Lash Studio
Estheticians. Lash Technicians. Entrepreneurs. Style Icons. Branding Mavens. Product Developers. Public Health Educators. Certified Trainers.
These are some of the powerful attributes that best friends Dianna Dwyer and Kristie Lawlor have brought to their new business by deciding to pool their resources, clients, knowledge and skills to open House of Glam, Newfoundland and Labrador’s first dedicated lash studio.
Prior to opening House of Glam, Dianna and Kristie were both self-employed lash technicians operating their own home-based businesses, Get Lashed and Eye Candy, respectively. With years of experience in the industry, the duo saw an opportunity to change the eyelash game in the province by teaming up to provide a higher standard of safety, training and products.
Single-lash eyelash extensions are a relatively new advancement in the beauty industry, offering women an affordable and easy way to enhance their appearance. The service has taken off in recent years; however, government legislation has lagged behind. Newfoundland and Labrador currently has no regulations regarding the service and unknowing customers have experienced the results: misapplied products, subpar training, poor sanitation, eye injuries, infections, and allergic reactions.
The House of Glam ladies hope to address this issue by offering training as part of their business model. They are currently developing a lash certification program that utilizes Dianna’s background in Health Science, and they hope to collaborate with the Canadian Optometry Association to design the program for maximum eye health and safety. However, the two certified lash educators wanted more than to raise industry standards, they wanted to improve the skills of other technicians.
Previously lash technicians could only access Level I Classic Lash training in the province. House of Glam will be offering Level II Volume Lash and Level III Mega Volume Lash certification programs. Kristie and Dianna themselves are always on top of current industry trends and are continually advancing their skills and education. The girls recently returned from a whirlwind trip to LA where they completed their own training in Level 4 Mega Volume Lashes.
Not just satisfied with revolutionizing the standards and skills within the province’s eyelash industry, the entrepreneurs also decided to address the poor quality and selection of eyelash products available locally. Working with expert manufacturers, Dianna and Kristie developed a line of House of Glam branded products that they plan to sell in their studio and distribute worldwide. Their current product lineup includes: trays of eyelash extensions, eyelash remover, brush applicators, skin-safe adhesive, volumizing kits, tweezers, and lash detox and primer serums.
In order to produce their product line, House of Glam required capital to pay their manufacturers. This is when Kristie and Dianna sought the help of Metro Business Opportunities. They worked with Development Officer Lisa Guy, who found herself impressed by their passion and multi-faceted business concept. Armed with a strong business plan, it was a quick and easy process to get approval for an Impact start-up loan. Impact also allowed the partners to achieve their vision for the business. Decked out high-class fixtures, and pink and white decor, their studio space brings the House of Glam brand to life.
“The space was absolutely beautiful, the vision that the clients explained to me in our initial meetings when planning this business was certainly revealed to me when I walked through their doors for the first time.”
– Lisa Guy, Development Officer, Metro Business Opportunities
Going into business with your best friend can be a dream or a nightmare depending on whom you ask. You can guess how Dianna and Kristie would answer. The entrepreneurs feel their partnership will lead to lasting success, as their personal strengths and weaknesses balance the other’s. They have divided the work accordingly. Dianna takes the lead on research and product development, while Kristie focuses on daily operations and accounting.
Since opened their doors in mid-October 2018, business has been a whirlwind at House of Glam. Kristie and Dianna have already hired two apprentices and trained them to their exacting standards. They have a fully booked calendar that stretches longer than they’ve even been open. Needless to say, the lash business is nothing to bat an eye at.
Do you live in St.John’s or Mount Pearl and have a business idea you want to take to the next level?
Apply for Impact online or get in touch with Metro Business Opportunities today.