When Bianca Grobler chose the name, 'The Make-Up Alchemist', for her company, she was seriously on-brand.
Scroll through her Instagram to check out what she can do with make-up and hair brushes and you’d swear she turns them into wands!
The Piebald founder, Daniella, says it was a privilege to have Bianca work her magic on her hair and make-up on her wedding day in 2019. Photo: Lizelle Furter | www.patrickfurter.co.za | @patrickfurter_thestudio on Instagram.
Yet, killer make-up looks and hair styles aren’t her only talent … she’s an incredibly savvy entrepreneur. The 33-year-old – who’s based in Fourways, Johannesburg – runs three successful businesses.
Bianca explains, "The Make-Up Alchemist is a hair and make-up service that specialises in hair and make-up looks for weddings and special events. We also do personalised one-on-one make-up lessons for women wanting to level up their make-up and beauty skills.
"Bridal Hair Boutique is a South African-based online store that sells bridal veils and wedding hair accessories.
"Beauty Tech Labs is an online store that specialises in skincare and home-based beauty technology."
It’s evident – and rather impressive – that Bianca’s turned her enthusiasm for her craft into business ideas. "In some ways, my passion for make-up escalated into a passion for hair styling and then into a passion for online stores selling products that I loved. As I grew, I learned so much about myself and my capabilities."
Bianca’s three businesses showcase how naturally entrepreneurial-savviness comes to her – and it always has. While she was in school, she’d find all sorts of ways to make money, from creating artworks for her fellow classmates to selling her homebaked goods. She says her entrepreneurial spirit could have come from watching her dad, who always worked for himself.
"I initially started my business in 2008 after I completed my studies at Face to Face Beauty & Make-Up Design School in Parktown.
"It took a few years to build up a portfolio of work to showcase to clients as well as on my platforms, which included hundreds of hours doing free make-up jobs, working with various photographers and agents, always making sure to take photos of my make-up and hair models as I went. This helped me improve on my skill set and build up my reputation and portfolio," she says.
"I also had to substitute my income during this time with part-time work to get by. I took whatever work I could get, from selling shooters in pubs and restaurants to dressing mannequins in retail stores."
Beautiful Bianca isn’t only a talented hair and make-up artist, she’s a super-savvy business builder too. Photo: JT from enVogue Image | www.envogueimage.com
Bianca explains it wasn’t easy in the beginning as she found it particularly challenging to be taken seriously as a young artist working in the field. She recalls how many people said she should ‘get a real job’.
She reflects, "All that now makes me so proud of myself and my achievements despite the challenges faced."
She puts it down to her natural energy and love for what she does that helped her along her journey. "It always felt like playtime when I worked, and the creative energy of that kept me dedicated."
She says the biggest achievement of her business is her independence – as she puts it, "Creating a business on my own that funds my lifestyle and my other growing businesses."
She adds that time freedom and her ability to decide when and how she’d like to work are definite perks of being an entrepreneur.
She also points to challenges. "Banks are not as willing to approve loans when they know your income is self-generated. It isn’t impossible but the processes are much harder to work around."
Along with scaling her businesses, one of Bianca’s goals is to help other women in the industry grow their own businesses. She feels the best way women entrepreneurs can help one another is to 'teach a woman to fish'.
"If you know how to do something and you see another woman struggling, show her how to get there. It can be as simple as teaching her how to use Google AdWords, building a website using Wix or commissioning an artist from Fiverr. Show her and don't charge her."
For any women entrepreneurs who are teetering on the edge, wondering whether to start their business, Bianca says, "Honestly you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Start somewhere. Maintain your income, if you already have one, and build your own business in your spare time.
"Something I read somewhere that I loved was this: 'Use your 9–5 to build your 5–9, and then use your 5–9 to build your 24–7.'"
Bianca adds, "I think that life often has hidden surprises waiting for you after you take each new step, you just have to start somewhere and you will find yourself grow in ways you never imagined."
Bianca’s savvy business tips for entrepreneurs
- Always have at least three months of income in savings that you can tap into, should you ever need. This will provide emotional and financial security, and will give you confidence in your decision making when it comes to taking on risk to grow your business.
- A great idea is to also make sure to put at least 20% of your profits back into your business every month. This will ensure your growth year-on-year.
Be sure to check out: The Make-Up Alchemist | @makeup.alchemist on Insta | Bridal Hair Boutique | @bridalhairboutique_jhb on Insta | Beauty Tech Labs | @beautytechlabs on Insta.
