Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Pamela Butler, Founder of The Beauty Patrol, located in Louisville, KY, USA.

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

The Beauty Patrol is a large team of makeup artists and hairstylists who specialize in event styling. Our clients are engaged couples, professionals of all ages, and photographers. We work with over 400 weddings per year in addition to our photography community for portraits, headshots, and commercial work. Our ultimate goal is to give clients luxurious professional services while having fun.

Tell us about yourself

I began my career working in retail cosmetics. My first experience was with Lancôme, where I learned about the business of cosmetics while working at a busy department store. I worked for various brands, including Lancôme, Estée Lauder, MAC, Christian Dior, and Too Faced. My freelance makeup artist business was created in 2011 and blossomed into the largest team of professional makeup artists and hairstylists in Kentucky. While providing makeup artistry is my passion, I also was an insurance broker for several years while still freelancing makeup. I used my knowledge of brokering insurance and applied it to brokering beauty services for weddings. I am consistently motivated by the talent of my team. I purposely sought out the most desired makeup artists and hairstylists in my area to give my clients the ultimate goal of looking their very best for special occasions. While I do get extremely busy, I keep my head by having a healthy work/life balance. I love the connection between my clients, wedding vendors, and team. My reputation is everything to me, and I never lose sight of making my team feel fulfilled while giving clients the best outcomes.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

This is so hard to define because so many amazing moments have happened in my career. Honestly, the best feeling is when clients tell us how we made a difference in their overall self-confidence. We recently had an amazing experience where a local client took my team to her destination wedding in Arizona, and that was such a beautiful wedding in the desert. I’m very proud of the fact that we are a recognized brand in our community, and we love the awards we received, but the biggest accomplishment is loving my career path along with those who share it with me.

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

Taxes, pandemics, and management of our social media.

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

  1. Don’t follow someone else; find your strength and build on it.
  2. Learn from your mistakes.
  3. Build loyalty in all your professional relationships by being a supportive leader.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Business ownership can be unpredictable. It’s an accomplishment that takes tenacity and a backbone. Be prepared to fail but plan to overcome any obstacles. Success is available if you want it bad enough.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thebeautypatrol.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleBeautyPatrol
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautypatrolmua/

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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