Today we are introducing you to Tyla, the small business owner of a brow studio in Dubbo NSW.
During high school, Tyla explored a range of career options. After trying out nursing and forensic science, she realised that her passions and skills lay in the beauty industry. Tyla researched the supply and demand of different beauty services in Dubbo and found that there was an unmet demand for brow and lash services. In response, she decided to open Tyla’s Brow Studio.
Recently, Tyla has started offering teeth whitening and will 
soon offer cosmetic tattooing. In both instances, Tyla carefully surveyed the demand for these services in her area and considered her own interests in learning new skills before branching out to offer new services.
“Without Many Rivers help, I would not be where I am today. I am so grateful for my business coach Danny. He always gives me a wealth of knowledge to keep my business moving forwards.”
Read more about Tyla’s small business.
Meet Tyla
My business is a lash and brow business. In September I will have been open for one year. Recently I started doing cosmetic teeth whitening. I did some research and realised that this is a service that was only available in one other location in Dubbo. It is 
still in the area of beauty, so it is a natural step for me to take with my business.
I have been doing my own eyebrows since I was about 14 and then I was doing friends and families. I tried human services and was thinking of going into nursing but I found out that it wasn’t for me. Then I tried out a forensic science course at a university for a week but I didn’t like that either. This made me realise that university wasn’t for me. It was clear that beauty was what I wanted to do. Especially while I am young, it is so important to test out all different career pathways and now I know that I have chosen the path that is best for me.
Before Becoming A Small Business Owner
Since I was 14 I have been working in different retail and hospitality stores including Priceline, Collette, Cotton On and Subway. After I finished school, I enrolled in TAFE to do my Cert III in Beauty and a Diploma. Immediately after finishing these courses, I got the job with Laser Clinic Australia and I worked there for about two years. Clients at the Laser Clinic were complimenting my eyebrows and they would ask me to do theirs. That is when I realised that I had a skill that I could turn into a business.
I did some research on how many other beauty salons are in town and what they offer. Then I put some consideration into whether it was worthwhile for me to open up my own store or if I should work for someone else instead.
Setting up Tyla’s Brow Studio
I heard about Many Rivers through my dad wh
o had a Many Rivers business coach support him to open his irrigation business. I did my own research and I had looked at my dad’s journey and observed the dos and don’t of business.
When I met my business coach for the first time, I was so determined and I had a full business plan all ready to go. I had just come out of a six-week lockdown and as soon as it lifted, I got in contact with Many Rivers. I was all ready to go.
Learning About Pricing
At the start, my business coach helped me do up a cash flow projection which is something that I had not worked on at all. I realised that it was important to have money set aside for when I opened the business. I realised that I needed to have a large pool of saving that went towards all the business signage, equipment, shopfront, business cards etc. There is a lot of money that goes into getting a business started.
Together we broke down every service that I was performing in the studio, the equipment for those services and then how much money ends up coming to me. It was a real eye-opener to learn how to charge what you’re worth. Sometimes if you start low then increase your prices to what you’re worth, you lose customers. I learnt this the hard way. My biggest advice to new business owners is to start with an opening sale so that new customers are brought in with the low prices but they know that this is a discounted rate and that you are worth more. This way you are not selling yourself short.
Working with Many Rivers
Without Many Rivers help, I would not be where I am today. I am so grateful for Danny my current business coach and we continue to have meetings every week or fortnight. He is always on top of everything which I love. He always gives me a wealth of knowledge to keep my business moving forwards.
The most useful assistance is the support and guidance to reassure me that I am on the right path. It is amazing having a Many Rivers business coach because if you’re ever 
unsure about anything, I can call Danny and talk to him. The business coaches work in a way where they get you to answer your own questions rather than give you answers. They throw all these options out there and help you answer your own questions. I love this approach because as a business owner you may know the answer but you’re second-guessing yourself. In my case, I just need someone to give me that extra bit of reassurance and guidance.
Biggest Challenge
The biggest challenge is trying to work around a pandemic and the restrictions and lockdowns that come with it. I was on a path where I could employ a worker, but I also wanted to look at whether I am prepared for another lockdown if happens again. Luckily I did because we are locked down again now! I have extra money saved to help me get through this. It is hard to reassure clients and keep the business strong when these restrictions ease. At the beginning of this current lockdown, I took a few days break. Now I am spending my time planning so that I can come back with a bang!
I am also keeping up with my training in eyebrows, lashes and teeth whitening. At the moment I am in the process of bringing in cosmetic tattooing. This downtime gives me an opportunity to look at all of this so that when lockdown ends, I can have everything ready and up to date for when I open the doors again.
Biggest Success
My biggest success is only being open for nine months and I already had to register for GST. I hadn’t expected to do that within my first year.
Biggest Change
Being a small business owner has made me more independent. Even though I am only 21, I feel like I have had to grow up a bit faster and build my confidence. In a few weeks, I will be moving into my own rental home. It has made me look at life a little bit differently and made me realise that I can do this and I don’t have to rely on others.
My business journey has even inspired my hairdresser to open her own business. We discussed the risks of being a small business owner and how you don’t know whether it is going to be successful and or not unless you take the risk and give it a go. I was working long hours and found that on my days off I didn’t want to socialise because I was too exhausted. This is not what I wanted to spend my time doing. Now I can manage my time better and make sure I still have time to spend with my family and enjoy life!
Future Goals
I would love to have my brow masterclass in a couple of years’ time and teach students my tips and tricks and see where that journey takes me. That is something that I always wanted to do. For the moment I will focus on building up a large clientele and go from there to see where this part of my journey takes me.
Thanks Tyla
Thank you Tyla for sharing how you started your brow studio with us. If you would like to stay updated with Tyla’s small business journey, be sure to follow Tyla’s Brow Studio on Instagram or Facebook.
Are you ready to take the first steps towards making your business idea a reality? Our Many Rivers business coaches will be with you every step of the way, no matter where your journey takes you.
CLICK HERE to see if Many Rivers is right for you
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