Make cool cash from make-up business

DOING make-up for people is hobby for Abidemi Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Ara ‘n’ Dara Studio, Ibadan. Though the Mass Communication and Media Technology graduate from Lead City University, Ibadan, got a good job after her compulsory National Youth Service Corps, her passion for make-up business made her to build an enviable career in the business.

“I was just doing the business for the fun of it, because of my keen passion for the business. The rapid increase in my clients made me plunged into the business after my NYSC programme, though on a part-time basis. But a further increase in my clientele list and my unflinching passion for it made me to leave my job and go into make-up business fully.

“The fun in the business and my passion for it now channel in cool cash for me. People pay me good money for catching my fun and doing my hobby.

And I must say that it has been fun all the way.

“The future of the make-up business is overly bright as Nigerian women are more fashion conscious now than ever, while shows, beauty pageantries, filmmaking, among other events, continue to lubricate the wheels of the business. The creativity and versatility of the business have made it one that would last.

“My clients consider me a born-make-up artist due to my expertise in the art, Yet I consider myself an up-coming make-up artist, as I continue to improve myself, enlarge my coast in the business and continue catching my fun,” Abidemi explained.
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Make cool cash from make-up business

PEOPLE, especially women, like to look more beautiful than they do on special days of their lives, like their wedding and birthday. And no matter how good they are in the art of making their faces more beautiful for these special days, they prefer entrusting it into the care of an expert.

Filmmakers also provide a good market for make-up artists as they cannot overemphasise the role of the make-up artists in their production.

Who is an ideal make-up artist?
Make-up business may be the right move for you, especially if you have talent and artistic skill, and if you are energetic and organised. Running your own business is a singularly satisfying occupation! A professional makeup artist can use his/her skills to completely change a person’s appearance or simply highlight certain facial features. The skill can be acquired in a cosmetology or make-up vocational school.

Stat up cost
Starting make-up business does not require so much capital. With N20,000 you can begin to explore the business, as this will get you the basic tools (of average quality) needed for the business, which include set of make-up brushes, eyeshadow (in different textures and colours), powder (for different skin colour), foundation, blush, mascara, eye liner, primer, lip sticks and lip gloss (available in different colours) and mirror.

The product quality and brand name determine the price of the tools. There are high end products (usually more expensive), medium end products (quite affordable) as well as low end product, which are usually very cheap.

Learning
Learning the terrain takes between two weeks and three months, depending on how deep you want to master the terrain, your seriousness and how fast you can grasp the training. You can practise what you have learned at the end of each day of the training with your face and those of your siblings, friends. This will help you master the art faster. Make sure you learn the art from a creative practitioner.

The training fee varies, depending on the trainer and the aspect you want to learn. Movie make-up and special effects generally require more time for training than working as a make-up specialist for women getting ready for a big date or event.

While some big wigs in the business charge N150,000 for a month training with kits, upcoming ones charge N50,000. But no matter who taught you and how long it took you to learn it, you must keep on updating yourself and learning via the internet, magazines and colleagues in the industry.

Reputation and marketing
Marketing yourself and building a sellable reputation for yourself is best done through your work. Your work will speak for you hence you must continue to work on your expertise.

To create your initial portfolio, offer to make-up friends and family members for free, or at a reduced price.

You may also go a step further by offering business cards to each client; open a promotional blog or website, set up social networking accounts.

Cost and potential earning
Your charge is determined by your expertise, the value you place on your services, your location, the financial status of your clientele and your strategy. Taking all factors into consideration, you can charge between N70,000 and N150,000 for both engagement and church wedding, inclusive of the bride, chief bridesmaid and maximum of five maids of honour, depending on the quality of service you render, the class of your clients and your discretion. While you can charge average of N10,000 and N20,000 per one client for a birthday party. You could charge more for filmmaking and television reality shows, which takes more time and requires more professionalism.

Everyone has weddings and parties to attend — why not help them to attend, feeling and looking their best? You will find that certain holidays, especially Valentine’s Day, are especially profitable for a self-employed make-up specialist or make-up artist.

In addition, your supplies and etc are now a business expense — you may be able to get them wholesale, and you need to keep track of money coming in and going out so you know whether you are making a profit with your make-up business.

Hard work and skill means extra cash! If you try hard, give good quality for a fair price, and keep track of your new business, you should have a profitable business in time. Persistence and skill will take you far!

• Written by  Olaoluwa Mimiola

• Source: Tribune