The beauty of taking a chance

What first sparked your interest in skincare and beauty therapy as a career? 

It was the creative aspect of beauty. When I enrolled in Diploma of Beauty Therapy, I thought I wanted to be a makeup artist or nail technician as these pathways allow for lots of fun, colour and exploration. But while studying at The Gordon, I fell in love with the skincare industry and found myself drawn to the intersection of science meets beauty.

After studying, you went on to build recognised brands in a highly competitive industry, including Tribe Skincare and Holly Daze. What gave you the confidence to take the leap from practitioner to entrepreneur?

I used to tell myself, “If other people have started successful brands, surely I can too” and that helped make the impossible feel like a reality. I would listen to podcast interviews with other entrepreneurs while I worked and this inspired me to back myself and keep trying every day. Eventually, the confidence became a part of my mindset and I just kept working away at building the brands daily, always with the customers as the primary focus.

Have you always had an entrepreneur mindset, or did that happen over time? 

When I was in primary school, I used to take clippings from my nan’s plants and put them in pots to sell out the front of her house and I actually made pretty decent pocket money doing this! Looking back, I think I was always destined to have my own businesses as I love the creativity it allows.  

You've built businesses and launched new ventures at various stages of your life. What have been some of the biggest lessons you've learned along the way?

There are two ways to make money in business – earn more or spend less. It’s really easy to get caught up in all the ‘opportunities’ you come across and suddenly find yourself with a lot of outgoings and expenses. With Holly Daze, I now run the business from home and currently do all my own marketing, which keeps expenses low and increases profitability. It’s more of a lifestyle business for me compared to when I was running Tribe Skincare (sold in 2023) which I worked in full-time and had staff, agencies and a warehouse to pay for each month. 

What does a typical day look like for you? What keeps you grounded?

My typical days look very different now compared to a few years ago. After seven years of running Tribe Skincare, I was fortunate to sell the company in 2023 when I was pregnant with my son. He is now 2 and I have another boy on the way, so I have focused on setting up Holly Daze to work around family life. I allow myself the flexibility to work when I find spare time rather than having set hours. 

What excites you most about the work you’re doing today?

Customer feedback has always excited me most! I love getting reviews, messages or chatting to customers in real life about the products and how they fit into their daily routines. I also have a business partner joining Holly Daze in September and we have some great plans and strategies for the future growth of the company. I’m excited to have someone to brainstorm with and bounce ideas off. 

What's been one of the most rewarding moments or lessons so far?

I ran a two-week shop in the middle of Geelong Westfield and it was one of my favourite times in business. Being mainly online, I only get to meet the fans of the products at events or pop-ups. We had hundreds of current and new customers come to the store and it really felt like we were part of the community, having the physical space for people to touch, feel and smell the products. 

How did The Gordon help shape your career?  

The teachers all had the most interesting and inspiring careers. They passed on stories or their experiences, but also gave us a limitless mindset with where our qualification could take us. Almost all of the students in my year still work in the beauty industry a decade later and all work in a variety of areas based on their unique interests. 

What advice would you give someone considering turning a passion into a business?

Don’t go down the rabbit hole of “What if I fail?’ and instead think about “What if I succeed?” Business is a challenging, fulfilling, fun and stressful journey. You really experience a bit of everything and all the highs and lows. But it is so wonderful to create something that is truly your own.