The past few weeks have been busy and productive. I've entered into a partnership with my mother - we're going to be running the Empire Cosmetics business together. The plan is to build a brand so we can work together. We'll get ourselves an office, have lunch together every day, and have Anna on the floor playing with her toys in the office too. If, as humans, we're meant to work to make a living, then I want to do it my way, and what better way to work than with your mum? Mum and I are like best friends. I guess you can't really put us in the typical mother daughter category - we're very like minded, she's very understanding and is always great to talk to and she treats me like an equal. She really is my best friend.
So, now I have a business partner. And It's paid off. Starting a business, no matter how passionate you are, it can get pretty boring, and lonely. You become so absorbed in the business, you don't share it in depth with anyone because no one quite understands. But if you have a business partner, especially one you get along with so well, it brings back the excitement of starting a business. And better yet, it gives you someone to share that excitement with, someone who'll appreciate it just as much as you.
We've got our vision crystal clear. Our range is the simple, easy cosmetic products that does not discriminate on age, or skin type, or lifestyle. Makeup should be fun, and not feel like a chore. We want to create confidence and self esteem in all women - we want to make them like who they see in the mirror. Our range is not intimidating or pretentious, it does not judge, and it is not exclusive.
So we've got samples from our supplier on its way. We're starting small - just the basics of a range. And we've got some samples of the BB cream on its way too. This stuff is amazing. I wear it every day and it has replaced my need for foundation. So we're very excited to be bringing it to the consumers of Australia.
We've also got a photo shoot organised in June for some promotional material. I have about 20 models booked in, and we've got a day of makeup and photography. We're very excited about it. I've got all the looks planned, I've booked the photographer. And we're filming it and putting it up on YouTube - we'll be having a 'Makeup Channel' - where we show demonstrations of how to do highly demanded makeup. All the cosmetic brands put makeup on glamorous models with porcelain skin - the fact is, the majority of women don't have perfect skin, or beautiful long lashes etc etc. So we're showing women how to combat problems with their makeup and give them confidence in their application. We've got a poll going on facebook to see exactly what women want to learn.
We've got huge plans for this business. We want to be the next cosmetic empire. And we will. I hope I can look back on this blog and see this a writing my future.
On top of all that is going on with Empire, I've also gone into business with my uncle. He owns No Roads Expeditions - a successful travel company that offers adventure tours around the world. He's approached me to head up the merchandise side of things for his business. We're looking at starting a fashion range for the adventure traveller, because Kathmandu is a bit dorky. So I've got my hands full with that now too. It's also very exciting - there's a lot we can do with this business. We've called it 'The Jumping Man'. I'm hoping it will be the traveller's first choice in clothing, when travelling or at home. We want a very functional, versatile range that is stylish, funky and 'cool'.
I know I'm a hard worker. I've got one of those brains that don't switch off. Sometimes I wish I could - I'd love to be able to fall asleep as soon as I close my eyes, rather than a few hours later after I've had a good think about this, that, and everything. I don't think I've had a proper deep sleep since Anna was born. Anna's birth went over a span of 3 days - Saturday night the contractions started - I was in labour all of Sunday and finally gave birth at 3am on the Monday morning. And from the moment she came out, I was up every 3 - 4 hours as she woke up. It's only the past few weeks she's sleeping through the night, and even then I've become so used to 'being on call' that I can't really fall asleep. I am so tired.
But I'm happy. Anna always comes first. And she makes me so happy.
I can't complain.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Risky Business
Dealing with international traders is risky, I have learned. And given our current circumstances, it's probably not the best time to be dabbling in a risky game.
In order for this business to showcase quality products, I need to sample some products before I commit to large orders. Oddly enough, some traders almost demand I order massive quantities (10,000 units +) of their product before I've even tried it (must be good then, ey?) and I've learned just how difficult and tedious this process is.
Over the past few weeks I've been organising to have some samples sent to me of various cosmetics products. Just trying to arrange this has been so tricky. In particular, I had ordered quite a large lot of samples from one company in China, it cost me about $350 for the lot and I was advised they would arrive within 5 - 7 working days. As I had other orders due to arrive at the same time, this delivery time was reasonable. However the delivery never showed. I emailed them multiple times, and got no response. It wasn't until 3 weeks later that they responded to say the parcel was rejected at Chinese customs. They told me they re-sent the goods and will arrive in 5-7 working days. 2 weeks past, and nothing. I sent more emails (mind you, emailing is what I'm limited to these days when it comes to international business) and another 2 weeks pass, and they inform me that the courier lost my parcel (bullshit) - they couldn't even provide me with a tracking number, which says to me they never sent it. I have no idea what they were doing, why the parcel never arrived (or left the country for that matter) but I consider myself lucky to get my money back.
It's incredible how email has made people willingly exploit others. I don't think this would have happened if it were face to face. Really, I should have been more careful. From my very first communications with this particular company, they told me their minimum order was $300, but when I went to their website, it stated their minimum order was only $100, and given my circumstances that would have been a much smaller risk. In addition, they said I had to add 6% for the use of Paypal, and on their website it stated 3%. They will suck you dry if they can. Essentially, I had to pay the extra 3% to pay for the products, so I had to pay, to pay.
It was a real eye opener of the risks associated with starting a business. I would much prefer to be dealing with Australians and sourcing my products from here, but we don't currently make the product I'm after, and I don't have the money or resources to invest in an R&D team. If the business kicks off, I'll be keeping it all Aussie!!
I was talking to my dad the other day about how things used to be. He was telling me when he was a young dad, there was work everywhere, and everyone could do anything. All they had to say was 'I'm a fence builder' or 'I'm a florist' or 'I'm a book keeper' and they were. And when there was help needed, it was a job. Nowadays, you need a damn PhD to become a florist or become a call centre operator. And if I had started this business 20 years ago, when things were different, I think I'd have a much better shot then, than I do now. It's like the things that are designed to advance our lives are just making it more complicated, and therefore hindering out abilities. And somehow, I struggle to make this pursuit simple. I'd love to just ask someone to make me a bunch of these cosmetics, and then I'm going to sell them. Such a simple concept, yet there's just endless obstacles because everyone wants to fuck you over. Favours don't exist anymore.
But anyway. I'm still in the sampling stages. And it is so tedious and tiring. It's hard to stay focused on something of this magnitude, especially when you have life getting in the way all the time. I don't think I could have picked a worse time to be doing this - I'm just hoping this wont eventuate to being another failed attempt; I'm just so tired!
I read up about other mums who have started their own business, and when reading their profiles and stories of how they started, they all seem so at ease. Am I missing something? Just trying to find the energy to entertain Anna all day long (reading story books and singing songs seems so easy) let alone finding the energy to pursue this business. I've got a list of 'to do's', all of my PR activities listed, and I'm struggling to fathom doing it.
Maybe I'm being too complex. International business tends to be what established companies venture into, or so my uni studies have taught me. Maybe there is 'risky' and then there's 'too risky'. Am I overstepping the boundaries for now?
I hope not.
In order for this business to showcase quality products, I need to sample some products before I commit to large orders. Oddly enough, some traders almost demand I order massive quantities (10,000 units +) of their product before I've even tried it (must be good then, ey?) and I've learned just how difficult and tedious this process is.
Over the past few weeks I've been organising to have some samples sent to me of various cosmetics products. Just trying to arrange this has been so tricky. In particular, I had ordered quite a large lot of samples from one company in China, it cost me about $350 for the lot and I was advised they would arrive within 5 - 7 working days. As I had other orders due to arrive at the same time, this delivery time was reasonable. However the delivery never showed. I emailed them multiple times, and got no response. It wasn't until 3 weeks later that they responded to say the parcel was rejected at Chinese customs. They told me they re-sent the goods and will arrive in 5-7 working days. 2 weeks past, and nothing. I sent more emails (mind you, emailing is what I'm limited to these days when it comes to international business) and another 2 weeks pass, and they inform me that the courier lost my parcel (bullshit) - they couldn't even provide me with a tracking number, which says to me they never sent it. I have no idea what they were doing, why the parcel never arrived (or left the country for that matter) but I consider myself lucky to get my money back.
It's incredible how email has made people willingly exploit others. I don't think this would have happened if it were face to face. Really, I should have been more careful. From my very first communications with this particular company, they told me their minimum order was $300, but when I went to their website, it stated their minimum order was only $100, and given my circumstances that would have been a much smaller risk. In addition, they said I had to add 6% for the use of Paypal, and on their website it stated 3%. They will suck you dry if they can. Essentially, I had to pay the extra 3% to pay for the products, so I had to pay, to pay.
It was a real eye opener of the risks associated with starting a business. I would much prefer to be dealing with Australians and sourcing my products from here, but we don't currently make the product I'm after, and I don't have the money or resources to invest in an R&D team. If the business kicks off, I'll be keeping it all Aussie!!
I was talking to my dad the other day about how things used to be. He was telling me when he was a young dad, there was work everywhere, and everyone could do anything. All they had to say was 'I'm a fence builder' or 'I'm a florist' or 'I'm a book keeper' and they were. And when there was help needed, it was a job. Nowadays, you need a damn PhD to become a florist or become a call centre operator. And if I had started this business 20 years ago, when things were different, I think I'd have a much better shot then, than I do now. It's like the things that are designed to advance our lives are just making it more complicated, and therefore hindering out abilities. And somehow, I struggle to make this pursuit simple. I'd love to just ask someone to make me a bunch of these cosmetics, and then I'm going to sell them. Such a simple concept, yet there's just endless obstacles because everyone wants to fuck you over. Favours don't exist anymore.
But anyway. I'm still in the sampling stages. And it is so tedious and tiring. It's hard to stay focused on something of this magnitude, especially when you have life getting in the way all the time. I don't think I could have picked a worse time to be doing this - I'm just hoping this wont eventuate to being another failed attempt; I'm just so tired!
I read up about other mums who have started their own business, and when reading their profiles and stories of how they started, they all seem so at ease. Am I missing something? Just trying to find the energy to entertain Anna all day long (reading story books and singing songs seems so easy) let alone finding the energy to pursue this business. I've got a list of 'to do's', all of my PR activities listed, and I'm struggling to fathom doing it.
Maybe I'm being too complex. International business tends to be what established companies venture into, or so my uni studies have taught me. Maybe there is 'risky' and then there's 'too risky'. Am I overstepping the boundaries for now?
I hope not.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Trying to be Super Woman
To officially launch this blog, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ashleigh Morris, I'm 21 years old and I'm finally pursuing my dream to start my own business. And most importantly, I'm a mum, to my beautiful four month old daughter Anna.
High school did nothing for me except confuse me. I always had good marks, I did well in VCE - but we were constantly bombarded with "University This and University That". We were expected to know what we wanted to do for the rest out our lives, or so it seemed. I felt compelled to get into uni; I chose marketing. But I knew I had a passion elsewhere.
When I was 15, my parents lovingly enrolled me into a make up artistry course. It cost them a fortune. And looking back, I'm not even sure how I managed to persuade them, I'm not even sure I showed that much promise either. But the commitment I made to the course helped me to discover my passion. And the course gave me the credibility to put that passion into action.
Since I was 15 I've been doing makeup. My first casual job was at Priceline as a cosmetics consultant. And I was in heaven! So I knew that makeup artistry and cosmetics was the avenue I had to pursue. My personal cosmetics collection was overflowing in my bathroom - I often had to go through it and donate some to very grateful friends and family. I knew every piece of makeup currently on the market, every shade, every skin type, colour, brand - you wanted the perfect product, I could name it. And on top of that, I could make a man look like a woman if I wanted to.
After years of dedicating my time to university studies (in a very wrong field) and many of which spent rather miserable doing so, I re-discovered my passion for makeup when my daughter was born. She gave me the time to really put my dreams into action, and I realised that she was my number one, above all else, so I needed to find my place in a career that will allow me to always put her first. I've said goodbye to the corporate world and hello to my own makeup brand "Empire Cosmetics". I've always wanted to own my own cosmetic empire, hence the name.
So between the nappy changes, feeding, reading "Where's the Green Sheep", cooking, cleaning, keeping the house in some form of functioning order, and running a new business, please join me in my journey of being a business woman, and being a full time mum.
This should be interesting.
High school did nothing for me except confuse me. I always had good marks, I did well in VCE - but we were constantly bombarded with "University This and University That". We were expected to know what we wanted to do for the rest out our lives, or so it seemed. I felt compelled to get into uni; I chose marketing. But I knew I had a passion elsewhere.
When I was 15, my parents lovingly enrolled me into a make up artistry course. It cost them a fortune. And looking back, I'm not even sure how I managed to persuade them, I'm not even sure I showed that much promise either. But the commitment I made to the course helped me to discover my passion. And the course gave me the credibility to put that passion into action.
Since I was 15 I've been doing makeup. My first casual job was at Priceline as a cosmetics consultant. And I was in heaven! So I knew that makeup artistry and cosmetics was the avenue I had to pursue. My personal cosmetics collection was overflowing in my bathroom - I often had to go through it and donate some to very grateful friends and family. I knew every piece of makeup currently on the market, every shade, every skin type, colour, brand - you wanted the perfect product, I could name it. And on top of that, I could make a man look like a woman if I wanted to.
After years of dedicating my time to university studies (in a very wrong field) and many of which spent rather miserable doing so, I re-discovered my passion for makeup when my daughter was born. She gave me the time to really put my dreams into action, and I realised that she was my number one, above all else, so I needed to find my place in a career that will allow me to always put her first. I've said goodbye to the corporate world and hello to my own makeup brand "Empire Cosmetics". I've always wanted to own my own cosmetic empire, hence the name.
So between the nappy changes, feeding, reading "Where's the Green Sheep", cooking, cleaning, keeping the house in some form of functioning order, and running a new business, please join me in my journey of being a business woman, and being a full time mum.
This should be interesting.
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