Jamie Holland is a freelance beauty professional and motivator of women who is also well versed with all types of hair. She has been styling hair and motivating and encouraging women for more than 10 years. She has done hair and makeup for fashion shows and hair for weddings, and when she’s not working she loves to give back to her community and volunteer. Read our interview with the lovely Jamie below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
My son inspired me to just go ahead and do it and to stop putting it off. I put my dreams off for 3 years because at the time it seemed ‘safe’ to work a 9-5. It was a steady check, insurance, and all that good stuff LOL. It was also very demanding and VERY time consuming, and as a single mom, (ladies! you guys know), that doesn’t always work and it isn’t good to spend more time away from your kids than with them. I didn’t want to miss out on his young life because it’s so exciting, so I decided to take the gift God gave me and learn to work for myself. My son is my biggest supporter. He’s awesome!
Tell us about your business.
Sholux Beauty is a full service, freelance beauty business. It’s still fairly new. Only about 2 years old, but I focus on encouraging, supporting, and empowering women and teens by helping them not only look beautiful, but FEEL beautiful and understand that they don’t need anyone else to make them beautiful. It starts within themselves with their self esteem. I style, color, and cut, hair. I wax hair. I educate you about your hair and skin and I also do facials. Eventually I will begin to do product reviews. I just really love to encourage women (especially young women) to feel good first. The look on their faces when they feel beautiful is priceless! We have plenty to deal with on the regular, so if I can help to lift that weight just a little, then I’ve done my part. There are so many women that feel it’s okay to settle or feel they aren’t ‘good enough’ and I just want to help them understand that they are good enough and that they don’t have to settle. This subject is very sensitive and important to me and really hits a soft spot in my heart. My sisters and I are working on a nonprofit organization to help young women and to just be an encouragement and positive role model to whomever we can reach.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
I try to show my appreciation and do promos and giveaways often, but right now new clients will receive $10 off their service and if you refer a friend you both will receive $10 off your service. And if you are a regular client of mine you may receive 1 free service on your birthday, either a wax, trim, or facial. But keep following because I like to change it up a little bit from time to time.
Where is your business based?
Indianapolis, Indiana USA, but I’m working to expand to other cities and states.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
The first step I took was going back to school. If I’m going to do something, I want it to be right so I have to learn as much as I can. Then I made flyers and business cards and just began to market myself.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Mostly word of mouth and referrals. My social media is still pretty new, but I can see it being a great tool for me.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Time and currency! I have so many new ideas and a few different things now that I am working on and I just want to work on everything all at once so I’m trying not to be so excited and to just stay calm and just work on either one or two things at a time LOL.
How did you overcome these challenges?
It’s definitely still a work in progress. But I just try to work on my projects in increments. That kind of helps me stay creative as well.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I try to keep busy by researching, learning, being creative and coming up with new ideas of different ways of doing things and slowly knocking my goals down 1 by 1.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I think the fact that my business offers a number of different services is what makes it unique. But I also believe there is enough out there for all of us. Everyone has different ideas their own little twist on how to do things.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Put your foot upon the neck of the fear of criticism by reaching a decision not to worry about what other people think, say, or do.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
DO NOT GIVE UP! You are almost there. Especially for new entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs that aren’t quite there yet but are working really really hard. Your hard work will pay off. It will. The beginning is always the hardest. Creating your dream career takes passion, patience, time, and hard work. Also prayer and faith. And get rid of people that don’t believe in you. “Everybody by your side ain’t on your side” -Steve Harvey. The best way to deal with those kinds of people is to distance yourself and show em!
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
Instagram, Thumbtack, Google and Pinterest are my favorite resources but I’m getting more familiar with LinkedIn. And my iPad and tablet are my favorite tools.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @sholuxbeauty
Facebook @sholuxcharm
Email hellothere.beautiful@yahoo.com
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
“Think and Grow Rich for Women” by Sharon Lecher.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I’m currently learning about different marketing strategies to expand my business and increase visibility to my brand and promote my other services. I am also learning more about different ingredients to add to my product line (which will be released later this year) and this is somewhat separate but kind of connected. I’m learning the requirements to start my nonprofit organization.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
My goals for the next few months are to get my hair product line up and running and to start on my skincare line. I am so excited about these! Also I’m getting a calendar together for my new blog so please be looking out for these things. I also would like to have all the technical things for my organization done by mid to late summer. So I’ll be staying pretty busy these next few months and I’ll just keep working until I’ve reached my goals and completed everything that needs to be completed.