier," but since then, I've come a long way!
I have always had a passion for art, and my canvas of choice just happened to be people and faces. Prior to entering the aesthetics industry, I worked as a flight attendant, traveling the world and meeting many inspiring people. Though it had its perks, something was still missing, so that's when I took the leap to do something for myself. I decided to spend my days off training to become a licensed aesthetician with the simple goal of treating my family and friends to an aesthetic service from time to time and perhaps getting a referral or two out of the deal.
Within a year, word of mouth alone had overwhelmed me, and it was time to make a choice to commit. I chose to follow the path that would make me happy and establish the brand Shay Danielle PMU in Calgary, Alberta, and Shay Danielle Academy Online. That choice would wake me up with excitement every morning. Was I scared? Absolutely! Leaving a job that provides you with a steady income is nerve-wracking, to say the least, and building a business from the ground up is equally intimidating. But, I felt like I was making the right choice, and I did not realize the enormous impact this decision would have on my life.
After 10 years in the industry, I am still learning new things on a daily basis. I know from experience that a 1-day program does not prepare anyone for the obstacles they will face in the industry. In 2017, I launched Shay Danielle Academy and put my heart and soul into raising the standards of training so that it is more robust for new artists. This industry has taken me to places that I thought were unimaginable. The sky's the limit when your world is in a field that you love and you never hate Mondays. Cosmetic tattooing is certainly one of my true loves.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, my biggest accomplishment was launching our online academy. I had a vision and goal to bring affordable, accessible learning to new artists. Not only that, I wanted to create a community where everyone felt safe, heard, and validated during their learning journey. It has been incredibly rewarding, and I can't wait to continue expanding our education materials.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is navigating work-life balance. When your passion is also your career, it is hard to shut off from work. My advice to conquer this challenge would be to hire someone to help with the day-to-day of the business (Remember, you can't do this alone) and to master the art of saying no to things you don't want to do.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find something that you love. Don't jump into industries just because they seem like quick money or lucrative.
- Be patient. Nothing is going to happen overnight, and great things come with time.
- Celebrate the small wins along the way. Business is a long and slow journey, but those little moments should never go unnoticed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://shopshaydanielle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shay.Danielle.PMU/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaydanielle.pmu/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.